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Eve
They’ve spent their lives looking over their shoulders – knowing their parents’ pasts and fearing a return to their birthplace until they lost the youngest of their sisters a year ago.
One night shatters that tentative peace and sets Phoenix on edge, distracting the city from the growing threat of a viral outbreak. While the mass shooting lingers on everyone’s mind, no one notices the rising count of animal attacks and violence. Most people anyway. Arden and his sister are all too aware of what it means, and what they carry in their blood. As if being Anglo-Russian wasn’t difficult enough, they weren’t born human…
Finding Diana and keeping their secrets may be harder than it appears in a city teetering on a knife’s edge.
One night shatters that tentative peace and sets Phoenix on edge, distracting the city from the growing threat of a viral outbreak. While the mass shooting lingers on everyone’s mind, no one notices the rising count of animal attacks and violence. Most people anyway. Arden and his sister are all too aware of what it means, and what they carry in their blood. As if being Anglo-Russian wasn’t difficult enough, they weren’t born human…
Finding Diana and keeping their secrets may be harder than it appears in a city teetering on a knife’s edge.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2023
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 26, 2024
This isn't your average werewolf fiction. By average, I mean whatever Twilight and Omegaverse pumps out where you have salacious werewolves with bottomless appetites for "flesh." That's fine by me, because I'm not a fan of those types of narratives. But if you're seeing werewolves and thinking it's going to go that way, this will be the wrong book for you.
Relationships in here are abnormal, and mostly since the werewolves featured are wolves unfortunately thrust into upholding a human shape, which means a lot of what they do is clearly not human and clearly defying any type of kayfabe. This would be mostly understandable for the werewolves, less so for the people. Arden's (werewolf) main squeeze (a human) has introduced him to her mother after several months of dating, but they have nothing in common, and their communication is so crap she only finds out after he pukes in a steakhouse that he's "allergic" to garlic (also, the obsession with steakhouses...) And a lot of the side plots and even the main plot just ramble off into nothing, like they're vignettes of a story that are never explained, explored, nor quantified.
Most glaring example of being neither explained, explored, quantified... Eve, one of the sisters, was a breeding experiment. The family is sort of desperate to find her, but the pregnant 5'7" (or 5'9") blond 12 year old is considered "so unique" it would be "hard to miss her", but given girls physically mature earlier and sometimes it's hard to tell what age they are... and she's a werewolf, giving her something like heterochromia would have been an unique, actionable, and even relevant trait to have. And yes, I know some 6'1" 13 year olds. Absurdities like this on top of the trailing plots was what made this read frustrating. Then she just escapes, never explored the after, no idea how she got there, no one really cares, but "we're terrified of being caught because we're, DUN DUN DUN, Russian" bit plays so often it became comical if not outright daft. No explanation about how elusive, never-before-encountered werewolves knew their condition is basically rabies. No exploration about a population under siege by the werewolf rabies, even though it is mentioned it is sort of gleaned. Basically, this story read like it was written in "pants" ("by the seat of ones pants", aka, not planned and plotted). At some point Eve has a multiple personality disorder that's hammered in one chapter, has no relevance, and isn't brought up ever again. Just, why? Why put in something that has zero relevance to the story other than an afterthought of shock value?
There was a lot of characters, which meant most sub-plots weren't committed to and lacked the emotional edge that comes with really bonding with a scant few POVs. There's no closure because it was a bunch of sub-plots that in the end didn't tie loose ends and all went nowhere.
I liked the ideas of it. It was a much different werewolf narrative than most of what is out there. Unfortunately, the throughput on those ideas could have been concrete and better explored.
Relationships in here are abnormal, and mostly since the werewolves featured are wolves unfortunately thrust into upholding a human shape, which means a lot of what they do is clearly not human and clearly defying any type of kayfabe. This would be mostly understandable for the werewolves, less so for the people. Arden's (werewolf) main squeeze (a human) has introduced him to her mother after several months of dating, but they have nothing in common, and their communication is so crap she only finds out after he pukes in a steakhouse that he's "allergic" to garlic (also, the obsession with steakhouses...) And a lot of the side plots and even the main plot just ramble off into nothing, like they're vignettes of a story that are never explained, explored, nor quantified.
Most glaring example of being neither explained, explored, quantified... Eve, one of the sisters, was a breeding experiment. The family is sort of desperate to find her, but the pregnant 5'7" (or 5'9") blond 12 year old is considered "so unique" it would be "hard to miss her", but given girls physically mature earlier and sometimes it's hard to tell what age they are... and she's a werewolf, giving her something like heterochromia would have been an unique, actionable, and even relevant trait to have. And yes, I know some 6'1" 13 year olds. Absurdities like this on top of the trailing plots was what made this read frustrating. Then she just escapes, never explored the after, no idea how she got there, no one really cares, but "we're terrified of being caught because we're, DUN DUN DUN, Russian" bit plays so often it became comical if not outright daft. No explanation about how elusive, never-before-encountered werewolves knew their condition is basically rabies. No exploration about a population under siege by the werewolf rabies, even though it is mentioned it is sort of gleaned. Basically, this story read like it was written in "pants" ("by the seat of ones pants", aka, not planned and plotted). At some point Eve has a multiple personality disorder that's hammered in one chapter, has no relevance, and isn't brought up ever again. Just, why? Why put in something that has zero relevance to the story other than an afterthought of shock value?
There was a lot of characters, which meant most sub-plots weren't committed to and lacked the emotional edge that comes with really bonding with a scant few POVs. There's no closure because it was a bunch of sub-plots that in the end didn't tie loose ends and all went nowhere.
I liked the ideas of it. It was a much different werewolf narrative than most of what is out there. Unfortunately, the throughput on those ideas could have been concrete and better explored.
July 24, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of Eve for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
It’s always interesting watching an author you’re a fan of writing something different, and with Eve comes a (so far) standalone book that sits outside their series. And once again, the author knocks it out of the park; with each book, he goes from strength to strength.
Where the author's previous books are fantasy stories that trade in mythologies and fables, Eve is a sci-fi/fantasy with a dystopian sensibility and a healthy dose of horror, populated by werewolves. While fantasy fans will no doubt enjoy their inclusion, the book certainly presents them with more of a sci-fi edge.
This edge isn’t limited to its sci-fi trappings, however. If you’re familiar with the author’s Mythos world, you’ll know how heavily urban fantasy can feature in his work. Eve dials up the urbanity to new levels. The book’s world is dark and unrelenting. It’s still as recognisable as the author's other stories, but sits on the opposite side of the coin. It's moody and atmospheric, yet feels as lived in as ours.
At its heart, Eve is a story about its characters. Characters should always play an important part in a work of fiction. Eve’s characters all bring a level of depth to them, which elevates the story. This holds true, whether the character sits within a major or a supporting role, and whether they are human or werewolf. While not every character is likeable, they all feel like real people. They're not only engaging to follow, but the reality of these characters adds to the novel’s stakes.
Eve is a reasonably long book that focuses on a wide variety of characters. Each chapter is told from the POV of one of the characters. There are eight in total, and the novel explores each one in depth while ensuring none of them gets lost in the shuffle. Each character has their needs, wants and their own agenda, and I loved jumping between their POVs, rather than wishing the story would just focus on one or two favourites.
The author writes in an engaging style that’s easy to pick up and read. Given Eve’s harder edge, the sentences are shorter and sharper than much of his work. This creates an atmosphere that conveys the story’s mood and world, but without ever feeling like it’s overly bleak. The dialogue—which forms a fairly large proportion of the writing—is as clean as the prose, and uses the characters’ voices to excellent effect. The characters all have various backgrounds, coming from different ethnicities and species, and their distinct voices set them apart from each other. The characters’ conversations work wonderfully as they flow together naturally.
I's through these characters that Eve’s themes are at their most resonant. It explores what it is like to be an outsider, both through the characters’ lycanthropy and not being native to the USA, but Russian. The book is also set against a backdrop of gun violence, particularly mass shootings, something that adds to the book’s tense relationships. A theme the author often delves into is familial relations, and he does so once again here. These relationships add colour and depth to the characters, as well as the book’s heart.
Eve represents another evolution in the author’s writing. While including strong characters and relationships, and again delving into fantastical elements, fans of his work will recognise much of what they enjoy. However, this story is more visceral than what’s come before, adding a new dimension to the author’s bibliography. If you enjoy fantasy, science fiction, dystopian tales, immigrant tales or engaging characters, you’ll find a lot to love.
My full review will be available on my website from 26 July 2023. To read it, and a host of other reviews, click here.
It’s always interesting watching an author you’re a fan of writing something different, and with Eve comes a (so far) standalone book that sits outside their series. And once again, the author knocks it out of the park; with each book, he goes from strength to strength.
Where the author's previous books are fantasy stories that trade in mythologies and fables, Eve is a sci-fi/fantasy with a dystopian sensibility and a healthy dose of horror, populated by werewolves. While fantasy fans will no doubt enjoy their inclusion, the book certainly presents them with more of a sci-fi edge.
This edge isn’t limited to its sci-fi trappings, however. If you’re familiar with the author’s Mythos world, you’ll know how heavily urban fantasy can feature in his work. Eve dials up the urbanity to new levels. The book’s world is dark and unrelenting. It’s still as recognisable as the author's other stories, but sits on the opposite side of the coin. It's moody and atmospheric, yet feels as lived in as ours.
At its heart, Eve is a story about its characters. Characters should always play an important part in a work of fiction. Eve’s characters all bring a level of depth to them, which elevates the story. This holds true, whether the character sits within a major or a supporting role, and whether they are human or werewolf. While not every character is likeable, they all feel like real people. They're not only engaging to follow, but the reality of these characters adds to the novel’s stakes.
Eve is a reasonably long book that focuses on a wide variety of characters. Each chapter is told from the POV of one of the characters. There are eight in total, and the novel explores each one in depth while ensuring none of them gets lost in the shuffle. Each character has their needs, wants and their own agenda, and I loved jumping between their POVs, rather than wishing the story would just focus on one or two favourites.
The author writes in an engaging style that’s easy to pick up and read. Given Eve’s harder edge, the sentences are shorter and sharper than much of his work. This creates an atmosphere that conveys the story’s mood and world, but without ever feeling like it’s overly bleak. The dialogue—which forms a fairly large proportion of the writing—is as clean as the prose, and uses the characters’ voices to excellent effect. The characters all have various backgrounds, coming from different ethnicities and species, and their distinct voices set them apart from each other. The characters’ conversations work wonderfully as they flow together naturally.
I's through these characters that Eve’s themes are at their most resonant. It explores what it is like to be an outsider, both through the characters’ lycanthropy and not being native to the USA, but Russian. The book is also set against a backdrop of gun violence, particularly mass shootings, something that adds to the book’s tense relationships. A theme the author often delves into is familial relations, and he does so once again here. These relationships add colour and depth to the characters, as well as the book’s heart.
Eve represents another evolution in the author’s writing. While including strong characters and relationships, and again delving into fantastical elements, fans of his work will recognise much of what they enjoy. However, this story is more visceral than what’s come before, adding a new dimension to the author’s bibliography. If you enjoy fantasy, science fiction, dystopian tales, immigrant tales or engaging characters, you’ll find a lot to love.
My full review will be available on my website from 26 July 2023. To read it, and a host of other reviews, click here.
October 5, 2023
This book shows off my friend Mark Runte's forte – world building. He writes gritty, urban fantasy – I think that is the term. I sometimes call it “realistic” fantasy. It’s where there are fantastical elements alongside our everyday world. This is a werewolf story. I don’t usually like those, but I enjoyed this one. He continues to weave complex series and casts of characters that overlap, and as a repeat reader, I enjoy seeing characters I recognize from other stories.
He builds characters well and is especially good at building younger characters coming into their powers in a variety of personalities. I’d like to think the world isn’t as full of horrible people as his characters portray, but I’m not sure which of us is wrong here. There is a lot of political intrigue in this story and a great deal of social commentary. Explorations of xenophobia, socio-political relations, gender/sexual identity, and even racism were dynamic within the pages. As a member of the rainbow mafia himself, Mark is incredibly talented and qualified at exploring the difficulties of being different and does so beautifully in his writing. I appreciate the beautiful safe spaces he creates in his worlds, but also the real-life challenges he presents to his characters.
At the core of all his stories are families, both biological and found, trying their best to survive. Other types of relationships are also a central focus of the book. So it’s got a little something for everyone, whether you’re someone who’s interested in politics, action, fighting, or relationships. If you’re a werewolf fan, I think this is an interesting take on the mythos, and you’ll enjoy it. I always enjoy Mark’s unique perspective on various mythos, and all of this writing focuses on various myths and folklore.
I will note there are a lot of characters. The author does not shy away from character building and builds a diverse and vast world. It can be a little confusing keeping up with all of them. But isn't that #fantasy at its finest?
Who’s It For?
Fans of werewolf mythos will appreciate this book. If you’re a big fantasy fan, especially urban or realistic fantasy, I also think you’ll enjoy this book. If you’re on the fence but enjoy stories of families and unique struggles, this is also a great read. If you have triggers, please check them, because there are several.
Content Warning: This book discusses several subjects that younger and sensitive readers may find triggering including, but not limited to, sexual activity, sexual assault, violence, adult situations, adult language, harm to children, pregnancy, childbirth, disturbing imagery, xenophobia, racism, animal harm, child abuse, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, organized crime, corrupt police, self-harm, and more.
He builds characters well and is especially good at building younger characters coming into their powers in a variety of personalities. I’d like to think the world isn’t as full of horrible people as his characters portray, but I’m not sure which of us is wrong here. There is a lot of political intrigue in this story and a great deal of social commentary. Explorations of xenophobia, socio-political relations, gender/sexual identity, and even racism were dynamic within the pages. As a member of the rainbow mafia himself, Mark is incredibly talented and qualified at exploring the difficulties of being different and does so beautifully in his writing. I appreciate the beautiful safe spaces he creates in his worlds, but also the real-life challenges he presents to his characters.
At the core of all his stories are families, both biological and found, trying their best to survive. Other types of relationships are also a central focus of the book. So it’s got a little something for everyone, whether you’re someone who’s interested in politics, action, fighting, or relationships. If you’re a werewolf fan, I think this is an interesting take on the mythos, and you’ll enjoy it. I always enjoy Mark’s unique perspective on various mythos, and all of this writing focuses on various myths and folklore.
I will note there are a lot of characters. The author does not shy away from character building and builds a diverse and vast world. It can be a little confusing keeping up with all of them. But isn't that #fantasy at its finest?
Who’s It For?
Fans of werewolf mythos will appreciate this book. If you’re a big fantasy fan, especially urban or realistic fantasy, I also think you’ll enjoy this book. If you’re on the fence but enjoy stories of families and unique struggles, this is also a great read. If you have triggers, please check them, because there are several.
Content Warning: This book discusses several subjects that younger and sensitive readers may find triggering including, but not limited to, sexual activity, sexual assault, violence, adult situations, adult language, harm to children, pregnancy, childbirth, disturbing imagery, xenophobia, racism, animal harm, child abuse, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, organized crime, corrupt police, self-harm, and more.
February 1, 2025
This book has it all. A set of strong, complex characters, with deep family ties, emotional stories and their own troubling secrets to face up to. A thrilling plot in which the characters see the world around them - specifically the city of Phoenix - become filled with unrecognisable horror. And moments of bittersweetness - from the search for Diana, a lost child of just 11 years old, to the developing relationships between Selene and Cal, and the failing relationship between Arden and Erica.
All of this is underlayed by the talented writing and continued themes of Mark Runte. This author builds complicated, rich fantasy worlds and describes a large cast of characters until they seem real. Across all of his novels, he creates this atmosphere and then adds elements of the supernatural - shapeshifters, in this case werewolves.
Anything of Mark Runte's is highly recommended, and Eve is no exception!
All of this is underlayed by the talented writing and continued themes of Mark Runte. This author builds complicated, rich fantasy worlds and describes a large cast of characters until they seem real. Across all of his novels, he creates this atmosphere and then adds elements of the supernatural - shapeshifters, in this case werewolves.
Anything of Mark Runte's is highly recommended, and Eve is no exception!
December 3, 2025
An Unique Urban Fantasy
I love werewolf books and this one did not disappoint. It’s not a romantasy which is my normal cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed the world that Mark created. An urban fantasy with Russian spies, family bonds, and of course, werewolves!
This book has multiple POV’s, which I love. It’s fun getting inside the head of so many characters, but I always like to point it out for those who struggle to follow the stories written this way.
It doesn’t have the traditional rules that most werewolf books follow but I liked the new style Mark has created. There are no ties to the moon nor do wolf bites turn others into wolves. It was a unique way to write a werewolf story.
Those who love sci-fi, fantasy, or just werewolf books in general will not be disappointed with Eve.
I love werewolf books and this one did not disappoint. It’s not a romantasy which is my normal cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed the world that Mark created. An urban fantasy with Russian spies, family bonds, and of course, werewolves!
This book has multiple POV’s, which I love. It’s fun getting inside the head of so many characters, but I always like to point it out for those who struggle to follow the stories written this way.
It doesn’t have the traditional rules that most werewolf books follow but I liked the new style Mark has created. There are no ties to the moon nor do wolf bites turn others into wolves. It was a unique way to write a werewolf story.
Those who love sci-fi, fantasy, or just werewolf books in general will not be disappointed with Eve.
January 13, 2024
This book is gritty and grisly like all good werewolf books should be and is an excellent addition to the lycanthropic bookscape.
The book is able to hold your interest and keep you guessing on which direction it will go next alongside its roster of interesting and likeable characters, especially Eve, who you sympathize with the minute she appears within the book.
Though I am not a massive fan of modern day settings in werewolf literature, this one was perfectly fine in setting up a gritty and grisly atmosphere that keeps you hooked.
I look forward to many more books in this series as this is a great start
The book is able to hold your interest and keep you guessing on which direction it will go next alongside its roster of interesting and likeable characters, especially Eve, who you sympathize with the minute she appears within the book.
Though I am not a massive fan of modern day settings in werewolf literature, this one was perfectly fine in setting up a gritty and grisly atmosphere that keeps you hooked.
I look forward to many more books in this series as this is a great start
May 30, 2025
Phoenix is a city on the edge as the line between gangland killings and animal attacks gets very thin. A pack of werewolves is looking for one of their own, and into the resulting mess come a cop, a city councilwoman, a doctor, and at least one mobster. There are a lot of main characters in “Eve,” a lot of shooting and investigating, and a lot of wolf bites. Urban fantasy fans may find plenty to like here. Just be prepared for a lot of ellipses.
November 12, 2023
An intense and gripping tale that explores the complexities of identity and the burden of family secrets. With a backdrop of a viral outbreak and rising violence, the protagonists, Arden and his sister, navigate their unique heritage while facing the challenges of being different. A thought-provoking and thrilling read.
November 28, 2023
love!!!
I absolutely love this story! You are pulled in to their world with the first few pages. I will say that this story is not what I was expecting when I started to read it but it is still an amazing read!
I absolutely love this story! You are pulled in to their world with the first few pages. I will say that this story is not what I was expecting when I started to read it but it is still an amazing read!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews