He’s becoming more human, and I’m becoming more wolf. I think I’m getting the better deal.
Way back in December of 2023, I tore through the first three (3, in case that wasn't clear) "Kane"-slash-"Wolfwere" books from author Dick Wybrow like a child ripping up the wrapping paper on his birthday presents (no, I don't get that either but that was the example most used to describe the idiom "tearing through something" on google). I have found these books to have in all cases tremendous potential, both in terms of humor and action (and excitement and what-not) even if those factors are not always achieved at the level I was hoping for. Now that I've finally gotten my canine teeth into "Kane Unchained", I can at least verifiy that Wybrow is very consistent. He delivers a good story with some decidedly exciting action sequences, even though the pacing and lack of real surprising surprises remains telling.
Bad doggy. No puns!
However, rather than just copying my previous reviews or just copying my previous reviews (this kind of copy/pasted repetition happens in the book, too, so play along), I'll go ahead and give my two paws worth of input for this long-awaited chapter. And yes, I have been eagerly looking forward to this book's release because yes, the return of yes, these are entertaining stories. Though I could do without the repeated Whitesnake analogies. One of same is enough to bring that image to mind, trust me. After all, I grew up in the 1900s and the memories of what those hairstyles did to the ozone layer not to mention the overall quality of MTV still linger. Like a sticky flood of treacle that no amount of brain-bleaching can ever hope to cleanse… which is probably how they left most of their hotel rooms, too.
Necessity may be the mother of invention, but desperation is the drunk uncle of batshit ideas.
Anyway, our heroes Kane and Emelda are back in the proverbial saddle after some rather unfortunate events (and splitting up thingies) from the last book. Of course, we're almost immediately confronted with her ex, Roy, who has been released from prison for gods know what reasons. Naturally, this means that he has to commit crimes as recompense for whatever the hell is going on. Needless to say, nothing goes according to plan but owing to some extreme serendipity and an overabundance of sheer luck - which may be both repetitious and redundant - they manage to get the entire adventure moving to its intended destination. This is a big theme throughout the book (oh, good, there's a pool there…) How they manage this all the while making some really, REALLY bad decisions pretty much on a constant basis naturally makes for wacky good times for all! However, I'd recommend you try and not to smack your forehead as much as I did along the way.
I can’t tell if you’re happy or sad with a mug like that. I guess that’s just your resting bitch face.
One very positive aspect of this book that I'm glad Wybrow focuses on is that we get less of the ma chère mère et mon cher père from Kane and instead get a great deal more insight into Emelda's past (don't call her Emmy!). It seems that again just by utter coincidence (wink wink winkety wink) that her familial background also lends itself to helping at least make more sense out of some of the events that transpire. And for those of you that are keeping score back at home, this includes then the machinations and dastardly deeds of at least two cartel-connected mob groups, perhaps also two, maybe now just one super-secret global power-hungry organization and whoever else is willing to purchase, manage or even be eaten by enhanced super wolfpeople. It's enough to make anyone question their choices in life… and perhaps also wake TF up and pay attention to their surroundings before they dive back into even more trouble. Which I guess will be the theme of the next book for sure.
He could see me dodging. He could see me weaving. And as if being pursued by two hairless baby weasels!
So overall a good effort for what I can't help thinking could have been a truly great story. And despite appearances, I did like this one better than Book 3 for sure. Yes, I'll confess that my feelings towards the whole "energy levels" would have required a slightly different take on the events we're witnessing, but hey, sometimes you just want folks to have freakin' sharks with lasers on their heads when things start to go south. Or north as we do wind up leaving Mexico. I'm also not a fan of the short choppy chapterlets that have plagued each book so far, but I've had my say on that. Now I'm just being grumpy but again (points to self) old dude, lemme 'lone! But I'm thoroughly invested in the characters and am looking forward to Book 5 which may or may not be the final or penultimate or just a random addition to the series. I'm just not sure. Keep your noses to the ground and your toenails clipped fans!
P.S. The theory about Jessica Fletcher being a serial killer? Spot on. And yes, that's another dog pun!