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Wereworld #3
Shadow of the Hawk
The epic saga continues in the third installment of this thrilling series!Drew Ferran, Lyssia's last remaining Wolf and the rightful heir to the kingdom's throne, is held prisoner by an evil Lizardlord. But rebellion's always a possibility when Drew's around, and with the help of his cohorts, he overthrows the slavers and embarks on a quest to find the long-lost tribe of Hawklords so they can join his war against the evil Catlords. This third book in the Wereworld series features even more heart-pounding action, wild characters, and epic struggle between good and evil."Game of Thrones for the tween set." —School Library Journal
495 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2012
129 people are currently reading
1810 people want to read
About the author
Curtis Jobling
31 books337 followersCurtis 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
April 21, 2020
The third installment of the Wereworld Series.
What can I say? Just read the other reviews of this book they said it all 😊😄😂. Its just that, here in this book, the characters you learn to like just easily die... I can't blame the author, there are so many. 😊😀😄😂
What can I say? Just read the other reviews of this book they said it all 😊😄😂. Its just that, here in this book, the characters you learn to like just easily die... I can't blame the author, there are so many. 😊😀😄😂
October 5, 2015
Final rating: 4.5/5 stars
I was captivated by the first two books in the series Rise of the Wolf & Rage of Lions, especially after reading the second book, which proved to be quite cool. This can be sad for Shadow of the Hawk as well.
I have to congratulate Jobling for having interesting plot twist ideas, because some of them certainly shocked me.
I didn't expect half things to happen, and it is just regretful that so many things have gone wrong. And by that i mean that you expect something to finally go right, and boooooom, you have a huge plot twist which make you gasp!
Just the way the second book ended. With lot of people dead or missing. While we are at missing people, two women were MIA in this book - Gretchen and Whitley. They were completely cut out from the book, but i didn't mind that (since the next book seem to be just about them).
So, the story is: Drew is sold to slavery, to be a gladiator (Imagine a shapeshifting gladiators. That's certainly new.); while Lucas is back on the throne; Trent is miserable and he wants revenge against Drew, so he joined the Werecats; Hector is getting even more insane; and the Wolf council is on the sea, making allies and such. Many things are happening and just like the other books from Wereworld, this book is pretty dark as well.
____________________________________________
Characters :
____________________________________________
So, here we are, stuck with Drew, Hector, Kesslar, Trent, Djogo, Vega, Wolf council, and many many more people.
I must say that some characters have turned for worse, while some had become better. Some characters who were evil become good, while some good characters (WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY) go evil (and by evil, i mean like....70% evil).
Once again, some of them get killed when you are least expecting it, and it was just... heartbreaking. Jobling made characters so well, even the side ones, so you can't help but feel...at least something when they die.
There were new characters introduced (especially from the Arena (called Furnace)) and many of them are already well characterized :D And i can't help but laugh over what happened to me when i said "Hey, i like this guy". He died in the next chapter. And damn, and he had cool name too and was an awesome were(iwontsaywhat) :(((
____________________________________________
Overall :
____________________________________________
Dear reader, you should read this series - it's awesome. Can't wait to read the sequel.
#I REGRET NOTHING
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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)
I was captivated by the first two books in the series Rise of the Wolf & Rage of Lions, especially after reading the second book, which proved to be quite cool. This can be sad for Shadow of the Hawk as well.
I have to congratulate Jobling for having interesting plot twist ideas, because some of them certainly shocked me.
I didn't expect half things to happen, and it is just regretful that so many things have gone wrong. And by that i mean that you expect something to finally go right, and boooooom, you have a huge plot twist which make you gasp!
Just the way the second book ended. With lot of people dead or missing. While we are at missing people, two women were MIA in this book - Gretchen and Whitley. They were completely cut out from the book, but i didn't mind that (since the next book seem to be just about them).
So, the story is: Drew is sold to slavery, to be a gladiator (Imagine a shapeshifting gladiators. That's certainly new.); while Lucas is back on the throne; Trent is miserable and he wants revenge against Drew, so he joined the Werecats; Hector is getting even more insane; and the Wolf council is on the sea, making allies and such. Many things are happening and just like the other books from Wereworld, this book is pretty dark as well.
____________________________________________
Characters :
____________________________________________
So, here we are, stuck with Drew, Hector, Kesslar, Trent, Djogo, Vega, Wolf council, and many many more people.
I must say that some characters have turned for worse, while some had become better. Some characters who were evil become good, while some good characters (WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY) go evil (and by evil, i mean like....70% evil).
Once again, some of them get killed when you are least expecting it, and it was just... heartbreaking. Jobling made characters so well, even the side ones, so you can't help but feel...at least something when they die.
There were new characters introduced (especially from the Arena (called Furnace)) and many of them are already well characterized :D And i can't help but laugh over what happened to me when i said "Hey, i like this guy". He died in the next chapter. And damn, and he had cool name too and was an awesome were(iwontsaywhat) :(((
____________________________________________
Overall :
____________________________________________
Dear reader, you should read this series - it's awesome. Can't wait to read the sequel.
#I REGRET NOTHING
____________________________________________
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
____________________________________________
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)
January 7, 2012
Be warned, reader. I will try my hardest not to include any spoilers about Shadow of the Hawk in this review, but I cannot promise the same about the previous two books in the series. If you have not yet read them then you may want to look away now.
I loved the first two Wereworld books. The first was brilliant, and the second, Rage of Lions, even better. So much so that it made it into my list of top picks of 2012. I know that many others share my admiration for these books - so no pressure then Mr Jobling.
Did I say pressure? The man must thrive on it as Shadow of the Hawk is yet another outstanding addition to the series, the only downside being that having finished I am now thoroughly annoyed that I won't be able to find out what happens next until the fourth book, Nest of Serpents, is published in June.
There is very little time in the story between the close of the last book, and where this one kicks off. Drew is held captive by the evil Kessler, a Weregoat who has made a name for himself as a slaver. He has only one plan for Drew - to deliver him to the Isle of Scoria and sell him as a slave. Meanwhile, his close friend Hector has managed to escape the armies of the Catlords, and is safely on board the Maelstrom, in the company of Manfred, Vega and Queen Amelie. I say safely, but that isn't strictly true - his dabbling in the dark arts is beginning to have quite an effect on the young Wereboar, but more about that later.
In this new book we are granted the opportunity to 'meet' a whole host of new Werecreatures in this book, and Curtis Jobling maximises this treat for his readers by taking his characters off to different places, just as Tolkien did in The Lord of the Rings. In The Fellowship of the Ring we are introduced to the lead characters, and then in The Two Towers Frodo and Sam head off for Mordor, whilst Pip and Merry are taken in a dfifferent direction by the Orcs. These diverging story strands enabled Tolkien to show us more of the incredible world he created, and Curtis uses a smiliar device in this book. Therefore, we get to meet a plethora of new characters on Scoria, where the enslaved Drew is forced to become a gladiator; and we also get to see other parts of Lyssia and its seven realms, and its inhabitants, as Drew and his party head out across the ocean. Mr Jobling seems to manage all of these new additions to his story with consummate ease.
Now that he is away from the friends he made in the first two books, we really get a chance to see how Drew grows as both a character, and as the rightful heir to the kingdom of Lyssia. His life has changed in a way that few young people can identify with - from farm boy, to prospective king, to slave/gladiator, all in a matter of months. Most young people would find this impossible to cope with, but the honest and loving upbringing that Drew experienced seems to have given him the foundations he needs to take all of this in his stride. In the first two books there were many moments where he suffered extreme (and totally understandable) self-doubt, but there were a few key scenes where his natural gift for good and kind leadership shone through. In this third book these moments begin to occur a little more often and we are now really beginning to see the potential king that lies within the boy. Drew also seems to be becoming more confident at leading, even to the point where he will lecture one of the realm's other kings about the evils of slavery. A king, it must be said, who could quite easily have Drew slapped in silver chains and executed for his disrespectful words.
Whilst all this is going on, there is of course the other plot strand running - that of Hector and his companions. I am sorry to say that the future is looking fairly bleak for Hector - he is now firmly attached to the vile of his dead brother Vincent, a spectre that is invisible to all except Hector, and who never misses a chance to goad his brother, gradually eating away at his self-esteem. It was a horribly fascinating experience to read as Hector slowly seems to descend into a kind of madness, the flames of his growing paranoia constantly fanned by Vincent's cruel taunts. Who knows where Curtis Jobling will take Hector next? Perhaps even betrayal of the people he called close friends? We will just have to wait and see.
There are two popular characters from the first two books in the series that are conspicuous by their absence in Shadow of the Hawk. Gretchen and Whitley also managed to escape the grasping claws of the Catlords at the end of the last book, but for the story of their adventures since we will have to wait until June. If you have seen the cover of Nest of Serpents you will probably have already guessed that they will feature quite heavily in that story. I guess Mr Jobling could quite easily have used their story as a third plot strand in Shadow of the Hawk, but instead he chose to focus on Trent Ferran, the son of the couple who brought up Drew as their son, and as good as being Drew's brother. As we discovered at the end of Rage of Lions, Trent is hungry for revenge on the creature he believes murdered his mother, and so we see him now riding with the armies of the Catlords, hunting and killing enemies of the new state. Will he find out the truth before it is too late, or will it all end in tears for the angry young man?
If there was a book award going for best series then Curtis Jobling would surely be on the shortlist, and if he won I for one would applaud the decision of the judges. If he manages to sustain the quality of storytelling across the remaining books in the series then the Wereworld books may one day become recognised as one of the best fantasy series for young people of all time.
I loved the first two Wereworld books. The first was brilliant, and the second, Rage of Lions, even better. So much so that it made it into my list of top picks of 2012. I know that many others share my admiration for these books - so no pressure then Mr Jobling.
Did I say pressure? The man must thrive on it as Shadow of the Hawk is yet another outstanding addition to the series, the only downside being that having finished I am now thoroughly annoyed that I won't be able to find out what happens next until the fourth book, Nest of Serpents, is published in June.
There is very little time in the story between the close of the last book, and where this one kicks off. Drew is held captive by the evil Kessler, a Weregoat who has made a name for himself as a slaver. He has only one plan for Drew - to deliver him to the Isle of Scoria and sell him as a slave. Meanwhile, his close friend Hector has managed to escape the armies of the Catlords, and is safely on board the Maelstrom, in the company of Manfred, Vega and Queen Amelie. I say safely, but that isn't strictly true - his dabbling in the dark arts is beginning to have quite an effect on the young Wereboar, but more about that later.
In this new book we are granted the opportunity to 'meet' a whole host of new Werecreatures in this book, and Curtis Jobling maximises this treat for his readers by taking his characters off to different places, just as Tolkien did in The Lord of the Rings. In The Fellowship of the Ring we are introduced to the lead characters, and then in The Two Towers Frodo and Sam head off for Mordor, whilst Pip and Merry are taken in a dfifferent direction by the Orcs. These diverging story strands enabled Tolkien to show us more of the incredible world he created, and Curtis uses a smiliar device in this book. Therefore, we get to meet a plethora of new characters on Scoria, where the enslaved Drew is forced to become a gladiator; and we also get to see other parts of Lyssia and its seven realms, and its inhabitants, as Drew and his party head out across the ocean. Mr Jobling seems to manage all of these new additions to his story with consummate ease.
Now that he is away from the friends he made in the first two books, we really get a chance to see how Drew grows as both a character, and as the rightful heir to the kingdom of Lyssia. His life has changed in a way that few young people can identify with - from farm boy, to prospective king, to slave/gladiator, all in a matter of months. Most young people would find this impossible to cope with, but the honest and loving upbringing that Drew experienced seems to have given him the foundations he needs to take all of this in his stride. In the first two books there were many moments where he suffered extreme (and totally understandable) self-doubt, but there were a few key scenes where his natural gift for good and kind leadership shone through. In this third book these moments begin to occur a little more often and we are now really beginning to see the potential king that lies within the boy. Drew also seems to be becoming more confident at leading, even to the point where he will lecture one of the realm's other kings about the evils of slavery. A king, it must be said, who could quite easily have Drew slapped in silver chains and executed for his disrespectful words.
Whilst all this is going on, there is of course the other plot strand running - that of Hector and his companions. I am sorry to say that the future is looking fairly bleak for Hector - he is now firmly attached to the vile of his dead brother Vincent, a spectre that is invisible to all except Hector, and who never misses a chance to goad his brother, gradually eating away at his self-esteem. It was a horribly fascinating experience to read as Hector slowly seems to descend into a kind of madness, the flames of his growing paranoia constantly fanned by Vincent's cruel taunts. Who knows where Curtis Jobling will take Hector next? Perhaps even betrayal of the people he called close friends? We will just have to wait and see.
There are two popular characters from the first two books in the series that are conspicuous by their absence in Shadow of the Hawk. Gretchen and Whitley also managed to escape the grasping claws of the Catlords at the end of the last book, but for the story of their adventures since we will have to wait until June. If you have seen the cover of Nest of Serpents you will probably have already guessed that they will feature quite heavily in that story. I guess Mr Jobling could quite easily have used their story as a third plot strand in Shadow of the Hawk, but instead he chose to focus on Trent Ferran, the son of the couple who brought up Drew as their son, and as good as being Drew's brother. As we discovered at the end of Rage of Lions, Trent is hungry for revenge on the creature he believes murdered his mother, and so we see him now riding with the armies of the Catlords, hunting and killing enemies of the new state. Will he find out the truth before it is too late, or will it all end in tears for the angry young man?
If there was a book award going for best series then Curtis Jobling would surely be on the shortlist, and if he won I for one would applaud the decision of the judges. If he manages to sustain the quality of storytelling across the remaining books in the series then the Wereworld books may one day become recognised as one of the best fantasy series for young people of all time.
December 31, 2011
This is the third installment of the engrossing and exciting Wereworld series by British author Curtis Jobling. He can't write these books fast enough for me! No sooner have I finished one then I'm eager for the next to find out what's going to happen next to all the characters. Something major nearly always happens at the end of each book as well which leaves me biting my nails and unable to sleep until I know the next publication date.
The story picks up with Drew enslaved by the Goatlord Kessler and on his way to Scoria where he's forced to fight as a gladiator for the Lizardlords. He is determined however to gain his freedom and return to Lyssia to claim his kingdom back once and for all and knowing Drew, I have no doubt that he'll do so in the end. He has an inextinguishable spirit and true grit and no matter what stands in his way he never gives up and he always overcomes the obstacles put in his path. He's endured a lot since discovering his true heritage and he's suffered both pain and despair but I love his loyalty and his single-minded pursuit of what's right.
In a separate plot strand, the story follows the Boarlord Hector, who is onboard the ship the Maelstrom. Hector has been my absolute favourite character in the series from the word go. He's also probably been the one character who has changed the most throughout the story and for this reason (and without giving anything away), I'm starting to worry that redemption may now be out of his reach. His regular communing with the dead has affected him greatly and he may never return to the Hector I knew and loved. I would love to see him meet up with Drew again because if anyone can reach out to him and put him back on the right path then it's his best friend.
There are some great new characters introduced in 'Shadow of the Hawk', including the Hawklords and one of my favourite things about these books is getting to discover all the new Werelords and their unusual talents, as well as all the unusual places they end up. I also enjoyed seeing Drew's brother Trent again who wants to track him down but eventually begins to discover the real truth about him.
Curtis Jobling definitely delivers after the success of the first two books. There's action, adventure and excitement in abundance and I was glued to the pages throughout. This book, as is the whole series, is stonkingly good! If you haven't come across the Wereworld series yet then I implore you to rush out and grab the first book now. Once you've started you won't be able to stop reading this epic fantasy adventure which will sweep you away into a whole new world.
The story picks up with Drew enslaved by the Goatlord Kessler and on his way to Scoria where he's forced to fight as a gladiator for the Lizardlords. He is determined however to gain his freedom and return to Lyssia to claim his kingdom back once and for all and knowing Drew, I have no doubt that he'll do so in the end. He has an inextinguishable spirit and true grit and no matter what stands in his way he never gives up and he always overcomes the obstacles put in his path. He's endured a lot since discovering his true heritage and he's suffered both pain and despair but I love his loyalty and his single-minded pursuit of what's right.
In a separate plot strand, the story follows the Boarlord Hector, who is onboard the ship the Maelstrom. Hector has been my absolute favourite character in the series from the word go. He's also probably been the one character who has changed the most throughout the story and for this reason (and without giving anything away), I'm starting to worry that redemption may now be out of his reach. His regular communing with the dead has affected him greatly and he may never return to the Hector I knew and loved. I would love to see him meet up with Drew again because if anyone can reach out to him and put him back on the right path then it's his best friend.
There are some great new characters introduced in 'Shadow of the Hawk', including the Hawklords and one of my favourite things about these books is getting to discover all the new Werelords and their unusual talents, as well as all the unusual places they end up. I also enjoyed seeing Drew's brother Trent again who wants to track him down but eventually begins to discover the real truth about him.
Curtis Jobling definitely delivers after the success of the first two books. There's action, adventure and excitement in abundance and I was glued to the pages throughout. This book, as is the whole series, is stonkingly good! If you haven't come across the Wereworld series yet then I implore you to rush out and grab the first book now. Once you've started you won't be able to stop reading this epic fantasy adventure which will sweep you away into a whole new world.
January 30, 2012
I would give this book 4.5 stars.
It was fast paced as the other two books were and filled with action. I couldn't keep this book down, in fact I started and finished it in a day.
Amazing book, though the cliffhanger wasn't as huge as the second book, I still can't wait to read the next book.
It was fast paced as the other two books were and filled with action. I couldn't keep this book down, in fact I started and finished it in a day.
Amazing book, though the cliffhanger wasn't as huge as the second book, I still can't wait to read the next book.
January 7, 2012
4¾ Out of 5
A brave hero, a band of gladiators, an imposter king, a vengeful knight, a world full of Werelords and Wereladies, Wereworld is a place like no other, a world more fantastical and magical than any I’ve read about for a long time…
Drew Ferran, rightful heir to the Westland throne, is a prisoner. The Goatlord Kesslar has the young Werewolf in his possession, taking him to the land of the Lizardlords. There, Drew will be forced to fight as a gladiator, and make unlikely alliances in order to escape alive, from a place no one has broken away from before…
Hector the Wereboar, Vega the Sharklord and Werestag Manfred are fleeing from the Catlords, aboard the notorious pirate ship Maelstrom. But as the spirits haunting Hector grow stronger, he is left wondering whether the true enemy is closer than they thought…
I honestly don’t know what I was expecting when I started this – especially as I haven’t read any of the other books in the series. A cross between Narnia and Teen Wolf perhaps? I don’t know. Most definitely not the fantastical, action-packed, magical, pure awesome book that was Shadow of the Hawk. From the word go, I was sucked in. I fell totally and completely in love with the world. I just could not put it down, in a constant adrenaline rush from start to finish. I know I have to get my hands on the previous two books in this series: I want back into Lyssia! ASAP!
Drew Ferran, the last Grey Wolf of Lyssia, was smart, fast and strong, willing to do anything to survive. I found him proud, kind, good, loyal and giving, with a good heart. Drew was just really noble: a real king. His thinking was inspiration and he always spoke his mind. And while he wasn’t afraid to use violence, he preferred to talk things out. Drew was a king of old, honourable, brave, defiant and passionate. And I fell in love with him from the word go!
Baron Hector, Boarlord of Redmire, was haunted by “Vincent-vile”, the spirit of his dead twin. He really missed Drew, and he had a good heart. But the black spot on his hand, that grew every time he “dabbles in communing” with spirits, showed that something was wrong... And the Vincent-vile was just horrible, always saying cruel things. All he wanted to do was help Drew, but he was truly out of his depth…
Count Vega, a Sharklord, the Pirate Prince. To start with, I felt Vega was heartless, that he killed too easily. But soon after, I started swaying, changed by his snarky humour and the care he showed towards his crew and the Weres on it. And, before long, I had decided that I loved him. Ok, so he’s a pirate – a Were pirate at that. But he has a good heart. He was really rather sweet, in a piratey way. He soon turned into an unlikely favourite of mine, one I was always happy to see.
Trent Ferran, Drew’s brother, who was in the Lionguard, hunting Drew. He wanted his brother dead more than anyone… Of course, as I loved Drew, I instantly hated Trent for hunting Drew down. But as I saw his reasoning, and what he was like, I grudgingly admitted he wasn’t too bad. He was quite honourable and very determined. I think he will come into himself in Book Four, and I’m looking forward to that.
All the other characters were equally well padded and thought out. One of the ones I hated most was Count Kesslar, a Goatlord and slaver. He was a selfish, greedy coward, who I loathed from the moment I met him. On the other hand, I loved Duke Manfred, the Werestag of Stormdale: he was really level headed, proper and kind, always seeing the good instead of the bad. The character who creeped me out the most was, without a doubt, Slotha, the Walrus of Tuskun. She was (to quote from the book): a “notoriously ill tempered, violent woman”. And her city? Eek, it came me the creeps, and so did she. She really was horribly vicious, and the fact she was a Werewalrus made her even scarier. (If you want to find out more about Slotha, check out Curtis’ guest post on when it comes up tomorrow.)
May I just say, I am in love with this world. The various Werelords, all the different ‘species’. The change, the characters: everything was so vivid. I love the twist Jobling has put on the lycanthropy mythology: silver, shifting… It was all just so cool! I loved learning all about the Therianthropes, and meeting the various other characters. I was over the moon to see Sirens as well – again, I adore the twist! But: it got better: Weremammoths. So cool, right?! I loved this book, the action, the fantasy, the characters. And by the end, I was left going crazy for more.
The action had a huge part in that: it started from the word go, sucking me straight in. And even though I hadn’t read any of the previous books, I felt… invested. And I understood everything, all the backstories. And, blimey, the action was non-stop! There were the most amazing battle scenes, that really got the old adrenaline flowing. I loved the action – and I’m not normally one who likes violence. All reluctant readers could really get into Shadow of the Hawk in my opinion – it’s like a film: I could see everything in my head as I read.
And that was thanks to the writing: it was just amazing. It had me totally hooked. It was lyrical, powerful, descriptive. I could see everything – every character, every setting, every battle. And I loved that we got to see into all of the characters’ heads, got to see all the action. There was never a dull moment. Throughout the whole book, I wasn’t bored from a millisecond. This series, this book, this world is so utterly addictive it’s untrue. I loved every moment, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the other books!
I loved this book, the action, the fantasy, the characters. By the end, I wanted more, more, more! In other words:
I. NEED. THE. NEXT. BOOK. NOW!
A brave hero, a band of gladiators, an imposter king, a vengeful knight, a world full of Werelords and Wereladies, Wereworld is a place like no other, a world more fantastical and magical than any I’ve read about for a long time…
Drew Ferran, rightful heir to the Westland throne, is a prisoner. The Goatlord Kesslar has the young Werewolf in his possession, taking him to the land of the Lizardlords. There, Drew will be forced to fight as a gladiator, and make unlikely alliances in order to escape alive, from a place no one has broken away from before…
Hector the Wereboar, Vega the Sharklord and Werestag Manfred are fleeing from the Catlords, aboard the notorious pirate ship Maelstrom. But as the spirits haunting Hector grow stronger, he is left wondering whether the true enemy is closer than they thought…
I honestly don’t know what I was expecting when I started this – especially as I haven’t read any of the other books in the series. A cross between Narnia and Teen Wolf perhaps? I don’t know. Most definitely not the fantastical, action-packed, magical, pure awesome book that was Shadow of the Hawk. From the word go, I was sucked in. I fell totally and completely in love with the world. I just could not put it down, in a constant adrenaline rush from start to finish. I know I have to get my hands on the previous two books in this series: I want back into Lyssia! ASAP!
Drew Ferran, the last Grey Wolf of Lyssia, was smart, fast and strong, willing to do anything to survive. I found him proud, kind, good, loyal and giving, with a good heart. Drew was just really noble: a real king. His thinking was inspiration and he always spoke his mind. And while he wasn’t afraid to use violence, he preferred to talk things out. Drew was a king of old, honourable, brave, defiant and passionate. And I fell in love with him from the word go!
Baron Hector, Boarlord of Redmire, was haunted by “Vincent-vile”, the spirit of his dead twin. He really missed Drew, and he had a good heart. But the black spot on his hand, that grew every time he “dabbles in communing” with spirits, showed that something was wrong... And the Vincent-vile was just horrible, always saying cruel things. All he wanted to do was help Drew, but he was truly out of his depth…
Count Vega, a Sharklord, the Pirate Prince. To start with, I felt Vega was heartless, that he killed too easily. But soon after, I started swaying, changed by his snarky humour and the care he showed towards his crew and the Weres on it. And, before long, I had decided that I loved him. Ok, so he’s a pirate – a Were pirate at that. But he has a good heart. He was really rather sweet, in a piratey way. He soon turned into an unlikely favourite of mine, one I was always happy to see.
Trent Ferran, Drew’s brother, who was in the Lionguard, hunting Drew. He wanted his brother dead more than anyone… Of course, as I loved Drew, I instantly hated Trent for hunting Drew down. But as I saw his reasoning, and what he was like, I grudgingly admitted he wasn’t too bad. He was quite honourable and very determined. I think he will come into himself in Book Four, and I’m looking forward to that.
All the other characters were equally well padded and thought out. One of the ones I hated most was Count Kesslar, a Goatlord and slaver. He was a selfish, greedy coward, who I loathed from the moment I met him. On the other hand, I loved Duke Manfred, the Werestag of Stormdale: he was really level headed, proper and kind, always seeing the good instead of the bad. The character who creeped me out the most was, without a doubt, Slotha, the Walrus of Tuskun. She was (to quote from the book): a “notoriously ill tempered, violent woman”. And her city? Eek, it came me the creeps, and so did she. She really was horribly vicious, and the fact she was a Werewalrus made her even scarier. (If you want to find out more about Slotha, check out Curtis’ guest post on when it comes up tomorrow.)
May I just say, I am in love with this world. The various Werelords, all the different ‘species’. The change, the characters: everything was so vivid. I love the twist Jobling has put on the lycanthropy mythology: silver, shifting… It was all just so cool! I loved learning all about the Therianthropes, and meeting the various other characters. I was over the moon to see Sirens as well – again, I adore the twist! But: it got better: Weremammoths. So cool, right?! I loved this book, the action, the fantasy, the characters. And by the end, I was left going crazy for more.
The action had a huge part in that: it started from the word go, sucking me straight in. And even though I hadn’t read any of the previous books, I felt… invested. And I understood everything, all the backstories. And, blimey, the action was non-stop! There were the most amazing battle scenes, that really got the old adrenaline flowing. I loved the action – and I’m not normally one who likes violence. All reluctant readers could really get into Shadow of the Hawk in my opinion – it’s like a film: I could see everything in my head as I read.
And that was thanks to the writing: it was just amazing. It had me totally hooked. It was lyrical, powerful, descriptive. I could see everything – every character, every setting, every battle. And I loved that we got to see into all of the characters’ heads, got to see all the action. There was never a dull moment. Throughout the whole book, I wasn’t bored from a millisecond. This series, this book, this world is so utterly addictive it’s untrue. I loved every moment, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the other books!
I loved this book, the action, the fantasy, the characters. By the end, I wanted more, more, more! In other words:
I. NEED. THE. NEXT. BOOK. NOW!
October 11, 2017
Wereworld
Shadow of the Hawk
By Curtis Jobling
Imagine finding yourself as a prisoner. You are desperate to get out because your rightful heir to
the throne. Wereworld; Shadow of the Hawk is great at making things intense with action and
adventure. This book has many shapeshifting humans that turns into many amazing creatures.
One of the shapeshifting humans is a guy named Drew. He can shape-shift into a gray wolf. The
way Curtis can explain the way the human body shape-shifts into their creature is quite intense. I
like that Curtis limits the gore. I like that Curtis can explain a character as if you were standing
right next to him/her. Curtis goes more in depth it the action then most author do. The thing that
he does that I don’t really like is the jumping between characters. I like that in this book you’ll
see some big words that you might not know or understand which means you’ll learn more
words. I’m not one to like reading but when I started this series of books I couldn’t get enough. I
really liked this book because of the intensity of the action and adventure. This book is a total
469 pages which might seem like a lot but if you’re into the story as I was then it’ll just take you
only a few weeks to read. Before you read this book you should read books 1 and 2 because
this book wouldn’t make as much sense in some parts.
Shadow of the Hawk
By Curtis Jobling
Imagine finding yourself as a prisoner. You are desperate to get out because your rightful heir to
the throne. Wereworld; Shadow of the Hawk is great at making things intense with action and
adventure. This book has many shapeshifting humans that turns into many amazing creatures.
One of the shapeshifting humans is a guy named Drew. He can shape-shift into a gray wolf. The
way Curtis can explain the way the human body shape-shifts into their creature is quite intense. I
like that Curtis limits the gore. I like that Curtis can explain a character as if you were standing
right next to him/her. Curtis goes more in depth it the action then most author do. The thing that
he does that I don’t really like is the jumping between characters. I like that in this book you’ll
see some big words that you might not know or understand which means you’ll learn more
words. I’m not one to like reading but when I started this series of books I couldn’t get enough. I
really liked this book because of the intensity of the action and adventure. This book is a total
469 pages which might seem like a lot but if you’re into the story as I was then it’ll just take you
only a few weeks to read. Before you read this book you should read books 1 and 2 because
this book wouldn’t make as much sense in some parts.
January 4, 2024
This book was better than the first two. New lines have been drawn and now there is a traitor among the heroes.
February 26, 2017
Well, this was quite good and expertly interesting. I enjoyed it not a small amount. Although, I had was somewhat perturbed with some parts. But they are mostly spoilers, so I shan't voice… er, write convert to text my perturbation.
October 11, 2012
While I prefer to read series in order, I did skip the second book in the Wereworld series. I caught on to what was happening pretty fast, although I did miss one or two important instances of character development. I do think it's best to at least read the first book (RISE OF THE WOLF) before jumping into SHADOW OF THE HAWK, because it lays out the groundwork for how the world works and introduces many of the characters. (This is a series with a gigantic cast. Forgive me if I get any names wrong.)
Drew, our protagonist, is the last of the Gray Wolves and has a claim to the throne of Lyssia. His half-brother Prince Lucas wants to keep the throne in Werelion hands. They each have their supporters, although Drew begins SHADOW OF THE HAWK cut off from his and stuck in slavery, serving as a gladiator. (I'll give you three guesses as to whether he incites a rebellion, first two don't count.) Meanwhile, his staunchest allies are sailing to a prospective safe haven and the two coolest female characters from the first book are MIA. (Gretchen and Whitley, you are missed.)
The rightful king who will bring peace to the land is not a new plot in children's fantasy. But Curtis Jobling's take is appealing. There's lots of different societies to be navigated, all sorts of monsters, and you'll probably like at least one of the main characters. At times, SHADOW OF THE HAWK does feel a bit too sprawling. Drew's fortunes change several times and his brother Trent makes a meaningful journey, but most of the other plotlines have less direction. (And I can't even talk about Hector, oh my.)
I've enjoyed the two Wereworld books I've read, and they're surprisingly quick reads. (Each book is rather thick.) But the quickness might be because they're often shallow. SHADOW OF THE HAWK has a high body count, but I wasn't all that affected by the deaths. Some of them were certainly horrible, but there was none of that horrible wrenching feeling that occurs when a character you empathize with dies.
But, as you can probably guess from the covers, this is a series for young boys. I suspect that they eat it up - even if their parents might be unhappy about some of the violence. But SHADOW OF THE HAWK is well suited to its intended audience and a pleasant enough diversion to older fantasy fans.
Drew, our protagonist, is the last of the Gray Wolves and has a claim to the throne of Lyssia. His half-brother Prince Lucas wants to keep the throne in Werelion hands. They each have their supporters, although Drew begins SHADOW OF THE HAWK cut off from his and stuck in slavery, serving as a gladiator. (I'll give you three guesses as to whether he incites a rebellion, first two don't count.) Meanwhile, his staunchest allies are sailing to a prospective safe haven and the two coolest female characters from the first book are MIA. (Gretchen and Whitley, you are missed.)
The rightful king who will bring peace to the land is not a new plot in children's fantasy. But Curtis Jobling's take is appealing. There's lots of different societies to be navigated, all sorts of monsters, and you'll probably like at least one of the main characters. At times, SHADOW OF THE HAWK does feel a bit too sprawling. Drew's fortunes change several times and his brother Trent makes a meaningful journey, but most of the other plotlines have less direction. (And I can't even talk about Hector, oh my.)
I've enjoyed the two Wereworld books I've read, and they're surprisingly quick reads. (Each book is rather thick.) But the quickness might be because they're often shallow. SHADOW OF THE HAWK has a high body count, but I wasn't all that affected by the deaths. Some of them were certainly horrible, but there was none of that horrible wrenching feeling that occurs when a character you empathize with dies.
But, as you can probably guess from the covers, this is a series for young boys. I suspect that they eat it up - even if their parents might be unhappy about some of the violence. But SHADOW OF THE HAWK is well suited to its intended audience and a pleasant enough diversion to older fantasy fans.
May 19, 2015
"Wereworld Shadow of the Hawk" was a really great book. I really liked the story line, and how all of the characters were so defined. The author, Curtis Jobling, does a really great job at getting a reader interested in a book, when I was reading it it made me not want to put the book down! That is how good of an author he is.
The plot of the story is to show that as long as you have a common goal, anyone can be the most likely of partners. In the story, Drew, Taboo, Drake and Behemoth, along with Krieg all teamed up to kill the leader of a gladiator ring that they were apart of. They then decided to team up together to go against the cat lords to regain all the land that was taken away while they were gone.
The main characters of the story are Drew, Taboo, Krieg, Griffyn, and Behemoth. At the beginning of the book, they all seemed like the most unusual group of friends that I have ever read about. Taboo is a were-tiger, Krieg is a were-rhino, Drew is a were-wolf, and Behemoth is a were-mammoth. Griffyn was a were-hawk, but his wings were cut off when the cat lords started to take over.
The book does not really say what the time or place that it takes place in. If I had to guess what time period it was taking place in, I would have to say that it would be in the Golden Age of Piracy. I say this because the story talks about being on pirate ships. The place is in a totally different world. I say this because it is talking about continents that do not and never did exist.
If I had to recommend this book to anyone, it would probably be to kids over the age of ten. I say this because it is appropriate for little kids, but still has some violent scenes, and some swearing. If anyone likes to read about mythological creatures, this would be that book.
The plot of the story is to show that as long as you have a common goal, anyone can be the most likely of partners. In the story, Drew, Taboo, Drake and Behemoth, along with Krieg all teamed up to kill the leader of a gladiator ring that they were apart of. They then decided to team up together to go against the cat lords to regain all the land that was taken away while they were gone.
The main characters of the story are Drew, Taboo, Krieg, Griffyn, and Behemoth. At the beginning of the book, they all seemed like the most unusual group of friends that I have ever read about. Taboo is a were-tiger, Krieg is a were-rhino, Drew is a were-wolf, and Behemoth is a were-mammoth. Griffyn was a were-hawk, but his wings were cut off when the cat lords started to take over.
The book does not really say what the time or place that it takes place in. If I had to guess what time period it was taking place in, I would have to say that it would be in the Golden Age of Piracy. I say this because the story talks about being on pirate ships. The place is in a totally different world. I say this because it is talking about continents that do not and never did exist.
If I had to recommend this book to anyone, it would probably be to kids over the age of ten. I say this because it is appropriate for little kids, but still has some violent scenes, and some swearing. If anyone likes to read about mythological creatures, this would be that book.
December 14, 2018
Wereworld book #3, Shadow of the Hawk, is a amazing book that completely lives up to the expectations set by the first two books. As with the last two books, it can get a bit gory, so I would definitely recommend it for older teens. If you have read the last two books and enjoyed them, you will surely love this one. It starts right off where the last book ended. In the his other books, Curtis Jobling amazed me at his ability to evenly distribute the action throughout his book, keeping them interesting, but not completely all action. In this book, he has not let me down. He is incredibly consistent in his writing, and the book does not disappoint. The ending, though a bit bland ended the book nicely, with enough suspense to make you want the next book. All in all, a great book.
November 2, 2017
A good chapter in the story of Wereworld but there are a few problems like for one I felt there may have been to many storylines as we keep jumping from Drew's story to Hector's and then they thrown in Trent and it kind of makes the story feel a little bloated as there is just so much to keep track of. Like to be honest I would have cut out Trent's storyline and maybe saved that for a big reveal as it does seem kind of pointless as nothing really significant happens there. And maybe used more time to develop the other werelords and their backstories. But still nice addition with just a few problems and kind of curious about Hector's future.
February 21, 2012
Another amazinf wereworld story! so glad i came upon this series. its so well written and keeps you gripped as to what happens next.
i dont think ive taken more than 3 days to read any of them and cant wait for the next one.
a world of Lycanthropes that are civilised and known and respected by all in their world is a refreshing concept for shape shifter books
In Shadow of the Hawk drew is taken to an Arena to be a Gladiator among other unfortunate Lords and is desperate to break free and return to the fight
i dont think ive taken more than 3 days to read any of them and cant wait for the next one.
a world of Lycanthropes that are civilised and known and respected by all in their world is a refreshing concept for shape shifter books
In Shadow of the Hawk drew is taken to an Arena to be a Gladiator among other unfortunate Lords and is desperate to break free and return to the fight
January 17, 2013
This was book 3 in the Werelord Series. There have been times when I get really into a series and the first two are really good and then book 3 just somehow doesn't live up to my expectations. This was definitely not the case here. Book 3 was just as good as the first 2.
Werelord series is a unique blend of fantasy (shape shifters of all types), high adventure and action that will keep the pages turning.
I stumbled upon this series a while back and so glad I did.
This is a really great series and can't wait for book 4.
Werelord series is a unique blend of fantasy (shape shifters of all types), high adventure and action that will keep the pages turning.
I stumbled upon this series a while back and so glad I did.
This is a really great series and can't wait for book 4.
October 15, 2012
The book is an excellent read.The plot is very exciting and doesn't leave you disappointed, though i must say the alarming death rate in this book did annoy me.The third book in my opinion is the best of the the first three.The way Drew's character has grown sice the beggining of his journey leaves me impressesed again,even though he seems to become more and more like Eragon as the books progress.
October 20, 2012
This is the third book in an absolutely fantastic fantasy adventure series. I'm looking forward to book four.
March 21, 2012
Totally awesome! Nonstop action, unexpected character development (Hector, I'm looking at you, filthy swine) and very original! Best epic fantasy in years! True story!
November 25, 2012
The rollercoaster ride of adventure and horror continues...
April 9, 2013
i found that this book lead me deeper into the story of Drew and the other lords within the kingdom. if you enjoyed the first and second book this one will not leave you disappointed.
June 11, 2017
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.
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.
January 6, 2019
My name is Drew, and I woke up to find myself sold into slavery. The Werelord here expects me to fight and kill in the ring, but I refuse to do his bidding. The other gladiators have given up hope, but I'm slowly convincing some to consider escape. The Werecats have returned to Lyssia, and their evilness is spreading to the other kingdoms. I hear they helped King Leopold escape his imprisonment, but he was killed shortly after. The prince has taken his place, and I don't think that's any better. I hope my friend Hector is well and that he's been able to rescue Lady Gretchen. I hope he's fully recovered from communing with his dead father; that's very dangerous dark magic. It's time for me to accept my destiny to unite the seven kingdoms, but I hope it's not too late.
I've enjoyed Drew's plight, as he slowly brings hope to the citizens oppressed by the Werecats. However, violence and its graphic description are still central to the plot, and I'm still not crazy about how Hector's character has changed. The vile in his head is leading him astray, and he's slowly becoming another antagonist. Drew's character continues to be virtuous and compassionate toward the disadvantaged citizens. He constantly steps up to help others who might be bullied or abused. However, he frequently finds himself outmatched and in need of being rescued by one of his friends. Luckily, he makes many new talented friends along the way. I'm happy to see Drew finally seems to be making progress toward uniting different realms. He's been on the run since the start of book one and has been losing key supporters along the way. However, there's now hope of success leading into book four. Reunions between Drew and his brother and Drew and Hector seem inevitable, although the results should be dramatically different.
I've enjoyed Drew's plight, as he slowly brings hope to the citizens oppressed by the Werecats. However, violence and its graphic description are still central to the plot, and I'm still not crazy about how Hector's character has changed. The vile in his head is leading him astray, and he's slowly becoming another antagonist. Drew's character continues to be virtuous and compassionate toward the disadvantaged citizens. He constantly steps up to help others who might be bullied or abused. However, he frequently finds himself outmatched and in need of being rescued by one of his friends. Luckily, he makes many new talented friends along the way. I'm happy to see Drew finally seems to be making progress toward uniting different realms. He's been on the run since the start of book one and has been losing key supporters along the way. However, there's now hope of success leading into book four. Reunions between Drew and his brother and Drew and Hector seem inevitable, although the results should be dramatically different.
May 26, 2020
Was very close to rating this book 5 stars. This book really hit a great stride within the series. The constant quests feel exciting and comfortable at the same time, and the cast of characters are excellent. I am really enjoying what a rich world Jobling has developed and really find myself rooting for our hero. This series reads like a kids version of Game of Thrones, with some Pendragon sprinkled in- an excellent rec for any teen.
I do think this book (and probably this series) is a little quick to kill off some great characters (a la GoT), which is disappointing, but I understand the narrative purpose. Overall, I feel like there is little to critique with this book.
What ultimately makes me reluctant to give it the full 5 stars, is that while I think it is an excellent book for what it is, I don't think it's the perfect book for me. The kid version of Game of Thrones? Pretty spot on that it has all the violence and intensity and political conspiring, but with no romance (not really, the bread crumbs we're given don't count imo)or cursing or anything else that would add some relief to all that. This is an excellent book, but it's just not all the way there for me because it's lacking those extra things that makes stories rich for me.
Also, I think Drew could easily be interpreted as bi, Whitley is non-binary, and Vega is gay. I expect no return on these headcanons, but am curious to read and see if other fans have similar thoughts or not.
I do think this book (and probably this series) is a little quick to kill off some great characters (a la GoT), which is disappointing, but I understand the narrative purpose. Overall, I feel like there is little to critique with this book.
What ultimately makes me reluctant to give it the full 5 stars, is that while I think it is an excellent book for what it is, I don't think it's the perfect book for me. The kid version of Game of Thrones? Pretty spot on that it has all the violence and intensity and political conspiring, but with no romance (not really, the bread crumbs we're given don't count imo)or cursing or anything else that would add some relief to all that. This is an excellent book, but it's just not all the way there for me because it's lacking those extra things that makes stories rich for me.
Also, I think Drew could easily be interpreted as bi, Whitley is non-binary, and Vega is gay. I expect no return on these headcanons, but am curious to read and see if other fans have similar thoughts or not.
July 5, 2019
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.
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.
October 7, 2025
The beginning was slow going and there is little dialogue that isn't there to push the plot forward.
Characters that are not Drew get arcs and I like that. Hector's was. Certainly interesting to see. Vega is of course my favorite and that should tell you everything there is to know about the Boarlord.
Drew has this thing - he appears all cool and suave and flops so hard. And once or twice that's fine. But every time? His development never sticks- he is ready to kill Kesslar one minute and then he is offering him mercy?? After everything he has done? Feels like a disservice to his allies and himself. He also keeps wanting to save everyone and. Hm. That's great but we have to get some consequences for doing that all the time. Please. Let this boy hate. I beg you. He was born a preacher and a pacifist, but was forced to be a warrior king.
Trent. Frost. What else do I have to say?
All in all, I liked the book - the end was better than the beginning for sure. Action finally picked up and things were moving forward. Whether I wish for more character interactions and relationship development that is shown rather than told is irrelevant. The descriptions were fantastic and I'm curious to see where the plot will lead us.
VEGA IS ALIVE! I WAS FRIGGING RIGHT!!
Characters that are not Drew get arcs and I like that. Hector's was. Certainly interesting to see. Vega is of course my favorite and that should tell you everything there is to know about the Boarlord.
Drew has this thing - he appears all cool and suave and flops so hard. And once or twice that's fine. But every time? His development never sticks- he is ready to kill Kesslar one minute and then he is offering him mercy?? After everything he has done? Feels like a disservice to his allies and himself. He also keeps wanting to save everyone and. Hm. That's great but we have to get some consequences for doing that all the time. Please. Let this boy hate. I beg you. He was born a preacher and a pacifist, but was forced to be a warrior king.
Trent. Frost. What else do I have to say?
All in all, I liked the book - the end was better than the beginning for sure. Action finally picked up and things were moving forward. Whether I wish for more character interactions and relationship development that is shown rather than told is irrelevant. The descriptions were fantastic and I'm curious to see where the plot will lead us.
VEGA IS ALIVE! I WAS FRIGGING RIGHT!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2018
This book was a little harder for me to get into, but I think that’s more so my personal mindset than the material.
Hector’s storyline was interesting and saddening at the same time.
Drew’s seemed predictable and typical of a main character, but entertaining nonetheless.
Trent’s was angering but where his story leaves of gives a lot of hope.
Vega... I’m generally attracted to the morally gray rogue characters, but there’s something to be said for Vega. He’s 30s-40s and still has character development.
I wish there was more dialogue, honestly. But I can’t really think of anything else to criticize... originally I thought I’d give this book a 3, but the ending bumped it up to a 3.5 and I thought about it a little more and realized that this book deserves a 4 star rating.
Predictable? Yes, but there were surprises. Boring at times, but so interesting I didn’t realize I was turning pages at others. Sometimes a little slow, others a bit rushed. I love this series :’)
Hector’s storyline was interesting and saddening at the same time.
Drew’s seemed predictable and typical of a main character, but entertaining nonetheless.
Trent’s was angering but where his story leaves of gives a lot of hope.
Vega... I’m generally attracted to the morally gray rogue characters, but there’s something to be said for Vega. He’s 30s-40s and still has character development.
I wish there was more dialogue, honestly. But I can’t really think of anything else to criticize... originally I thought I’d give this book a 3, but the ending bumped it up to a 3.5 and I thought about it a little more and realized that this book deserves a 4 star rating.
Predictable? Yes, but there were surprises. Boring at times, but so interesting I didn’t realize I was turning pages at others. Sometimes a little slow, others a bit rushed. I love this series :’)
January 17, 2018
In this book of the series, Drew finds himself a slave, fighting to the death against other humans and animals. He escapes with the help of his friends after suffering for a considerable amount of time. While he ventures across the sea to find the hawks, the wolfguard spends time running away from the lionguard. Drew's brother, Trent, attempts to search for Drew. Hector makes a dangerous deal with the undead, risking his life. After he is saved by a shark-man, Vega, he decides to kill him because of his knowledge. After injuring Vega and throwing him off of the ship, everyone assumes Vega is dead, so the wolfguard tricks Hector into being left behind on an island. Hector is captured by Slotha, but encourages her to bring him to the lion king.
This book is very action-packed and has many twists to the plot.
This book is very action-packed and has many twists to the plot.
August 15, 2025
These books really suffer from being meant for a younger audience. I think there is some really interesting themes and plot points that could be explored in this novel in really interesting ways. However, the book is held back because it’s meant for consumption by kids and because of that the books can only scratch the surface of these topics. Topics on equality, freedom, the cost of justice, and the weight of power could all be explored here but are only barely touched on. I think there is some genuine potential here that could have been really explored if the novels had been targeted toward an older audience. A version of these novels made for like 16+ could be really interesting. Oh well, just go read GoT instead.
April 10, 2018
Non stop excitement in this series, with lots of action and intrigue, and a twisting, turning tale of dramatic adventure. It definitely keeps pulling us forward with interest and anxious anticipation, though, I must say, that the circumstances continue to go from bad to worse for the protagonists. It's something of a Ranger's Apprentice meets X-Men, with hints of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings. Lots of fighting and battles throughout, but also personal drama and character development. The world building is solid and well done. The characters are colorful, distinct, and well developed. We're already on to the next book in the series, and we are all enjoying it.
May 15, 2019
As with the previous books of the Wereworld series, there is a lot of gore and violence in this book. The story is moving along well and death comes to many. Some misconceptions are corrected and some characters are unrecognizable from when the books began. I do like this series for what it is. Some elements still keep me from really liking it, but overall I am enjoying the adventure and characters. I can't quite see a bunch of 14/15/16 year olds doing what these ones have been doing throughout the series so far, but I can look past that.
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