Truly the best YA Fantasy novel I've read since L J Smith's Nightworld. And that was a long time ago.
I had truly given up on the YA fantasy genre until Delahunt hit me with this. I still haven't got much trust in the genre but Delahunt reminded me so much of why the genre used to be amazing that I fell for this book hard.
Where do I begin? First of all, Eve. Eveeee. Salty, badass Eve - believable Eve. Too often YA fantasy has this chick who can magically fire a gun and hit a target, or is BAM! amazing in hand-to-hand combat. But not Eve. No Eve had to work like a normal person. She had to train and practice and get knocked down and even then she's not magically fantastic. But what she is is smart, she's inspirational, she's funny and the type of person you could imagine being friends with - having a drink with in the bar where she works!
Secondly, Ryan. Blegh. What an asshole and Delahunt makes no illusion that he isn't a massive asshole. Which, as a person who loathes enemies to lovers, makes me very happy. And Luke? Yes. Just the right amount of angst (and can you blame him? Read the prequel!!!) and all the right amount of cuteness, smartness, smirkyness - those aren't words I know. But he had me from the moment he said hello.
But what I really want to praise Delahunt on is her writing and her world-building. I've never been to Dublin but having read this book, I feel like I have. She captured this city and seemed to twirl it around her finger to make it dance for her. And the underground urban Other Worldy club - I was like damn gurrrrl, I will read every single book you ever write now. It was just chapter after chapter of hooks and curves and I fell for each one.
I will reiterate that fantasy is not much genre and I was dubious when I first read it but my god - my eyes. It lives with me now, haunts me. I can close my eyes and see the wolves running through the dark forest with nothing but the full moon illuminating their coats. I can see Luke and Eve fighting, practicing, each pound of the fist. I can see sly Ryan and want to punch him all over again. I can see that grand manor in the rolling Irish countryside, smell the mountains. Suffice it to say, it was hook, line, and sinker for me.
If you're a Vampire Diaries, Night World, Teen Wolf, frigging True Blood fan even - Twilight for god's sake - this book will spear you through the chest and make you addicted. I am in awe of Delahunt and this magnificent book - five stars aren't enough. Ten stars! A thousand!
Praise for Wolf Bait and the return of a genre that was slowly dying a long death. Delahunt has brought it back to life again - I cannot wait to read the next one.