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Wolfwere #1
Kane
My name is Kane, and I am a six-foot-seven French Canadian. But, one year ago, I was a wolf.
Before, I was in the woods when a crazy soldier man bit me. The next morning, I awoke a human. This was unexpected, for I have awoken many times not human, always wolf. Perhaps I slept wrong.
However, when the light of the full moon touches my perfect skin, I transform into what my friend Emelda calls the Wolfwere. According to her, she calls it thus because I am a "reverse werewolf". I do not understand this phrase. It sounds like something you might find in a knock-off Kama Sutra book.
Now, in lesser moon phases, I become lesser wolves. Dogs. One time a pug. Another, a Rottweiler. And many others.
Emelda is a human but never wolf before. This I do not hold against her, for she helps me in so many ways. She is a very good driver while I am a very good crasher.
She is my best friend and is helping search for the secret that will change me back into a wolf. To do this, we must track down the man who bit me.
However, that soldier also attacked people. And while he turned a wolf into a beautiful man, the humans he bit became strange, horrible creatures.
Together we must destroy those monsters, so I may get the answers I need to become wolf again and rejoin my pack. Return home.
This is a battle to the death, a perilous fight against powerful and supernatural enemies. To defeat them, I will have to become the Wolfwere. Although, each time I do, I grow even larger and this destroys my t-shirts and jean pants.
So, it is a battle to the death… with wardrobe changes.
Before, I was in the woods when a crazy soldier man bit me. The next morning, I awoke a human. This was unexpected, for I have awoken many times not human, always wolf. Perhaps I slept wrong.
However, when the light of the full moon touches my perfect skin, I transform into what my friend Emelda calls the Wolfwere. According to her, she calls it thus because I am a "reverse werewolf". I do not understand this phrase. It sounds like something you might find in a knock-off Kama Sutra book.
Now, in lesser moon phases, I become lesser wolves. Dogs. One time a pug. Another, a Rottweiler. And many others.
Emelda is a human but never wolf before. This I do not hold against her, for she helps me in so many ways. She is a very good driver while I am a very good crasher.
She is my best friend and is helping search for the secret that will change me back into a wolf. To do this, we must track down the man who bit me.
However, that soldier also attacked people. And while he turned a wolf into a beautiful man, the humans he bit became strange, horrible creatures.
Together we must destroy those monsters, so I may get the answers I need to become wolf again and rejoin my pack. Return home.
This is a battle to the death, a perilous fight against powerful and supernatural enemies. To defeat them, I will have to become the Wolfwere. Although, each time I do, I grow even larger and this destroys my t-shirts and jean pants.
So, it is a battle to the death… with wardrobe changes.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2023
4303 people are currently reading
1378 people want to read
About the author
Dick Wybrow
23 books120 followersDick Wybrow is a Canadian author. His novels are mainly set in the US, where he grew up. A former stand-up comedian, Wybrow is a humor writer who crafts thrillers that incorporate elements of suspense, horror, mystery, science fiction and fantasy.
At the age of six, Dick was given his first book by his father. It was Wind in the Willows. Naturally, that put Dick off reading for several years.
After discovering Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the love of reading returned. And with it came the compulsion to get lost worlds like Douglas had created.
Dick lives in Auckland, New Zealand with one wife and two cats.
At the age of six, Dick was given his first book by his father. It was Wind in the Willows. Naturally, that put Dick off reading for several years.
After discovering Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the love of reading returned. And with it came the compulsion to get lost worlds like Douglas had created.
Dick lives in Auckland, New Zealand with one wife and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
June 11, 2024
Funny and exciting.
I so enjoyed this book. The humor was just enough and I liked it. It’s a serious storyline but the humor added a lot. There are others in this series but I have so many books I want to read and I’m not getting any younger! 😊
I so enjoyed this book. The humor was just enough and I liked it. It’s a serious storyline but the humor added a lot. There are others in this series but I have so many books I want to read and I’m not getting any younger! 😊
July 15, 2023
Kane
by Dick Wybrow
Mystery Paranormal
NetGalley ARC
16+
Kane a six-foot-seven French-Canadian is actually a wolf who was bitten by a man, and now with help from Emelda he is searching for the man who bit him, but he must avoid the moon because it will turn him into a dog, not a wolf.
But Kane isn't the only one looking for the man that bit him, a paramilitary group is also looking for this man.
This is one of those books I had a hard time rating. It was good, but not great, there were funnies that I giggled-snorted, but I wasn't laughing, so I'll round it up to the next star.
The plot and idea of the story were a great change up, but it wasn't executed the best. I love the idea of what would happen if a dog/wolf was bitten by a man; what chaos that could cause. Yeah, not as much as one would think. The reasoning was sound, but at the same time, it's not that believable. A dog yes, a wolf no. There's too much 'acceptance' from the 'human' characters. To be believable there should've been more of, 'holy crap, holy crap, I can't believe this is happening... I'm dreaming, no I'm not!.. Holy s**t' Yeah, stuff like that...
The characters, Kane especially, were creative but were also lacking descriptions. I have no idea what they look like other than Kane was tall and good-looking, and Emelda was shorter than him... I have no idea of eye/hair color, though I think one had black hair? If those were mentioned, it was only a few times, as were skin complexions, facial tics, scars, or other imperfections. I also feel that there was way too much of Emelda's thoughts. She had a whiny(ness) to her and tended to babble. When it came to her internal thoughts I found myself skipping. Kane was more interesting, him being a wolf and all.
And now for a new pet peeve! Please stop adding genre shouts! If it's not the book's title on the book cover, don't include it on the book's page as part of its title. Example: A Humorous Supernatural Thriller... These are so irritating. It's an unnecessary gimmick, and while it is supposed to draw attention, sometimes these genre shouts deter me from even reading the blurb, thus not buying the book. (And this book wasn't that humorous nor a thriller. And it's not horror either!) ~Thanks to Goodreads for removing it!
This could be a series, but I doubt I'll be reading the next book.
Rounding up to...
3 Stars
by Dick Wybrow
Mystery Paranormal
NetGalley ARC
16+
Kane a six-foot-seven French-Canadian is actually a wolf who was bitten by a man, and now with help from Emelda he is searching for the man who bit him, but he must avoid the moon because it will turn him into a dog, not a wolf.
But Kane isn't the only one looking for the man that bit him, a paramilitary group is also looking for this man.
This is one of those books I had a hard time rating. It was good, but not great, there were funnies that I giggled-snorted, but I wasn't laughing, so I'll round it up to the next star.
The plot and idea of the story were a great change up, but it wasn't executed the best. I love the idea of what would happen if a dog/wolf was bitten by a man; what chaos that could cause. Yeah, not as much as one would think. The reasoning was sound, but at the same time, it's not that believable. A dog yes, a wolf no. There's too much 'acceptance' from the 'human' characters. To be believable there should've been more of, 'holy crap, holy crap, I can't believe this is happening... I'm dreaming, no I'm not!.. Holy s**t' Yeah, stuff like that...
The characters, Kane especially, were creative but were also lacking descriptions. I have no idea what they look like other than Kane was tall and good-looking, and Emelda was shorter than him... I have no idea of eye/hair color, though I think one had black hair? If those were mentioned, it was only a few times, as were skin complexions, facial tics, scars, or other imperfections. I also feel that there was way too much of Emelda's thoughts. She had a whiny(ness) to her and tended to babble. When it came to her internal thoughts I found myself skipping. Kane was more interesting, him being a wolf and all.
And now for a new pet peeve! Please stop adding genre shouts! If it's not the book's title on the book cover, don't include it on the book's page as part of its title. Example: A Humorous Supernatural Thriller... These are so irritating. It's an unnecessary gimmick, and while it is supposed to draw attention, sometimes these genre shouts deter me from even reading the blurb, thus not buying the book. (And this book wasn't that humorous nor a thriller. And it's not horror either!) ~Thanks to Goodreads for removing it!
This could be a series, but I doubt I'll be reading the next book.
Rounding up to...
3 Stars
August 11, 2023
Happy publication day!! 🎊🎉🥂
This must be the best book I read in 2023 so far!!
I was browsing on NetGalley, when this title and cover caught my attention. I have to admit I've never read anything from the author before, although now his books made it into my asap tbr.
So I read the synopsis to see what it was about, and:
How was I supposed to resist? I loved the fact that the author thought of swapping the roles in the werewolf legend. As he put it at the end of the book, this is something that stuck with him from the aphorism in journalism: man bites a dog, a shortened version of "When a dog bites a man, that is not news, because it happens so often. But if a man bites a dog, that is news.", a quote of uncertain origins.
So yeah, I was already invested in Kane and his quest to find his pack again.
Oh, but it gets better:
Kane, not knowing how to drive and read properly, will receive help from Emelda, or Sad Girl as he calls her, a girl with a difficult past. I should point out that this book has more than one trigger warning: suicide and animal abuse being the main ones, but... well, if you don't like gory horror, maybe skip some paragraphs. If you do like it, you're in for a treat.
This book was so unusual, and not just because Dick Wybrow played and messed around with the Lycan trope (pun not intended). That was actually so refreshing! No - I'm also talking about the style in which it is written.
I'm glad I gave this book a fair shot, because it took me some pages before getting used to it. The style didn't convince me, and I was really afraid I had to give up and mark as a DNF, while still burning with curiosity. Luckily it was easy to slip into the author's narrative, and even easier to love it from the first chapters (yes, style included!).
The story is fast paced, so even if there is no info-dumping, we're thrown right in the middle of it.
It starts at a gas station: first the story is told from a third perspective, then from Emelda's point of view, revealing also something from her past, and finally from Kane's. What a way to introduce the uniqueness of Kane! Already then I started to fall in love with him, but by the end of the book, I was absolutely smitten. That wouldn't surprise him one bit, but he would remind me that he already has a wolf wife.
That being said, it's not the only character with which you'll form a bond - Dick Wybrow has a charismatic way of describing and outlining not just the main characters, but sidekicks too. The characters come to life, and you really wish they could.
Final Thoughts
Between mystery, creepy creatures lurking in the shadows, and a mix of witty and naive humor, the pages are fast turned. Kane was a great discovery, one of those very few books, which I can count on the fingers of one hand, that made me want to start reading it all over again before I even put it down after the last page. I know it's supposed to be an sci-fi/horror book, but... the relationship between Kane and Sad Girl! I got watery eyes, and I'm completely invested in this story. Usually I prefer to read series all at once without having to wait years, so I was taken aback when I discovered Kane was the first book of the series Wolfwere (brilliant!). Now I couldn't be happier, being this a book worth the wait, and of which I wouldn't be able to get enough of.
**Thanks to NetGalley, Dick Wybrow, and Dee Dub Publishing for an ARC of this book.**
More reviews at Inky Lighthouse .
The book will be out on the 11th of August.
I am wolf.
This must be the best book I read in 2023 so far!!
I was browsing on NetGalley, when this title and cover caught my attention. I have to admit I've never read anything from the author before, although now his books made it into my asap tbr.
So I read the synopsis to see what it was about, and:
Kane was a wolf until he was bitten by a man. He's now a six-foot-seven French-Canadian searching for the guy who infected him, so he can return to his pack.
How was I supposed to resist? I loved the fact that the author thought of swapping the roles in the werewolf legend. As he put it at the end of the book, this is something that stuck with him from the aphorism in journalism: man bites a dog, a shortened version of "When a dog bites a man, that is not news, because it happens so often. But if a man bites a dog, that is news.", a quote of uncertain origins.
So yeah, I was already invested in Kane and his quest to find his pack again.
Oh, but it gets better:
But nothing could have prepared Emelda Throne for what happens when Kane steps into the moonlight. Despite what the legends say, he doesn't become some snarling werewolf. She's only seen him turn into dogs. Usually tiny dogs.
Kane, not knowing how to drive and read properly, will receive help from Emelda, or Sad Girl as he calls her, a girl with a difficult past. I should point out that this book has more than one trigger warning: suicide and animal abuse being the main ones, but... well, if you don't like gory horror, maybe skip some paragraphs. If you do like it, you're in for a treat.
This book was so unusual, and not just because Dick Wybrow played and messed around with the Lycan trope (pun not intended). That was actually so refreshing! No - I'm also talking about the style in which it is written.
I'm glad I gave this book a fair shot, because it took me some pages before getting used to it. The style didn't convince me, and I was really afraid I had to give up and mark as a DNF, while still burning with curiosity. Luckily it was easy to slip into the author's narrative, and even easier to love it from the first chapters (yes, style included!).
The story is fast paced, so even if there is no info-dumping, we're thrown right in the middle of it.
It starts at a gas station: first the story is told from a third perspective, then from Emelda's point of view, revealing also something from her past, and finally from Kane's. What a way to introduce the uniqueness of Kane! Already then I started to fall in love with him, but by the end of the book, I was absolutely smitten. That wouldn't surprise him one bit, but he would remind me that he already has a wolf wife.
That being said, it's not the only character with which you'll form a bond - Dick Wybrow has a charismatic way of describing and outlining not just the main characters, but sidekicks too. The characters come to life, and you really wish they could.
Final Thoughts
Between mystery, creepy creatures lurking in the shadows, and a mix of witty and naive humor, the pages are fast turned. Kane was a great discovery, one of those very few books, which I can count on the fingers of one hand, that made me want to start reading it all over again before I even put it down after the last page. I know it's supposed to be an sci-fi/horror book, but... the relationship between Kane and Sad Girl! I got watery eyes, and I'm completely invested in this story. Usually I prefer to read series all at once without having to wait years, so I was taken aback when I discovered Kane was the first book of the series Wolfwere (brilliant!). Now I couldn't be happier, being this a book worth the wait, and of which I wouldn't be able to get enough of.
"You and me are doing this," I said. "You have lost your pack for now. I get that. But I'm the one helping you get back to them. So for now, we are a pack."
Under his thick brow, Kane's eyes widened.
"We are a pack, you and me," I said. "We do this together."
**Thanks to NetGalley, Dick Wybrow, and Dee Dub Publishing for an ARC of this book.**
More reviews at Inky Lighthouse .
The book will be out on the 11th of August.
January 26, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Dick Wybrow for the chance of reading 'Kane' as an advance reader's copy. I really enjoyed the journey!
Normally 'Kane' is not a book I would've picked out at the store and hold it in my hand to read, but the back-flap, the cover and description of the book really got me excited to read it. In 'Kane' we follow a wolf, bitten by a man, and his friendly human companion in a search against time. What is terrorizing the neighborhood? What is happening?
This book is a fast paced journey about an unexpected friendship, some detective work by our favorite pairings and damn it... it was really funny! There was humor in every paragraph and that made this book so darn fast to read. I can't say too much without spoiling, but binding a wolf in another dog's body... brilliant.
The concept of this book is brilliantly thought and as the writer says in the acknowledgements, it is the man who bites the dog that gets the attention from the news. It's unique, new and refreshing inside a novel.
In the beginning of the book we get to see two different POV's. Sometimes the difference of POV's were a bit confusing to who was talking when and which POV i was following at the time. But later on the book, it became more clear that I was following Kane and his humorous partner. Other than the small confusion, Kane seems to know a bit too much about the human world like words used, talking, etc. Even for a fantasy/mystery/paranormal thriller it would've been fun to see it happening from the start. I think if the author started with Kane and what was happening to him, until the point where he meets the other MC, it would've been a bit easier to follow and explain a bit more. But having said that, I think this easily worked for the kind of book the author was writing. It wasn't bothersome and rather funny at times when Kane thought he knew something, but proved to be slightly wrong.
I wished there was a bit more involvement around the characters and their development. Sometimes the characters were a little flat.
I really enjoyed the humor, the mystery and the plot of the book. If you enjoy these kind of books, definitely give 'Kane' and this author a shot if you're in for something funny, fast paced and a bit chilling!
Normally 'Kane' is not a book I would've picked out at the store and hold it in my hand to read, but the back-flap, the cover and description of the book really got me excited to read it. In 'Kane' we follow a wolf, bitten by a man, and his friendly human companion in a search against time. What is terrorizing the neighborhood? What is happening?
This book is a fast paced journey about an unexpected friendship, some detective work by our favorite pairings and damn it... it was really funny! There was humor in every paragraph and that made this book so darn fast to read. I can't say too much without spoiling, but binding a wolf in another dog's body... brilliant.
The concept of this book is brilliantly thought and as the writer says in the acknowledgements, it is the man who bites the dog that gets the attention from the news. It's unique, new and refreshing inside a novel.
In the beginning of the book we get to see two different POV's. Sometimes the difference of POV's were a bit confusing to who was talking when and which POV i was following at the time. But later on the book, it became more clear that I was following Kane and his humorous partner. Other than the small confusion, Kane seems to know a bit too much about the human world like words used, talking, etc. Even for a fantasy/mystery/paranormal thriller it would've been fun to see it happening from the start. I think if the author started with Kane and what was happening to him, until the point where he meets the other MC, it would've been a bit easier to follow and explain a bit more. But having said that, I think this easily worked for the kind of book the author was writing. It wasn't bothersome and rather funny at times when Kane thought he knew something, but proved to be slightly wrong.
I wished there was a bit more involvement around the characters and their development. Sometimes the characters were a little flat.
I really enjoyed the humor, the mystery and the plot of the book. If you enjoy these kind of books, definitely give 'Kane' and this author a shot if you're in for something funny, fast paced and a bit chilling!
Read
April 10, 2024DNF@10% or so (no rating)
When the premise of your book is a wolf gets bitten by a human and turns into a human/plus, if you’re going to start in the middle of the story, it better be a damned good tale to induce me to read more about what’s happening. Instead, Wybrow drops small tidbits of the past, like tiny pieces of the day Kane and his “sad girl” met, all while they’re chasing down a purple car that supposedly contains the man who bit Kane. Meanwhile, small bits of info that make no sense are shared, like Kane had rich human(!) parents and he is fluent in two human languages but can’t read.
There’s only so much nonsensical stuff I can accept and wait to have clarified when the opening storyline—going to a car show— doesn’t grab me, so this one is an early DNF.
When the premise of your book is a wolf gets bitten by a human and turns into a human/plus, if you’re going to start in the middle of the story, it better be a damned good tale to induce me to read more about what’s happening. Instead, Wybrow drops small tidbits of the past, like tiny pieces of the day Kane and his “sad girl” met, all while they’re chasing down a purple car that supposedly contains the man who bit Kane. Meanwhile, small bits of info that make no sense are shared, like Kane had rich human(!) parents and he is fluent in two human languages but can’t read.
There’s only so much nonsensical stuff I can accept and wait to have clarified when the opening storyline—going to a car show— doesn’t grab me, so this one is an early DNF.
February 3, 2025
This was so much fun! Absolutely loved Kane’s chapters and the way he saw people and how they spoke to him. Lots of great jokes. Good action. Horror. And lots of heart. Have added the next one to my tbr!
February 11, 2025
Added to Amazon Kindle Unlimited 10/24/2024.
I loved the premise to this book, A wolf, Kane, is bit by a man in the Canadian woods. The wolf becomes a man, except when he is touched by moonlight, then he changes into a dog, and the more full the moon is, the fiercer the dog breed. I was expecting Kane would change into a chihuahua at full moon, but at last twas not to be.
I just did not care for the plot all that much. This story wanted to be funny, but it missed the mark for me. I might try another book in the series, but I am just not sure at this point.
I did finally get it off my kindle Unlimited at least.
I loved the premise to this book, A wolf, Kane, is bit by a man in the Canadian woods. The wolf becomes a man, except when he is touched by moonlight, then he changes into a dog, and the more full the moon is, the fiercer the dog breed. I was expecting Kane would change into a chihuahua at full moon, but at last twas not to be.
I just did not care for the plot all that much. This story wanted to be funny, but it missed the mark for me. I might try another book in the series, but I am just not sure at this point.
I did finally get it off my kindle Unlimited at least.
April 26, 2024
Fun read. No spice, steam, or romance. Lots of humor.
March 17, 2024
March 2024
Kindle edition
Sounded fun and I needed a laugh. Not so much humor. The reverse werewolf was interesting, but ultimately felt like a supernatural type adventure, two in a car saving people hunting things. The interesting thing was the transformations to the phases of the moon. Not sure if I'd read the next one.
Kindle edition
Sounded fun and I needed a laugh. Not so much humor. The reverse werewolf was interesting, but ultimately felt like a supernatural type adventure, two in a car saving people hunting things. The interesting thing was the transformations to the phases of the moon. Not sure if I'd read the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2024
A twist in the usual werewolf story, with a wolf being transformed into a man. Slow starter, but kicked in when the hunting began.
January 3, 2025
Man, I wanted to rave about this book. Partially because I want to rave about all the books I read, and partially because I wanted to support an indie author, bravely hacking a trail through the jungle of self-publishing.
Alas, it is not to be. At least not for this book.
Don't get me wrong. The book is serviceable. The two main characters are decently developed. The action is pretty good.
The book's problem is its tone. It suffers a malady that a lot of "humorous" books suffer. It's funny for about the first 20%, and then the humor peters out as the author is forced to focus more on adhering to the outline / beat sheet than on goin' for the laughs. I can understand. It can be difficult to have your characters beaten, tortured, peed on in a cheap motel room (I may or may not have made that one up), and still maintain the comedy you started with.
But. And like my aunt Becky's, this is a big but.
If you start out funny, especially if your ad copy touts your book as "humorous," "comedic," or even just "funny," I expect that to be consistent throughout the book. You have to rise to the challenge you advertise. And honestly, if you take away the humor in Kane, you're kinda left with another thriller, just this one has a wolf who turns into a dude who turns into a dog. No offense to Dick Wybrow. Just this one really didn't hit it for me, and those are my reasons.
Alas, it is not to be. At least not for this book.
Don't get me wrong. The book is serviceable. The two main characters are decently developed. The action is pretty good.
The book's problem is its tone. It suffers a malady that a lot of "humorous" books suffer. It's funny for about the first 20%, and then the humor peters out as the author is forced to focus more on adhering to the outline / beat sheet than on goin' for the laughs. I can understand. It can be difficult to have your characters beaten, tortured, peed on in a cheap motel room (I may or may not have made that one up), and still maintain the comedy you started with.
But. And like my aunt Becky's, this is a big but.
If you start out funny, especially if your ad copy touts your book as "humorous," "comedic," or even just "funny," I expect that to be consistent throughout the book. You have to rise to the challenge you advertise. And honestly, if you take away the humor in Kane, you're kinda left with another thriller, just this one has a wolf who turns into a dude who turns into a dog. No offense to Dick Wybrow. Just this one really didn't hit it for me, and those are my reasons.
March 13, 2024
This is the SECOND review that mid-review, the Good Reads App closed and erased my entire review.
I may or may not rewrite. Most likely, I will not; however, I resubmit the gist.
As the term “pussy” is a misogynistic, gynophobic, HUMAN construct, Kane’s use of the term “Pussy. Pussy bear” (Wybrow 124), further diminished his already problematic characterization. (That was my first sentence…).
I don’t think, in a lifetime of reading animal fantasy and metamorphosis books – not only for pleasure, but, more recently, as the main focus for my dissertation—I have ever had such difficulty suspending my disbelief as I did with Kane. Wybrow’s creation of Kane’s vocabulary and speech patterns is actually painful to read. (I continued).
The character of Emelda is the saving grace of the book….
I desperately wanted to like this book!
I love, Love, LOVE the premise!
Oh, would that it had lived up to the idea’s promise!
I am BEYOND disappointed.
I may or may not rewrite. Most likely, I will not; however, I resubmit the gist.
As the term “pussy” is a misogynistic, gynophobic, HUMAN construct, Kane’s use of the term “Pussy. Pussy bear” (Wybrow 124), further diminished his already problematic characterization. (That was my first sentence…).
I don’t think, in a lifetime of reading animal fantasy and metamorphosis books – not only for pleasure, but, more recently, as the main focus for my dissertation—I have ever had such difficulty suspending my disbelief as I did with Kane. Wybrow’s creation of Kane’s vocabulary and speech patterns is actually painful to read. (I continued).
The character of Emelda is the saving grace of the book….
I desperately wanted to like this book!
I love, Love, LOVE the premise!
Oh, would that it had lived up to the idea’s promise!
I am BEYOND disappointed.
September 15, 2023
Growing up with vampires and ghouls, I was excited to dive into a novel that puts a spin to the tale of the werewolf. Kane, a wolf transformed into a human, is on a desperate hunt for the man who turned him with a bite. “Sad Girl” (Emelda) is his trusty sidekick helping him navigate the nonsensical human world.
Kane did twist all of my expectations when it comes to the world of werewolves but the story was difficult to follow at times. It felt like a chore to push towards the end.
Despite my feelings on the writing style, I will admit Kane did what it promised: a challenge to lycanthropy as the world knows it. Mission accomplished, but I will not be signing up for the sequel.
This ARC was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kane did twist all of my expectations when it comes to the world of werewolves but the story was difficult to follow at times. It felt like a chore to push towards the end.
Despite my feelings on the writing style, I will admit Kane did what it promised: a challenge to lycanthropy as the world knows it. Mission accomplished, but I will not be signing up for the sequel.
This ARC was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2023
***** I received this as a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
The story of Kane is a supernatural twist with action. Kane, one of the main characters is a wolf that has been bitten by a man and it has changed him into a human. However, when the moonlight hits him he continues to “change”. There are thugs out to capture those who have changed to try use this as a weapon. It wasn’t super clear on all that.
Esmelda and Kane are very likable characters. The humor was great at the start of the book. It struggled a bit more throughout.
The book ends without being resolved. I am guessing there will be a continuation. It was a fun read overall.
The story of Kane is a supernatural twist with action. Kane, one of the main characters is a wolf that has been bitten by a man and it has changed him into a human. However, when the moonlight hits him he continues to “change”. There are thugs out to capture those who have changed to try use this as a weapon. It wasn’t super clear on all that.
Esmelda and Kane are very likable characters. The humor was great at the start of the book. It struggled a bit more throughout.
The book ends without being resolved. I am guessing there will be a continuation. It was a fun read overall.
July 19, 2025
I wanted to like this book. I love the premise: wolf is bitten by a man and turns into a human except when the moon is out and then the size of the canine he turns into is dependent on the phase of the moon. Could be funny, right? Unfortunately the book missed the mark. Chapters are alternately voiced by the wolf who really doesn't think human very well and Emelda, his human driver. That's a stratagem that really didn't work for me. The story veers between cutesy and violence and we never find out what the men in the black truck are really about. I did get the book from Kindle Unlimited so that's a plus.
August 3, 2025
I think Ruby Dixon recommended this!? So I got it and it’s marvelously hilarious and awesome.
What irked me though was the stereotypical way of a man to paint a woman as a bad driver. And it doesn’t make sense. 1. She is described as easily distracted by the navigation and almost colliding with the other traffic but then 2. She knows exactly how to maneuver her car out of a ditch. So either she can do all that stuff or she can’t. And in general: women are the better drivers. Men should just accept that fact 🤷♀️
Apart from that I really liked the book and started the second one.
What irked me though was the stereotypical way of a man to paint a woman as a bad driver. And it doesn’t make sense. 1. She is described as easily distracted by the navigation and almost colliding with the other traffic but then 2. She knows exactly how to maneuver her car out of a ditch. So either she can do all that stuff or she can’t. And in general: women are the better drivers. Men should just accept that fact 🤷♀️
Apart from that I really liked the book and started the second one.
December 19, 2024
This was kind of different. A wolf that gets bitten by a man, and turns human. LOL! I'll prolly continue on with this series.
July 16, 2025
Just so dry and not very interesting. The premise was great just not the delivery.
To be fair I didn’t read it all, dnf’ed at 13%
Buddy read that was my pick so I had them pull the plug!
To be fair I didn’t read it all, dnf’ed at 13%
Buddy read that was my pick so I had them pull the plug!
November 14, 2024
Well it's different, the H in not from this world and relies on the h to help him beat the baddies, even as he is trying to return to his wolf wife. He is wolf, but somehow morphed into human, sometimes he's also a small yappy dog. Odd, rather funny and brutal. My first by this author, I'm intrigued.
November 14, 2025
Really enjoyable romp. Lots of humour and twists on the usual werewolf stuff. Definitely gorey so not for the squeamish
July 12, 2024
I saw this on Facebook and decided to read it. At first I didn't know if I was going to like it, but the more I got into the story the more I enjoyed it. A wolf bit by a human, who then turns into a human and is trying to find the person who bit him so he can be a wolf again. He has a sidekick named Emelda who helps him with his search. Along the way, he turns into a little purse dog, a pug, and a few others. And then of course, there is the people searching for the same person because apparently this is has something to do with a secret project. How can you go wrong!
September 28, 2023
I wanted this book to be a tad more fun that it ended up being (it's maybe a 3.5 for me). There is A LOT of Emelda and not much of Kane's perspective, who is ostensibly a cooler character, and the book started off ROUGH. However, I'm glad I stuck with it, because by the end I was rooting for this friendship and truly enjoying the ride (loved the Mall battle!)
I love paranormal stuff, dogs, and my last name is "Kane" so this was an instant "yes!" selection for me. The premise is delightful, and the character Kane is fascinating. Problem is, the book doesn't spend much time letting us get to know him, choosing instead to kick off directly in the action of Kane and his driver/friend Emelda (whom he calls "Sad Girl) in the search of a dangerous predator named Cal.
I did not love this narrative approach, as it made it difficult to get to know (and love) these characters. I'm so thankful I stuck with the story though, because the book continually improves and we have some moments of downtime in a small town in the midsection where we get some character development and get to know these people. I felt like that was the point where I started to connect with the story.
In future installments I would love way more Kane (what does it feel like for a werewolf to turn into a tiny dog?)--more of the vibe in the scene in the animal hospital. I also wouldn't mind these two making some more friends along the way for future books. There are cool side characters introduced in this story, but they don't stay around for long.
Lastly, the writing is a little clunky in spots. Emelda's story about her childhood sticks out like a sore thumb, full of tiny details (unlike the rest of the book which paints in broad strokes) so much so that it's pretty obvious we're being fed these facts to set up something later in the book. Thankfully these are isolated moments.
Despite these quibbles, this was a fun book. It felt like the author really found his groove as he went, which bodes well for future installments. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love paranormal stuff, dogs, and my last name is "Kane" so this was an instant "yes!" selection for me. The premise is delightful, and the character Kane is fascinating. Problem is, the book doesn't spend much time letting us get to know him, choosing instead to kick off directly in the action of Kane and his driver/friend Emelda (whom he calls "Sad Girl) in the search of a dangerous predator named Cal.
I did not love this narrative approach, as it made it difficult to get to know (and love) these characters. I'm so thankful I stuck with the story though, because the book continually improves and we have some moments of downtime in a small town in the midsection where we get some character development and get to know these people. I felt like that was the point where I started to connect with the story.
In future installments I would love way more Kane (what does it feel like for a werewolf to turn into a tiny dog?)--more of the vibe in the scene in the animal hospital. I also wouldn't mind these two making some more friends along the way for future books. There are cool side characters introduced in this story, but they don't stay around for long.
Lastly, the writing is a little clunky in spots. Emelda's story about her childhood sticks out like a sore thumb, full of tiny details (unlike the rest of the book which paints in broad strokes) so much so that it's pretty obvious we're being fed these facts to set up something later in the book. Thankfully these are isolated moments.
Despite these quibbles, this was a fun book. It felt like the author really found his groove as he went, which bodes well for future installments. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2023
Kane tells the story of Kane, a former wolf who has been bitten by an infected man and is forced to walk this earth as a human, who happens to turn into a dog.
Due to the fact that he cannot read or drive, he hires Emelda (or Sad Girl as Kane refers to her) to aid him in search of the man who infected him and forced him to live life as a human/dog (which he transforms into every full moon).
Unfortunately, I liked the premise of this book better than the content. I like books that subvert the normal premise of popular tropes and due to the description thought that this would be an enjoyable read.
It didn’t end up being that, and I found myself fatigued with the book and its narrative quite quickly.
I was immediately perplexed why the first three chapters revolve around differing points of view of the main character going into a shop and coming out with some pickled pigs trotters. I don’t know what purpose it served as then for the rest of the book we mainly stick with Emelda’s point of view.
However, this does give the story room to improve (marginally!), but I quickly found that I was not particularly gelling with the story and the constant attempts to be humorous. For instance, I found the constant trope of ‘he’s French Canadian’ to be grating rather than funny.
In addition to that, he is constantly getting into scrapes without any particular explanation as to why they have occurred. It seems that he lurches from one misstep to another in an attempt to move the plot forward without much real development.
The characters themselves didn’t feel particularly fleshed out, and all I really came away with was that Kane was six foot seven and that Emelda was shorter than him.
Furthermore, when I actually trudged my way to the end of the book, I had no real conclusion to the story. There were sub plots aplenty, but again, I didn’t feel like any answers were given to the main plot, which rather than getting me intrigued for the next book, made me resolute that I would be tapping out of the series.
Unfortunately, this is one series I will not be continuing with.
Due to the fact that he cannot read or drive, he hires Emelda (or Sad Girl as Kane refers to her) to aid him in search of the man who infected him and forced him to live life as a human/dog (which he transforms into every full moon).
Unfortunately, I liked the premise of this book better than the content. I like books that subvert the normal premise of popular tropes and due to the description thought that this would be an enjoyable read.
It didn’t end up being that, and I found myself fatigued with the book and its narrative quite quickly.
I was immediately perplexed why the first three chapters revolve around differing points of view of the main character going into a shop and coming out with some pickled pigs trotters. I don’t know what purpose it served as then for the rest of the book we mainly stick with Emelda’s point of view.
However, this does give the story room to improve (marginally!), but I quickly found that I was not particularly gelling with the story and the constant attempts to be humorous. For instance, I found the constant trope of ‘he’s French Canadian’ to be grating rather than funny.
In addition to that, he is constantly getting into scrapes without any particular explanation as to why they have occurred. It seems that he lurches from one misstep to another in an attempt to move the plot forward without much real development.
The characters themselves didn’t feel particularly fleshed out, and all I really came away with was that Kane was six foot seven and that Emelda was shorter than him.
Furthermore, when I actually trudged my way to the end of the book, I had no real conclusion to the story. There were sub plots aplenty, but again, I didn’t feel like any answers were given to the main plot, which rather than getting me intrigued for the next book, made me resolute that I would be tapping out of the series.
Unfortunately, this is one series I will not be continuing with.
April 10, 2025
HILARIOUS!
Okay, so we have a 6’7” man, with a thick French accent from Canada. And he will tell anyone he meets (even though he’s been told not to) “I am wolf”, to which it is explained as, “He’s French Canadian.” Apparently, that makes it okay for him to sound crazy. Being Canadian myself, I take very minor offence to that, however, I am not French (and do not speak nor understand it), so I don’t take as much offence to it; and I’m Canadian, so we’re nice people, we don’t take offence easily. :)
So, the premise of the story, a wolf gets bitten by a man. The wolf then turns human! That’s the opposite of what we’ve all read all these years! Now, the wolf is on the hunt for the human who bit him to try to find out what happened to him and how he can become a wolf again so he can re-join his pack. There are many funny moments, mostly because Kane (wolf) doesn’t understand human mannerisms, and reading his interpretation of what people are saying to him is so NOT what they said. We read this early on in the book, of one encounter with an older lady from her perspective, and then from his perspective. Later, we only have his perspective of an encounter with a police officer, and I really wish we had the officer’s perspective.
A very well written book that keeps you entertained from the first page, all the way to the last. I don’t recall any lagging parts where I was ready to flip ahead to get to the interesting parts, it was all engaging.
The book ends where you are somewhat satisfied with where the characters are in their friendship, and you could leave it as it is, or dive right into the next book.
Okay, so we have a 6’7” man, with a thick French accent from Canada. And he will tell anyone he meets (even though he’s been told not to) “I am wolf”, to which it is explained as, “He’s French Canadian.” Apparently, that makes it okay for him to sound crazy. Being Canadian myself, I take very minor offence to that, however, I am not French (and do not speak nor understand it), so I don’t take as much offence to it; and I’m Canadian, so we’re nice people, we don’t take offence easily. :)
So, the premise of the story, a wolf gets bitten by a man. The wolf then turns human! That’s the opposite of what we’ve all read all these years! Now, the wolf is on the hunt for the human who bit him to try to find out what happened to him and how he can become a wolf again so he can re-join his pack. There are many funny moments, mostly because Kane (wolf) doesn’t understand human mannerisms, and reading his interpretation of what people are saying to him is so NOT what they said. We read this early on in the book, of one encounter with an older lady from her perspective, and then from his perspective. Later, we only have his perspective of an encounter with a police officer, and I really wish we had the officer’s perspective.
A very well written book that keeps you entertained from the first page, all the way to the last. I don’t recall any lagging parts where I was ready to flip ahead to get to the interesting parts, it was all engaging.
The book ends where you are somewhat satisfied with where the characters are in their friendship, and you could leave it as it is, or dive right into the next book.
August 13, 2023
Kane by Dick Wybrow is another "can't put down" book from Mr Wybrow.
It seems that Kane was once a wolf but after being bitten by a strange human, he became a very tall French Canadian man - at least most of the time. He hires Emelda Thorne to be his driver and because he doesn't read well, to read for him as needed. Emelda takes the job to escape her current situation. She grew up "rough" and is stronger than she realizes.
Kane is searching for the guy that infected him with this thing that makes him human. All he really wants is to return to his pack. Kane knows that the guy was in a slightly unusual car with a bird on it. So they start visiting the classic car show circuit.
The search takes the reader on a wild ride with lots of twists and turns. Along they way, Kane and Emelda meet a variety of people, good and bad. Some of the good people help them along the way. But some of the bad people just seem to be pure evil incarnate.
Take this wild ride and enjoy the wild and very interesting ride that is a trademark of Wybrow's writing.
Thanks to Dick Wybrow, Dee Dub Publishing, and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
It seems that Kane was once a wolf but after being bitten by a strange human, he became a very tall French Canadian man - at least most of the time. He hires Emelda Thorne to be his driver and because he doesn't read well, to read for him as needed. Emelda takes the job to escape her current situation. She grew up "rough" and is stronger than she realizes.
Kane is searching for the guy that infected him with this thing that makes him human. All he really wants is to return to his pack. Kane knows that the guy was in a slightly unusual car with a bird on it. So they start visiting the classic car show circuit.
The search takes the reader on a wild ride with lots of twists and turns. Along they way, Kane and Emelda meet a variety of people, good and bad. Some of the good people help them along the way. But some of the bad people just seem to be pure evil incarnate.
Take this wild ride and enjoy the wild and very interesting ride that is a trademark of Wybrow's writing.
Thanks to Dick Wybrow, Dee Dub Publishing, and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
September 28, 2023
I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Dick Wybrow. All opinions are my own!
Solid, immediate 5 stars. I cackled out loud at several passages ("'Incorrect. I am wolf. I have a bit of man in me.' 'Been there, done that,' I said. 'Ain't nothing to get too excited about.'") and made my spouse listen to several more that made absolutely no sense out of context (heroism is now officially measured in casseroles). Besides being funny, I found Kane to be a thoroughly delightful read. The two protagonists, Emelda and Kane, both felt solid and decently fleshed out. Emelda I especially enjoyed as a kick-ass heroine without hitting the most irritating tropes such a character attracts. Kane felt like... well, what I would guess a sapient wolf-human would be like? His character certainly made sense, and was enjoyable when events were told from his perspective. There was also a complete lack of sexual chemistry between the protagonists, and in this case? I adored it. Absolutely huge recommend for fans of humorous science fiction/fantasy. For sensitive readers, there is a LOT of violence in gore in this book, so be advised.
Solid, immediate 5 stars. I cackled out loud at several passages ("'Incorrect. I am wolf. I have a bit of man in me.' 'Been there, done that,' I said. 'Ain't nothing to get too excited about.'") and made my spouse listen to several more that made absolutely no sense out of context (heroism is now officially measured in casseroles). Besides being funny, I found Kane to be a thoroughly delightful read. The two protagonists, Emelda and Kane, both felt solid and decently fleshed out. Emelda I especially enjoyed as a kick-ass heroine without hitting the most irritating tropes such a character attracts. Kane felt like... well, what I would guess a sapient wolf-human would be like? His character certainly made sense, and was enjoyable when events were told from his perspective. There was also a complete lack of sexual chemistry between the protagonists, and in this case? I adored it. Absolutely huge recommend for fans of humorous science fiction/fantasy. For sensitive readers, there is a LOT of violence in gore in this book, so be advised.
November 6, 2023
As the author notes in the afterword, there is an old journalism adage that says "Dog bites man is not news. Man bites dog is news". This novel is based on that adage.
Kane is a werewolf, of a sort - but instead of being a man who turns into a wolf, he is a wolf who turns into a man, a man who knows nothing about being a person. As a wolf who turns into a man, Kane is good at a great many things, but reading and driving are not among his skills. Emelda is a down and out, working at a job that doesn't quite pay her bills, when she encounters Kane by chance, and he offers her a job, helping him seek a man with a purple car, by doing the reading and driving for him, and explaining the human world along the way. As the two travel between car shows, seeking the purple car man, who bit Kane turned him from a wolf to a person, strange things happen around them, some apparently aimed at Kane and some seemingly random. Kane's quest becomes Emelda's as well, as the two seek, and find, not one monster, but several. Recommended for readers from high school to adult.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kane is a werewolf, of a sort - but instead of being a man who turns into a wolf, he is a wolf who turns into a man, a man who knows nothing about being a person. As a wolf who turns into a man, Kane is good at a great many things, but reading and driving are not among his skills. Emelda is a down and out, working at a job that doesn't quite pay her bills, when she encounters Kane by chance, and he offers her a job, helping him seek a man with a purple car, by doing the reading and driving for him, and explaining the human world along the way. As the two travel between car shows, seeking the purple car man, who bit Kane turned him from a wolf to a person, strange things happen around them, some apparently aimed at Kane and some seemingly random. Kane's quest becomes Emelda's as well, as the two seek, and find, not one monster, but several. Recommended for readers from high school to adult.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 20, 2024
I really liked it! I would recommend it, and plan on reading the rest of the series.
Kane was really funny without intending to be. He still thinks like a wolf most of the time.
As far as the story goes, once you get past the fact that a man bit a wolf and changed him into a human, it is twisty and interesting. It isn't strong horror, though there are some bloody spots and monsters running around. I would call it more of a paranormal mystery. The book ended without resolving the story, but it is not a strong cliffhanger. (I hate cliffhangers and it didn't annoy me too much - lol.) It makes you want to read the next book to find out the mystery.
Kane was really funny without intending to be. He still thinks like a wolf most of the time.
"Female, so I will have to keep vigilant, for I do not want her lustful attentions. I have a powerful musk, so this will be difficult."Emelda, aka Sad Girl, always has to cover for his weird way of talking, and all the weird things he says. The book is set in the US, so she covers by saying:
“Don’t mind him,” Emelda Thorne said with a wide grin. “He’s French Canadian.”Emelda comes from a rough background. She doesn't take a long period of time to accept Kane's condition because she sees the change with her own eyes.
As far as the story goes, once you get past the fact that a man bit a wolf and changed him into a human, it is twisty and interesting. It isn't strong horror, though there are some bloody spots and monsters running around. I would call it more of a paranormal mystery. The book ended without resolving the story, but it is not a strong cliffhanger. (I hate cliffhangers and it didn't annoy me too much - lol.) It makes you want to read the next book to find out the mystery.
November 8, 2023
"So, when in Rome and all that.”
“This is Wisconsin.”
Kane is a horror comedy about a wolf bitten by a man who now turns into a dog under the moonlight. This started off well, but slowed down and became a drag about half way through until the end. I was really enjoying it, aside from the weirdness of the first three chapters narrating the exact same scene from three different perspectives - not sure why this was done. I liked Emelda, the mystery, the humour, but it seemed to lose its spark. The ending was SO disappointing. It didn't answer a single question, the original mystery didn't have much more information, and it felt like we'd spent waaaay too long on side quests. I know it wants to be a series, but this complete lack of answers ruined the book for me. I feel like you can't ask a reader to invest entirely in a series if the first book gives nothing. You need to give enough so that I _need_ to read the next one, yknow? I still had so so many questions (as did the characters) and nothing to show for it. It was a real shame.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
“This is Wisconsin.”
Kane is a horror comedy about a wolf bitten by a man who now turns into a dog under the moonlight. This started off well, but slowed down and became a drag about half way through until the end. I was really enjoying it, aside from the weirdness of the first three chapters narrating the exact same scene from three different perspectives - not sure why this was done. I liked Emelda, the mystery, the humour, but it seemed to lose its spark. The ending was SO disappointing. It didn't answer a single question, the original mystery didn't have much more information, and it felt like we'd spent waaaay too long on side quests. I know it wants to be a series, but this complete lack of answers ruined the book for me. I feel like you can't ask a reader to invest entirely in a series if the first book gives nothing. You need to give enough so that I _need_ to read the next one, yknow? I still had so so many questions (as did the characters) and nothing to show for it. It was a real shame.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
March 16, 2024
It's one of the funniest books I have ever read! Dick Wybrow does a wonderful job of adding zaniness to a story as well as beautiful descriptions. Kane is a huge man who was once a wolf. When he is bitten by a crazed man, he turns into a man. In his quest to find this man who may or may not be able to return him to a wolf, he has to enlist help. This book is told from the perspective of the woman Imelda who takes a job as his driver (he's real bad at it) and reader (he speaks French & English, but hasn't learned to read) and also Kane's. when Kane is talking, it is awesome the way Wybrow translates normal speech into how an alpha wolf might hear it. BTW, the male narrator on the audio book is AMAZING with his outrageous French accent and the inner dialogue of a former wolf. It is masterfully done. the first chapter from Kane's perspective was so hilarious that I nearly had to pull over from tears running down my face. When the moon rises to his shame, Kane also finds he transforms into various creatures from a Pug to a Golden doodle.
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