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Fangborn #2
Pack of Strays
The second exciting novel in the Fangborn series.
Archaeologist Zoe Miller has only recently learned she is Fangborn, a secretive race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles dedicated to protecting humanity. But after she discovered and opened Pandora's Box, the fabled item has lived up to its myth, and for Zoe and her friends, all hell has broken loose. Now she's on a double mission: to prevent a politician from revealing the existence of the Fangborn and to foil the diabolical plans of the powerful Order of Nicomedia, a group dedicated to eradicating her kind.
But Zoe is also noticing disturbing changes in herself ? new and unique abilities. Her visions are intensifying too, drawing her to faraway places to find more artifacts like the bejeweled bracelet embedded in her wrist.
In a world of dizzying shifts, who can Zoe trust? For while her former lover wants to turn her in, her former adversary seems dedicated to helping her mission succeed . . .
The second novel in Dana Cameron's Fangborn series, Pack of Strays takes the fast-paced adventure of Seven Kinds of Hell to a whole new level!
Archaeologist Zoe Miller has only recently learned she is Fangborn, a secretive race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles dedicated to protecting humanity. But after she discovered and opened Pandora's Box, the fabled item has lived up to its myth, and for Zoe and her friends, all hell has broken loose. Now she's on a double mission: to prevent a politician from revealing the existence of the Fangborn and to foil the diabolical plans of the powerful Order of Nicomedia, a group dedicated to eradicating her kind.
But Zoe is also noticing disturbing changes in herself ? new and unique abilities. Her visions are intensifying too, drawing her to faraway places to find more artifacts like the bejeweled bracelet embedded in her wrist.
In a world of dizzying shifts, who can Zoe trust? For while her former lover wants to turn her in, her former adversary seems dedicated to helping her mission succeed . . .
The second novel in Dana Cameron's Fangborn series, Pack of Strays takes the fast-paced adventure of Seven Kinds of Hell to a whole new level!
334 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2014
178 people are currently reading
875 people want to read
About the author
Dana Cameron
49 books110 followers[From the author's own website]
I was born and raised in New England and I live in Massachusetts now, with my husband and benevolent feline overlords. Mine is a quiet, fairly ordinary life. I love that because it's what saves me from an overdeveloped sense of paranoia and a tendency to expect the worst. Combined with an eye for detail and a quirky take on life, these traits give me a vivid internal life, one that's sometimes a little nerve-wracking, but very useful for writing mystery and suspense.
My interest in archaeology stems from childhood, where my interest in books and the opportunities I had to travel made me begin to think about cultural differences. The thing I like best about this work is that it is a real opportunity to try and resurrect individuals from the monolith of history. I've worked on prehistoric and historical sites in the U.S. and in Europe, and like to teach, in the field, in museums, in the classroom, and through writing.
In my first book, Site Unseen, my protagonist Emma Fielding discovers that archaeologists are trained to ask the same questions that detectives ask: who, what, where, when, how, and why. When I started on these books, I realized that archaeology is also good training for writing because research, logic, and persistence are so important to both endeavors.
Naturally, that training worked with the archaeology mysteries--and it also helped with my first short story, "The Lords of Misrule," a historical mystery which appeared in the anthology, Sugarplums and Scandal. But how has it worked when I've tackled subjects as seemingly diverse as werewolves ("The Night Things Changed" in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe and "Swing Shift" in Crimes By Moonlight) and noir ("Femme Sole," in Boston Noir)? Easy: it's all about getting into someone else's shoes and walking around for a while. Preferably, getting into (fictional) trouble while you do it. Asking "what if?" and thinking about how culture and subcultures--in addition to personality--shape behavior.
I was born and raised in New England and I live in Massachusetts now, with my husband and benevolent feline overlords. Mine is a quiet, fairly ordinary life. I love that because it's what saves me from an overdeveloped sense of paranoia and a tendency to expect the worst. Combined with an eye for detail and a quirky take on life, these traits give me a vivid internal life, one that's sometimes a little nerve-wracking, but very useful for writing mystery and suspense.
My interest in archaeology stems from childhood, where my interest in books and the opportunities I had to travel made me begin to think about cultural differences. The thing I like best about this work is that it is a real opportunity to try and resurrect individuals from the monolith of history. I've worked on prehistoric and historical sites in the U.S. and in Europe, and like to teach, in the field, in museums, in the classroom, and through writing.
In my first book, Site Unseen, my protagonist Emma Fielding discovers that archaeologists are trained to ask the same questions that detectives ask: who, what, where, when, how, and why. When I started on these books, I realized that archaeology is also good training for writing because research, logic, and persistence are so important to both endeavors.
Naturally, that training worked with the archaeology mysteries--and it also helped with my first short story, "The Lords of Misrule," a historical mystery which appeared in the anthology, Sugarplums and Scandal. But how has it worked when I've tackled subjects as seemingly diverse as werewolves ("The Night Things Changed" in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe and "Swing Shift" in Crimes By Moonlight) and noir ("Femme Sole," in Boston Noir)? Easy: it's all about getting into someone else's shoes and walking around for a while. Preferably, getting into (fictional) trouble while you do it. Asking "what if?" and thinking about how culture and subcultures--in addition to personality--shape behavior.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 28, 2022
*** 3.75 ***
Much better than the first book. Mostly because the main character isn't running around like a headless chicken most of the time... At this point I just want to know how the author is going to wrap it up 🙂👍
Much better than the first book. Mostly because the main character isn't running around like a headless chicken most of the time... At this point I just want to know how the author is going to wrap it up 🙂👍
May 13, 2014
The brilliant second in the Fangborn Series! When I received Pack of Strays” from Netgalley.com I didn’t realize that this was actually the second book in the “Fangborn” series. I had heard very good things about “Fangborn” on-line at goodreads.com, and I was excited to try it. However, finding this was the second, well, what could I do? I ran over to Amazon and grabbed the first, Seven Kinds of Hell.
What can I say, but WOW! The first paragraph of my Seven Kinds of Hell review shows how excited I about the book:
One thing you must know about this book before walking into the story is this – you hold in your hand not some simple, See Jane Run, Run Jane Run novel. If you are looking for minimal world building, simplistic answers, and only two or three characters with clear-cut goals, this book isn’t for you. It is so far out of the “let’s just do mindless entertainment” wheelhouse you can’t even see it from the top of the Pharos Lighthouse.
I love, well, adore actually, books with depth of world building, complex questions and characters, and far-from-mindless entertainment. Well, not always – sometimes we just want to have fun, right? But with “Seven Kinds of Hell,” the excitement kept me engrossed from the first page to the last. And Pack of Strays? Oh, yes. Zoe Miller’s life isn’t getting any easier. If anything, her life is becoming more and more complicated as she not only learns more about who she is, and why, but also how important she apparently is within this weird, wild world she now inhabits. A deadly world.
Ms. Cameron once again amazes with her depth of historical and archaeological knowledge. While Zoe stayed mostly on the East Coast in the last book, this time she globe trots to some of the most beautiful, and fascinating, cities in the world. Copenhagen to Istanbul, her search for the artifacts which call to her lead her to mysterious places and people, while transformations to her very being change her in such a way that even the other Fangborn do not understand what is happening – but they do know they don’t like it. But why?
If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul. – Alphonse de Lamartine
The ending was both shocking and startling, and the worse part of it is that now I have to wait for the next book! Zoe started out the series as just another budding archaeologist, doing the grunt-work, labeling and storing and basically living in the basement of the Boston Museum. What a terrifying change, as she discovers not only that werewolves and vampires and oracles (oh, my!) are real, but they are nothing like Hollywood would have you believe – and she just might be the only hope of saving them all.
With friends becoming enemies, and enemies becoming possible friends, Zoe is stretched beyond anything she has ever believed possible. Will she learn who, and what, her mother was? And is her unknown father possibly still alive? The suspense, action, and depth of the characters will keep you reading into the wee hours!
In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Five stars? Nah – read them both, one after another and if you love the same kind of books I do, I absolutely expect you to give it a Perfect Ten!
Highly recommended. This book was provided to me by the Publisher in return for a realistic review, and I very much appreciate it!
What can I say, but WOW! The first paragraph of my Seven Kinds of Hell review shows how excited I about the book:
One thing you must know about this book before walking into the story is this – you hold in your hand not some simple, See Jane Run, Run Jane Run novel. If you are looking for minimal world building, simplistic answers, and only two or three characters with clear-cut goals, this book isn’t for you. It is so far out of the “let’s just do mindless entertainment” wheelhouse you can’t even see it from the top of the Pharos Lighthouse.
I love, well, adore actually, books with depth of world building, complex questions and characters, and far-from-mindless entertainment. Well, not always – sometimes we just want to have fun, right? But with “Seven Kinds of Hell,” the excitement kept me engrossed from the first page to the last. And Pack of Strays? Oh, yes. Zoe Miller’s life isn’t getting any easier. If anything, her life is becoming more and more complicated as she not only learns more about who she is, and why, but also how important she apparently is within this weird, wild world she now inhabits. A deadly world.
Ms. Cameron once again amazes with her depth of historical and archaeological knowledge. While Zoe stayed mostly on the East Coast in the last book, this time she globe trots to some of the most beautiful, and fascinating, cities in the world. Copenhagen to Istanbul, her search for the artifacts which call to her lead her to mysterious places and people, while transformations to her very being change her in such a way that even the other Fangborn do not understand what is happening – but they do know they don’t like it. But why?
If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul. – Alphonse de Lamartine
The ending was both shocking and startling, and the worse part of it is that now I have to wait for the next book! Zoe started out the series as just another budding archaeologist, doing the grunt-work, labeling and storing and basically living in the basement of the Boston Museum. What a terrifying change, as she discovers not only that werewolves and vampires and oracles (oh, my!) are real, but they are nothing like Hollywood would have you believe – and she just might be the only hope of saving them all.
With friends becoming enemies, and enemies becoming possible friends, Zoe is stretched beyond anything she has ever believed possible. Will she learn who, and what, her mother was? And is her unknown father possibly still alive? The suspense, action, and depth of the characters will keep you reading into the wee hours!
In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Five stars? Nah – read them both, one after another and if you love the same kind of books I do, I absolutely expect you to give it a Perfect Ten!
Highly recommended. This book was provided to me by the Publisher in return for a realistic review, and I very much appreciate it!
April 12, 2014
**I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
Pack of Strays is the second novel in the Fangborn series and the sequel to Seven Kinds of Hell. Zoe Miller, our heroine, is an fledgling archaeologist and a newly revealed Fangborn, a secretive race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles that have dedicated themselves to protecting humanity and eradicating evil while trying to keep under the humans radar.
Seven Kinds of Hell revealed that Zoe, who is really a werewolf, was hidden away from the "FAMILY" by her own mother to keep her away from them, and so she spent her informative years believing that she was simply human. She kept her "BEAST" hidden under wraps for fear of being discovered by those who wish to harm her, and there are a WHOLE lot of enemies who want a piece of Zoe. Zoe is a different sort of Fangborn in that she has abilities nobody else has thanks to her opening Pandora's box and the jeweled bracelet that is permanently attached to her wrist that enhances and adds to her werewolf abilities.
In Pack of Strays, Zoe and Adam Nichols, who until recently worked for a secretive government agency known as TRG (the same group that captured Zoe and her friends and experimented on them), finds themselves searching for Fangborn artifacts while also trying to say one step ahead of a group of Fangborn haters known as the Order of Nicomedia. This trip takes Zoe from NYC, to Denmark & Turkey, back to Boston where the climatic last scene takes place between the Fangborn, the Order, and their minions known as the "FELLBORN". The story hints of a prophecy involving Zoe, but leaves open the door for an even darker, twisted, mystery.
Pack of Strays is filled with action, and suspense, and mysteries, and new characters like oracle Victoria (Vee) Brooks and vampire Toshiharu Yamazaki-Campbell. Both are very capable and important additions to the series, and have interesting abilities as well. The most prevalent villain of the story and one who just refuses to go away, is Jacob Buell. Jacob is just plain evil, and does things to Zoe and the Fangborn that will get your blood boiling.
For me, the unfortunate and loathsome 3 way triangle pops up its ugly head up & apparently decides that it needs to enter the foray at the most inopportune of moments. It leaves me wondering if Cameron is seriously trying to gather the ire of readers like me who just wants the heroine to make a choice and live with it already! I might not be as forgiving as other readers when it comes to a character betraying my heroine, and dismissing her like she never mattered in the first place.
Overall, I am mostly satisfied with the overall direction Pack of Strays took and love how Zoe is gaining more and more abilities as she collects Fangborn artifacts and understands her own strengths and determination. I appreciated that most of the characters from the first book, Danny, Gerry & Claudia Steuben, and Dmitri Parshin returned to Pack of Strays and joined the fight against the Order. I am definitely interesting in learning more about Dragon Quarrel who is presumably what Zoe has to look forward to if she continues on this current path. I am a bit frustrated by the way the story ended, but understands that it is the way of the world, and for writers to bribe readers into coming back for the next book in the series.
*Recvd 03/26/2014 via NetGalley* Expected publication: April 15th 2014 by 47north
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
Pack of Strays is the second novel in the Fangborn series and the sequel to Seven Kinds of Hell. Zoe Miller, our heroine, is an fledgling archaeologist and a newly revealed Fangborn, a secretive race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles that have dedicated themselves to protecting humanity and eradicating evil while trying to keep under the humans radar.
Seven Kinds of Hell revealed that Zoe, who is really a werewolf, was hidden away from the "FAMILY" by her own mother to keep her away from them, and so she spent her informative years believing that she was simply human. She kept her "BEAST" hidden under wraps for fear of being discovered by those who wish to harm her, and there are a WHOLE lot of enemies who want a piece of Zoe. Zoe is a different sort of Fangborn in that she has abilities nobody else has thanks to her opening Pandora's box and the jeweled bracelet that is permanently attached to her wrist that enhances and adds to her werewolf abilities.
In Pack of Strays, Zoe and Adam Nichols, who until recently worked for a secretive government agency known as TRG (the same group that captured Zoe and her friends and experimented on them), finds themselves searching for Fangborn artifacts while also trying to say one step ahead of a group of Fangborn haters known as the Order of Nicomedia. This trip takes Zoe from NYC, to Denmark & Turkey, back to Boston where the climatic last scene takes place between the Fangborn, the Order, and their minions known as the "FELLBORN". The story hints of a prophecy involving Zoe, but leaves open the door for an even darker, twisted, mystery.
Pack of Strays is filled with action, and suspense, and mysteries, and new characters like oracle Victoria (Vee) Brooks and vampire Toshiharu Yamazaki-Campbell. Both are very capable and important additions to the series, and have interesting abilities as well. The most prevalent villain of the story and one who just refuses to go away, is Jacob Buell. Jacob is just plain evil, and does things to Zoe and the Fangborn that will get your blood boiling.
For me, the unfortunate and loathsome 3 way triangle pops up its ugly head up & apparently decides that it needs to enter the foray at the most inopportune of moments. It leaves me wondering if Cameron is seriously trying to gather the ire of readers like me who just wants the heroine to make a choice and live with it already! I might not be as forgiving as other readers when it comes to a character betraying my heroine, and dismissing her like she never mattered in the first place.
Overall, I am mostly satisfied with the overall direction Pack of Strays took and love how Zoe is gaining more and more abilities as she collects Fangborn artifacts and understands her own strengths and determination. I appreciated that most of the characters from the first book, Danny, Gerry & Claudia Steuben, and Dmitri Parshin returned to Pack of Strays and joined the fight against the Order. I am definitely interesting in learning more about Dragon Quarrel who is presumably what Zoe has to look forward to if she continues on this current path. I am a bit frustrated by the way the story ended, but understands that it is the way of the world, and for writers to bribe readers into coming back for the next book in the series.
*Recvd 03/26/2014 via NetGalley* Expected publication: April 15th 2014 by 47north
Want to read
January 7, 20167 January 2016: $1.99 on Kindle
31 July 2015: $1.99 on Kindle
28 December 2014: $2.00 on Kindle
31 July 2015: $1.99 on Kindle
28 December 2014: $2.00 on Kindle
June 2, 2018
DNF 58%
January 9, 2016
Ah joy, love triangles. And sex. Mmphs. I could have lived without either.
Another good book in the series. So good that I'm already somewhere in the middle of the third book, which makes writing anything about this one harder to do.
Let's see let's see. This book opens with Zoe inside a special government facility. Surrounded by friends and loved ones. And strangers. The strangers are the ones who like poking her with stuff to see what happens when they do that. Things change, her friends and loved ones poof. She spends more of her time drugged and tested upon, with some story about how every single one of her friends decided to leave. Without saying bye.
Three weeks pass in this manner. Until two people from the prior book help her escape.
Zoe wanders around, somewhat aimlessly ('go north', she tells the person who drives her away from the facility). Occasionally stopping to attack evil. Sleeping, for no reason I can fathom, in the same bed with this other. You know, I should use names. Right, so, even though they aren't lovers or anything, they share a bed. That horrifies me. The mere thought of having to share a bed with someone else. eww. I mean, it makes no sense. She fled her only boyfriend because she had dreams of rolling over and biting his head off. So . . . a guy who has alternated in being an enemy and helper, and a woman with strange new powers she doesn't understand to go along with the older powers she still doesn't understand and . . . they sleep in the same bed? Seriously?
So. Zoe continues to wander around. Attacking evil. Getting kidnapped, tortured, wandering nearish 'artifacts', having said artifacts get excited by her presence. And has the Family see her as evil. All in a . . um . . I don't recall how much time has passed in the book. All in an undetermined period of time.
I would again recommend this book, though note that this is falling further and further into the Paranormal category. Because of the sex.
Another good book in the series. So good that I'm already somewhere in the middle of the third book, which makes writing anything about this one harder to do.
Let's see let's see. This book opens with Zoe inside a special government facility. Surrounded by friends and loved ones. And strangers. The strangers are the ones who like poking her with stuff to see what happens when they do that. Things change, her friends and loved ones poof. She spends more of her time drugged and tested upon, with some story about how every single one of her friends decided to leave. Without saying bye.
Three weeks pass in this manner. Until two people from the prior book help her escape.
Zoe wanders around, somewhat aimlessly ('go north', she tells the person who drives her away from the facility). Occasionally stopping to attack evil. Sleeping, for no reason I can fathom, in the same bed with this other. You know, I should use names. Right, so, even though they aren't lovers or anything, they share a bed. That horrifies me. The mere thought of having to share a bed with someone else. eww. I mean, it makes no sense. She fled her only boyfriend because she had dreams of rolling over and biting his head off. So . . . a guy who has alternated in being an enemy and helper, and a woman with strange new powers she doesn't understand to go along with the older powers she still doesn't understand and . . . they sleep in the same bed? Seriously?
So. Zoe continues to wander around. Attacking evil. Getting kidnapped, tortured, wandering nearish 'artifacts', having said artifacts get excited by her presence. And has the Family see her as evil. All in a . . um . . I don't recall how much time has passed in the book. All in an undetermined period of time.
I would again recommend this book, though note that this is falling further and further into the Paranormal category. Because of the sex.
April 29, 2014
There was just too much going on. Between the crazy searching out of the artifacts - and the reason wasn't ever really all that clear (she had the bracelet from Pandora's Box, but there was no reason to keep going; it wasn't giving her any advantage because she couldn't figure out what to do once they were part of her, and didn't like how they were changing her) - and the changing the other characters to fit the plot, this was a disappointing follow-up. The lack of explanation of some things (how did Dmitiri show up unnoticed when Vee and Danny were there; Zoe giving any credence to Dmitiri; Will and the Steubens being so easily turned against Zoe with nothing more than slight vampiric suggestion; truth behind how/why Zoe has more than wolf powers - is it because of what was done to her mom, or is it because of the artifacts?)
Zoe is incredibly strong willed, which is probably the best thing about her. She does do some incredibly stupid things though.
I ended up finishing it, but it took me a long time for me.
Zoe is incredibly strong willed, which is probably the best thing about her. She does do some incredibly stupid things though.
I ended up finishing it, but it took me a long time for me.
February 2, 2016
What an awesome read this was! Though confusion; absolute confusion ensues.
April 27, 2019
I have a fascination with mythology and religion and find it difficult to separate the two. Both rely heavily on world building and the supernatural to convey the tenets of faith. Supernatural characters operate well only in an environment that can support that which makes them separate and other from the humans around them. By combining the world in which we live with tales from the past, Dana Cameron has built a world around Zoe Miller that is flexible enough for the story to proceed and plausible enough for readers to suspend disbelief and accept her world as presented. Religion famously demands suspension of disbelief calling it faith.
Fiction is most often meant to entertain; good fiction does far more than that. It informs our thinking about society. I read a lot of speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror… just to name a few). I find myself substituting a group under attack in the real world for the supernatural or preternatural creatures in the book. Think of FRANKENSTEIN where we all end up feeling sorry for the monster. Fiction allows the free thought that is so often constrained by societal inhibitions. Dana Cameron has captured the essence of providing that freedom to think about current affairs and society without restriction.
In PACK OF STRAYS there is a good story, page-turning action, and characters you can either love or hate. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the good guys from the bad; however, as the tale continues such conundrums do work themselves out. I absolutely enjoy Zoe Miller's archaeological foundation. I find myself remembering various documentaries and books I have read that deal with early civilizations. Along with the thought-provoking aspects, there is so much to enjoy.
Although PACK OF STRAYS picks up where SEVEN KINDS OF HELL ends, and it does give you the major high points of the first book, do yourself a favor and begin at the beginning. While you're at it, pick up the entire series and enjoy the binge.
Fiction is most often meant to entertain; good fiction does far more than that. It informs our thinking about society. I read a lot of speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror… just to name a few). I find myself substituting a group under attack in the real world for the supernatural or preternatural creatures in the book. Think of FRANKENSTEIN where we all end up feeling sorry for the monster. Fiction allows the free thought that is so often constrained by societal inhibitions. Dana Cameron has captured the essence of providing that freedom to think about current affairs and society without restriction.
In PACK OF STRAYS there is a good story, page-turning action, and characters you can either love or hate. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the good guys from the bad; however, as the tale continues such conundrums do work themselves out. I absolutely enjoy Zoe Miller's archaeological foundation. I find myself remembering various documentaries and books I have read that deal with early civilizations. Along with the thought-provoking aspects, there is so much to enjoy.
Although PACK OF STRAYS picks up where SEVEN KINDS OF HELL ends, and it does give you the major high points of the first book, do yourself a favor and begin at the beginning. While you're at it, pick up the entire series and enjoy the binge.
August 18, 2017
The story started out good, but soon got way out of control. I couldn't make sense out of who was friend who was foe. What was Zoe trying to accomplish, it was almost like she was trying to gain the power she originally wanted to relinquish from there oppressors. I enjoy a good fantasy but this one I have to give a thumbs down.
June 13, 2019
Great read!
Instantly pulls you in. #2 in the series and the action does not let up. Intelligent characters good story line. I def recommend as I am moving to the next in the series.
Instantly pulls you in. #2 in the series and the action does not let up. Intelligent characters good story line. I def recommend as I am moving to the next in the series.
August 1, 2019
This second book of the series didn't feel. It was as if the plot was a jumble of idea, tossed around, then wrote down without much feeling. I have the next book, and I know I should read it so I will read it, but...
May 30, 2024
I tried…honestly
Normally this kind of book is just up my alley. This time though, I was beyond bored. City after city, lack of plot development, characters that ran together or seemed to serve very little purpose. I just could not keep going and gave up partway through.
Normally this kind of book is just up my alley. This time though, I was beyond bored. City after city, lack of plot development, characters that ran together or seemed to serve very little purpose. I just could not keep going and gave up partway through.
September 24, 2017
Onto the next book in the series
July 13, 2018
There was simply too much going on in this book. A slow start, too much in the middle, and ended with a cliffhanger.
June 29, 2019
Fast paced action
The twists and turns never stop. You have to stop reading to catch your breath, then go back to it right away. Enjoyable escape.
The twists and turns never stop. You have to stop reading to catch your breath, then go back to it right away. Enjoyable escape.
January 15, 2020
AWESOOOME!!!
No spoilers but surprise ending coming!, Gotta go read the next book, while cooking!! Relax, I do it all the time.
No spoilers but surprise ending coming!, Gotta go read the next book, while cooking!! Relax, I do it all the time.
June 19, 2020
3++. I really enjoyed the second book of this series. Interesting plots and characters!
April 10, 2024
Looking forward to the next book because the story has gone to the "almost unbuyable" stage.
June 14, 2024
The Order
**SPOILERS** what was that ending. what just happened. I need answers. Does Zoe no longer have powers. Who will she choose Will or Adam. What about her family do they survive. OMG
**SPOILERS** what was that ending. what just happened. I need answers. Does Zoe no longer have powers. Who will she choose Will or Adam. What about her family do they survive. OMG
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2014
Pack of Strays is the 2nd novel in the Fangborn series by Dana Cameron. The Fangborn were first found in a several short stories. Fangborn are vampires, werewolves and oracles who are dedicated to protecting humanity from evil while humanity knows nothing about them. Seven Kinds of Hell was the first novel published in the series. Pack of Strays picks up where the first novel leaves off. Zoe Miller has escaped the clutches of the Theodore Roundtree Group or TRG (a secret US governmental entity) that was experimenting on her. In the first novel she had found a Fangborn artifact that became a part of her body. The TRG wanted to find out why and what it was doing to her.
In Pack of Strays Zoe is being called to find more artifacts. She can't avoid the call and must go after the various artifacts which continue to change her body. While she has embraced that she is a werewolf,, something altogether different is now happening to her. She doesn't understand what it is and neither does the reader though there are hints that she may be fulfilling a Fangborn prophecy. She travels the world and over the course of the novel picks up a number of Fangborn who want to aid her for various reasons - old and new allies. Not only is Zoe up against the TRG, she is fighting the Order of Nicomedia ("Order") who have sworn to wipe out the Fangborn.
There is a wonderful amount of action in Pack of Strays as Zoe hunts for artifacts and is chased at various times by the TRG and the Order. The Order is up to something really awful and Zoe is determined to stop it. In addition to Zoe, there are Fangborn that we met in the prior novel along with some new characters. There seems to be a bit of love triangle developing with Zoe, her ex-boyfriend Will and Adam Nichols (who worked for the TRG). The romance takes a huge and appropriate back seat to saving the Fangborn. Zoe simply does not have time to deal with her love life in full at the moment. Zoe is becoming a more complex character as the series goes on. She is still somewhat out of her element, but is trying to be a leader while figuring out what is happening to her. For a werewolf she seems very human.
Once again Cameron uses her knowledge of archaeology to enrich the story. Zoe is an archaeologist and this plays a pivotal roll during Pack of Strays. The writing is crisp and the story unfolds nicely from start to finish with much pulse-pounding action, some humor, and mystery. If you haven't read the first novel (and you should), Cameron gives the reader enough information to catch up quickly. Pack of Strays ends on what can be construed as a cliff-hanger. I don't mind cliff-hangers in general and did not in this case. I thoroughly enjoyed Pack of Strays and Zoe Miller's story so far. I am really looking forward to the next novel in the Fangborn series.
- Originally posted at The Qwillery
In Pack of Strays Zoe is being called to find more artifacts. She can't avoid the call and must go after the various artifacts which continue to change her body. While she has embraced that she is a werewolf,, something altogether different is now happening to her. She doesn't understand what it is and neither does the reader though there are hints that she may be fulfilling a Fangborn prophecy. She travels the world and over the course of the novel picks up a number of Fangborn who want to aid her for various reasons - old and new allies. Not only is Zoe up against the TRG, she is fighting the Order of Nicomedia ("Order") who have sworn to wipe out the Fangborn.
There is a wonderful amount of action in Pack of Strays as Zoe hunts for artifacts and is chased at various times by the TRG and the Order. The Order is up to something really awful and Zoe is determined to stop it. In addition to Zoe, there are Fangborn that we met in the prior novel along with some new characters. There seems to be a bit of love triangle developing with Zoe, her ex-boyfriend Will and Adam Nichols (who worked for the TRG). The romance takes a huge and appropriate back seat to saving the Fangborn. Zoe simply does not have time to deal with her love life in full at the moment. Zoe is becoming a more complex character as the series goes on. She is still somewhat out of her element, but is trying to be a leader while figuring out what is happening to her. For a werewolf she seems very human.
Once again Cameron uses her knowledge of archaeology to enrich the story. Zoe is an archaeologist and this plays a pivotal roll during Pack of Strays. The writing is crisp and the story unfolds nicely from start to finish with much pulse-pounding action, some humor, and mystery. If you haven't read the first novel (and you should), Cameron gives the reader enough information to catch up quickly. Pack of Strays ends on what can be construed as a cliff-hanger. I don't mind cliff-hangers in general and did not in this case. I thoroughly enjoyed Pack of Strays and Zoe Miller's story so far. I am really looking forward to the next novel in the Fangborn series.
- Originally posted at The Qwillery
April 25, 2014
Mon avis en Français
My ENglish review
I liked the first book and I was curious to see how the second one would be. I confess that I do not remember in detail the events but we are left here shortly after the end of the first novel. Taking the course of the young woman quest, some memories came back, and all the characters, as well as new ones, are present once again.
Having escaped from the hands of those who held her, and after leaving behind her the people she considered closest, Zoe continues her journey with the only man she never thought she could trust: Adam. But as her life is not already complicated enough, new events are added, completely upsetting the plans of our heroine. It seems that all her friends were turned against her and the people she flees want her more than anything. But in addition to this, she’ll also cross the path of a group of people chasing Fangborn, and who seem determined to take her as target whatever it might cost. Yes, as you can see, many things are happening here and Zoe won’t be able to get bored.
I was quite surprised to see how the story would evolve here. Zoe is facing the evolution of her powers that fears her increasingly. It must be said that there are many side effects and some more as disadvantages. And the more we progress, the more we realize that her life only gets more complicated, without ever really having any answers or solutions. I was also quite surprised to see that people who were some enemies in the first novel like Adam were changing side. It was interesting to see how their relationship could change and evolve after all that had happened. Of course just like Zoe, I was quite disappointed by the Will’s attitude, but I’m curious to find out what will be her final choice with the events here. Another point to note, I liked the little interludes in scenes where our heroine manages to speak with Sean to solve many problems. I am also curious to learn more about the new character in the story as wel, the Oracle, which I think will take an important place through the books.
I will not go further into the story, but I had again a good time with the novel. A lot of things has begun here and I’m curious to see how Zoe will change and what she will become now that her life is in flux. Story to follow.
My ENglish review
I liked the first book and I was curious to see how the second one would be. I confess that I do not remember in detail the events but we are left here shortly after the end of the first novel. Taking the course of the young woman quest, some memories came back, and all the characters, as well as new ones, are present once again.
Having escaped from the hands of those who held her, and after leaving behind her the people she considered closest, Zoe continues her journey with the only man she never thought she could trust: Adam. But as her life is not already complicated enough, new events are added, completely upsetting the plans of our heroine. It seems that all her friends were turned against her and the people she flees want her more than anything. But in addition to this, she’ll also cross the path of a group of people chasing Fangborn, and who seem determined to take her as target whatever it might cost. Yes, as you can see, many things are happening here and Zoe won’t be able to get bored.
I was quite surprised to see how the story would evolve here. Zoe is facing the evolution of her powers that fears her increasingly. It must be said that there are many side effects and some more as disadvantages. And the more we progress, the more we realize that her life only gets more complicated, without ever really having any answers or solutions. I was also quite surprised to see that people who were some enemies in the first novel like Adam were changing side. It was interesting to see how their relationship could change and evolve after all that had happened. Of course just like Zoe, I was quite disappointed by the Will’s attitude, but I’m curious to find out what will be her final choice with the events here. Another point to note, I liked the little interludes in scenes where our heroine manages to speak with Sean to solve many problems. I am also curious to learn more about the new character in the story as wel, the Oracle, which I think will take an important place through the books.
I will not go further into the story, but I had again a good time with the novel. A lot of things has begun here and I’m curious to see how Zoe will change and what she will become now that her life is in flux. Story to follow.
April 24, 2014
I loved the first book in this series, so I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Pack of Strays.
And this book was well worth the wait!
Just a couple of pages into the book I was hooked, and if not for my eyes refusing to cooperate at a certain point, I'd have devoured it in one sitting. It's so good!
Zoe gets thrown from one dangerous situation in the next. She stumbles upon conspiracies and secrets that have her fighting for survival. Each piece of the puzzle she manages to discover, leads her to a new mystery.
There were some new characters in this book that I really liked, and some returning ones as well. I hope to see lots more of some in the next book, while I hope others will get what they deserve.
If there's one thing I didn't get into in the first book it was the romantic storyline. I just really didn't like Will. So I can tell you I was so happy to see a second love interest in Pack of Strays. Normally I'm no fan of love triangly stuff, but here I could only cheer to see Zoe get attracted to a man I could root for. I'm readying myself to be disappointed (as I am so often) in who Zoe will eventually end up with, but I'll keep hoping and rooting until the end!
The story was thrilling and action-packed. Rarely Zoe gets time to catch her breath. I love how Cameron takes the story to all kinds of different locations and countries. In my opinion Cameron succeeds in making those settings feel real, and making them a natural part of the developing story.
The mythological and historical elements in this series are also really well done. It's clear Cameron did her research, but she manages to blend the information into the story without it becoming info dumps. There are some dream/vision sequences to reveal some things, but they never felt disruptive or out of place. Instead they added to the suspense of the story.
All in all this book is even better than the first. And the ending! I need the next book! You can bet I will get my trotters on it as soon as it releases.
And this book was well worth the wait!
Just a couple of pages into the book I was hooked, and if not for my eyes refusing to cooperate at a certain point, I'd have devoured it in one sitting. It's so good!
Zoe gets thrown from one dangerous situation in the next. She stumbles upon conspiracies and secrets that have her fighting for survival. Each piece of the puzzle she manages to discover, leads her to a new mystery.
There were some new characters in this book that I really liked, and some returning ones as well. I hope to see lots more of some in the next book, while I hope others will get what they deserve.
If there's one thing I didn't get into in the first book it was the romantic storyline. I just really didn't like Will. So I can tell you I was so happy to see a second love interest in Pack of Strays. Normally I'm no fan of love triangly stuff, but here I could only cheer to see Zoe get attracted to a man I could root for. I'm readying myself to be disappointed (as I am so often) in who Zoe will eventually end up with, but I'll keep hoping and rooting until the end!
The story was thrilling and action-packed. Rarely Zoe gets time to catch her breath. I love how Cameron takes the story to all kinds of different locations and countries. In my opinion Cameron succeeds in making those settings feel real, and making them a natural part of the developing story.
The mythological and historical elements in this series are also really well done. It's clear Cameron did her research, but she manages to blend the information into the story without it becoming info dumps. There are some dream/vision sequences to reveal some things, but they never felt disruptive or out of place. Instead they added to the suspense of the story.
All in all this book is even better than the first. And the ending! I need the next book! You can bet I will get my trotters on it as soon as it releases.
October 28, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I actually received it months and months ago but didn't download it before it archived, so now I have finally purchased it on Amazon and am playing catch up with my review.
About 3.5 stars
At the end of the last book, Zoe is reunited with her boyfriend, has made some friends, and is safely ensconced with the TRG. She finally feels like she belongs and can do some good with her growing powers as a Fangborn.
In my review of the first book, I noted that the number of characters and their flip-flopping alliances was dizzying and distracting. This book starts off even worse. I was irritated right off the bat that all of the gains Zoe made in her life to finally belong are immediately stripped from her. I get that a hero or a heroine should face some struggles or even crises as they reach their happy ending, but come on. Give this girl a break already! Again, this book had a lot of potential, but I just felt there was too much going on.
The rug is swept out from under Zoe right off the bat in this book, and as she battles through each dogged step of her journey, she gains bits and pieces of her life back, but the feelings of betrayal as I read the book were pretty harsh to me. In fact, I felt that Zoe took it much better than I would have.
I also detest love triangles so I struggled reading through a lot of that.
The plot was extremely complex and a bit convoluted. As in the first book, the action was non-stop, but towards the end, the flip-flopping of who Zoe can and can't trust was too much. Not just people, but entire organizations. It's a little exhausting to read. The final straw for me was probably the cliff-hanger ending. Another one of my dislikes.
I thought about rating this book 3 stars, but ultimately bumped it up a little bit because of the overall premise of the book which I still find interesting.
About 3.5 stars
At the end of the last book, Zoe is reunited with her boyfriend, has made some friends, and is safely ensconced with the TRG. She finally feels like she belongs and can do some good with her growing powers as a Fangborn.
In my review of the first book, I noted that the number of characters and their flip-flopping alliances was dizzying and distracting. This book starts off even worse. I was irritated right off the bat that all of the gains Zoe made in her life to finally belong are immediately stripped from her. I get that a hero or a heroine should face some struggles or even crises as they reach their happy ending, but come on. Give this girl a break already! Again, this book had a lot of potential, but I just felt there was too much going on.
The rug is swept out from under Zoe right off the bat in this book, and as she battles through each dogged step of her journey, she gains bits and pieces of her life back, but the feelings of betrayal as I read the book were pretty harsh to me. In fact, I felt that Zoe took it much better than I would have.
I also detest love triangles so I struggled reading through a lot of that.
The plot was extremely complex and a bit convoluted. As in the first book, the action was non-stop, but towards the end, the flip-flopping of who Zoe can and can't trust was too much. Not just people, but entire organizations. It's a little exhausting to read. The final straw for me was probably the cliff-hanger ending. Another one of my dislikes.
I thought about rating this book 3 stars, but ultimately bumped it up a little bit because of the overall premise of the book which I still find interesting.
May 13, 2014
I was a little lost at the start of the book because it just rushed straight into manic from chapter one and I was rather expecting more of a build-up. The end of the first book ended on a quieter note, I thought (relatively speaking; Zoe had just stealthily escaped from the TRG), so to jump straight into her hunting down bad guys was a little jarring.
Actually "jarring" kind of fits for the whole book because we (the reader AND the characters) never get a moment to catch our breaths and nothing is really making sense yet as to WHY things are happening the way they're happening. A little bit frustrating to read, but there is this great empathy with Zoe because she's feeling the same except exponentially more since her life depends on those answers neither of us are getting. I have so so many questions that this book left up in the air for the next one. How I feel about the series as a whole is really going to depend on how all those explanations are drawn together in the end.
I rather hope that Dana has a finite number of books in mind for this because that manic pacing can only really last for maybe a trilogy. Dialing back the manic to the level of the first book would have made this a great read; it had a much more believable motivational mechanism. I love this universe and I'd love to see more than just three books with the characters, but I can't see Zoe being able to keep up that level of stress indefinitely...and I definitely don't want to be that stressed along with her for that long either!
Actually "jarring" kind of fits for the whole book because we (the reader AND the characters) never get a moment to catch our breaths and nothing is really making sense yet as to WHY things are happening the way they're happening. A little bit frustrating to read, but there is this great empathy with Zoe because she's feeling the same except exponentially more since her life depends on those answers neither of us are getting. I have so so many questions that this book left up in the air for the next one. How I feel about the series as a whole is really going to depend on how all those explanations are drawn together in the end.
I rather hope that Dana has a finite number of books in mind for this because that manic pacing can only really last for maybe a trilogy. Dialing back the manic to the level of the first book would have made this a great read; it had a much more believable motivational mechanism. I love this universe and I'd love to see more than just three books with the characters, but I can't see Zoe being able to keep up that level of stress indefinitely...and I definitely don't want to be that stressed along with her for that long either!
November 21, 2015
I loved book one of this series so I had to have book two and I am so glad I did!! The world building for this series is freaking fantabulous. Zoe Miller's life is in chaos and it's getting worse. LOL She is learning more about who and what she is, and why things have been happening to her. Around her. And how important she is. to a lot of people in the hectic crazy world she lives in. There's some serious research and knowledge about history and archaeology and places around the world. Last book, Zoe stayed in the same area, not this time. She is searching for the artifact that call to her, and lead her to places and people full of mystery and intrigue. And she is changing as well, and no one knows what's happening, and a lot of them do not like it. And what are they willing to do to stop it. Zoe started as a peon in the first book, but she is becoming a power in her own right. And is she their savior or their destruction? And dealing with that and the fact that so much more is real, vamps, weres, magic. And who can she trust? This one definitely took a tole on Zoe. She was tested like I haven't seen in a while. The writing is just magnificent and I am so amazed at how complex the author makes her characters. There's action, suspense, magic, amazement. WOW! And while the whole book kept me on my toes, the ending had my jaw dropping and I NEED book three. Like NOW! I can't wait!! 5 AMAZING PAWS!!!
July 26, 2024
OMG!!!! I am reeling from how this book ended, I even shouted my dismay out loud!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.... I NEED to know what happens next!!!
It's probably obvious but I adored this book. After I finished listening to the first book I thought it could get any better, any more exciting or any more action packed and boy.... I was wrong. This book just surpassed the first one and I am hooked more than ever on this series!!!! There really is so much I can say about this storyline but don't want to ruin the surprises and twists and turns in this story, believe me there are many! I can guarantee an extremely thrilling tale!!!
I really took to Adam in this story, you really find out the kind of person that he really is and you see how genuine a person he really is and how he will do anything to protect those that he cares about. There are so many other characters that I could mention so the one thing I will say is that this book really gives you an Insight into each character, their motivations, their wants and dreams and you find yourself just wanting to know more about each.
I can't recommend this book highly enough, it is amazing!!! I can't wait to listen to Hellbender! People need to read this series, this author is so talented at creating and telling such wonderful tales!!!
It's probably obvious but I adored this book. After I finished listening to the first book I thought it could get any better, any more exciting or any more action packed and boy.... I was wrong. This book just surpassed the first one and I am hooked more than ever on this series!!!! There really is so much I can say about this storyline but don't want to ruin the surprises and twists and turns in this story, believe me there are many! I can guarantee an extremely thrilling tale!!!
I really took to Adam in this story, you really find out the kind of person that he really is and you see how genuine a person he really is and how he will do anything to protect those that he cares about. There are so many other characters that I could mention so the one thing I will say is that this book really gives you an Insight into each character, their motivations, their wants and dreams and you find yourself just wanting to know more about each.
I can't recommend this book highly enough, it is amazing!!! I can't wait to listen to Hellbender! People need to read this series, this author is so talented at creating and telling such wonderful tales!!!
April 29, 2014
I started Pack of Strays immediately after finishing Seven Kinds of Hell which definitely helped me keep everything straight in my head, because lots on goes on. Zoe is continuing her hunt for the artifacts which start doing something very interesting to her. Friends become enemies and enemies become allies. The action doesn't stop. At no point did I lose track of what was happening with everyone though. (With Dune and the Hobbit books, I was like, Who is this again? Where did they come from? What did they do? Nothing like that here, but Pack of Strays is a lot shorter.)
Saying more about the plot would be hard because there's so much plus it's not knowing what's coming that's fun. I think what keeps this from being a 5 star book is that maybe it's a little too frantic, more time with the characters relating to each other to develop more chemistry would probably do it for me.
Warning: there even more of a cliffhanger ending than the first book had.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Saying more about the plot would be hard because there's so much plus it's not knowing what's coming that's fun. I think what keeps this from being a 5 star book is that maybe it's a little too frantic, more time with the characters relating to each other to develop more chemistry would probably do it for me.
Warning: there even more of a cliffhanger ending than the first book had.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
September 8, 2014
Are you kidding me? This book was all over the place. It was way too wordy, in places where there's a ton of action I don't need the narrator to be telling me what she's doing - just effing do it already! It was wordy, but at the same time, it was rather discombobulated - even with all the extraneous narration I still had no clue what was going on half the time. And the heroine, Zoe, what a dumba**. She is the most useless hero of all time, all she does is wander around and make ridiculous choices. "Wow, this is a really bad idea, but I'm gonna go ahead and do it anyway..." All of these horrible choices are because of "Fangborn instincts". What a cop out. And that was not a cliffhanger at the end, btw, that was the a crime against humanity. It's like the author said "Welp, I have no idea how to get the Scooby gang out of this situation so I'll just send this to the printer and figure it out later..."
Lame. The only reason it got 2 stars is for the maybe 10% of the story that was actually interesting and relevant. Even with the cliffhanger I don't know that I'll read the next one.
Lame. The only reason it got 2 stars is for the maybe 10% of the story that was actually interesting and relevant. Even with the cliffhanger I don't know that I'll read the next one.
April 18, 2014
Pack of Strays was a bit of a directional turn from the first book, Seven Kinds of Hell. While Zoe, our heroine, is still mostly a loner, she picks up a group in this book, including her cousin Danny, as well as Vee, an oracle and Toshi, a vampire who lost his closest Family. I again enjoyed the country-hopping, although there was much less in this book than the first. I found some of this book rather confusing, though. While Zoe doesn't understand what's happening with the "integration" of the artifacts with her physical self, and the introduction of "the lab", a sort of internal haven Zoe can project to and solve problems, most of these scenes are difficult to follow. The ending was a bit of a gyp. The last book felt like a continuation, this felt like it was purposely cut off in the middle of the action to get you to buy the next one. In all, I liked the story but less than the first. I will probably continue to read it when the next one comes out.
ARC provided by NetGalley
ARC provided by NetGalley
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