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Unbeknownst to most of human kind, Chimera Enterprises has resurrected a shapeshifting alien race that sank with the lost continent of Lemuria eons the werekin, born with both a human and an animal skin, able to shift between the two at will. Seventeen-year-old Seth Michael Sullivan, a werejaguar, has grown up in the Underground, hiding from the hunters that capture and enslave werekin for Chimera Enterprises. After witnessing the murder of his guardian Naomi, Seth arrives in Fairfax, Indiana, on a snowy New Year's Eve, a rare breed on the run. As he reconnects with the mother and sister who know nothing of his true identity, Seth discovers he is a key piece in Chimera's plot to conquer humankind by securing the power of the werekin Totems - and uncovers a secret in his own past that could decide the fate of his kindred.
Top-secret scientific experiments, ancient alien technology, a powerful shadow organization inside the United States military - Seth soon finds himself at the center of a brewing interspecies war. Can he trust his own flesh and blood? Will he choose to stand with humankind or with his werekin kindred - especially when the best part of being human may be Marshall Townsend, the boy next door?
Top-secret scientific experiments, ancient alien technology, a powerful shadow organization inside the United States military - Seth soon finds himself at the center of a brewing interspecies war. Can he trust his own flesh and blood? Will he choose to stand with humankind or with his werekin kindred - especially when the best part of being human may be Marshall Townsend, the boy next door?
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2012
6 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Daro
6 books24 followersJesse Daro is more than a pen name. Jesse thinks of herself as the Author's alter ego: While Jesse spends most of her time writing, the alter ego gets to do the fun stuff. Slay vampires. Fight dragons. Build time machines. Date superheroes...
In real life, Jesse loves science fiction, fantasy, and horror. She grew up on Smallville, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, and Alias. Jesse's favorite books and films tell good stories while at the same time telling us something about life.
In real life, Jesse loves science fiction, fantasy, and horror. She grew up on Smallville, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, and Alias. Jesse's favorite books and films tell good stories while at the same time telling us something about life.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
dnf
May 12, 2013While this isn't my book, I do think that it's well written, with some good ideas, is well-constructed, and has particularly great female secondary characters.
I skimmed from 30%, because I was interested enough to want to know what was going to happen, but the high-school setting just wasn't my cup of tea. I would rec it if you're into gay shifter YA with a strong high school/sports team relationship angle.
I skimmed from 30%, because I was interested enough to want to know what was going to happen, but the high-school setting just wasn't my cup of tea. I would rec it if you're into gay shifter YA with a strong high school/sports team relationship angle.
May 12, 2013
Why does this book not have more reviews? It's so awesome! Bunch of original concepts, some really cool characters and fascinating, original world building.
I loved this book! Can't wait to read the next one. Why does this book not have more reviews????
I loved this book! Can't wait to read the next one. Why does this book not have more reviews????
May 24, 2015
Amazing storytelling.
January 8, 2019
Wow!! How do I begin to describe that exciting ride?? OK, this is the first story in a YA trilogy with no sex, plenty of bad guys [some that you thought were good...but weren't, and others that you just knew had to be bad...and were], fantastic world building combined with a thrilling race to uncover two Werekin [like shifters...and let's not forget, this series came out before Charlie Cochet's THIRDS series] who hold the key to finding ancient knowledge left by the Werekin people on a lost continent called Lemuria....think the lost city of Atlantis, and all that that entails.
The nasty humans, an organisation called the Chimera, work in tandem with the U.S. military, and are hunting the two teenage Werekin [our hero Seth who 'skins' into a jaguar, and a young girl who is known as Black Swan] to unlock the power of the Ark...and we also have an underground Werekin Resistance movement who are desperately trying to keep the two teenagers apart and alive. Mad scientists abound, crooked lawyers, untrustworthy politicians [nothing new there then 😉], power crazy Generals...this was such a trip!! I'm giving nothing away, already starting on book 2 and can only thank Jason Black for recommending this series to me. I would just point out that this trilogy IS available from Amazon Skin: A Werekin Novel, and this first story is free on KU at the moment. Enjoy!!
The nasty humans, an organisation called the Chimera, work in tandem with the U.S. military, and are hunting the two teenage Werekin [our hero Seth who 'skins' into a jaguar, and a young girl who is known as Black Swan] to unlock the power of the Ark...and we also have an underground Werekin Resistance movement who are desperately trying to keep the two teenagers apart and alive. Mad scientists abound, crooked lawyers, untrustworthy politicians [nothing new there then 😉], power crazy Generals...this was such a trip!! I'm giving nothing away, already starting on book 2 and can only thank Jason Black for recommending this series to me. I would just point out that this trilogy IS available from Amazon Skin: A Werekin Novel, and this first story is free on KU at the moment. Enjoy!!
January 11, 2019
I AM SCREAMING IVE BEEN WANTING TO REAR SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOREVER ILY BEV
January 15, 2013
We are presented with great story plot, interesting characters, romance, drama, action and happy ending.
All in all, astonishing very cool book.
So very big recommendation from my part.
All in all, astonishing very cool book.
So very big recommendation from my part.
June 4, 2017
I very much thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a great world, good pacing, etc. There were a few niggling little annoyances.
It bothered me that... the characters seemed to take their clothes with them when they shifted... without any explicit explanation. Things seemed to revolve around and rely upon teenagers far too much. The worldview made it feel like a young adult novel. There was no good reason for these high schoolers to be at the center of all the action other than that the author wanted to write about high schoolers.
But it was fast-paced, well-crafted world and pretty good suspense and action. It has gay main characters who kiss a couple of times but no real erotica. Just a young adult novel with gay main characters... which mentions, at the end, a parallel between the persecution of gays and of the weres in the story.
It bothered me that... the characters seemed to take their clothes with them when they shifted... without any explicit explanation. Things seemed to revolve around and rely upon teenagers far too much. The worldview made it feel like a young adult novel. There was no good reason for these high schoolers to be at the center of all the action other than that the author wanted to write about high schoolers.
But it was fast-paced, well-crafted world and pretty good suspense and action. It has gay main characters who kiss a couple of times but no real erotica. Just a young adult novel with gay main characters... which mentions, at the end, a parallel between the persecution of gays and of the weres in the story.
July 18, 2020
I don't think anything is wrong with the book, it's simply not for me.
September 18, 2014
3.5 stars - This was a super interesting take on paranormal shape shifters. In this case they are werekin and they don't "shift" they "skin" into their animal form. Seth, our 17 year old narrator is werekin, specifically a werejaguar - a bad-ass big cat, though untrained.
This story is both complex and very compelling. I was fascinated with the culture, it's brutal enemies and all the humans who seem to be clueless. Being YA, Seth is in a high-school setting and has all the issues a teenager would have with friends, bullies, attraction to his friend and neighbor next door, parent and sibling issues and of course having to hide from the bad guys who want to collar and enslave him.
About the time you think you have this story mostly figured out, everything changes and gets even more complex. There are so many players in this story that it's almost impossible to keep them all straight, for me anyway. Friends become foes and foes turn into friends so fast it's hard to keep up, but the big showdown battle was worth waiting for. A happy for now ending promises more to come in later books.
This story is both complex and very compelling. I was fascinated with the culture, it's brutal enemies and all the humans who seem to be clueless. Being YA, Seth is in a high-school setting and has all the issues a teenager would have with friends, bullies, attraction to his friend and neighbor next door, parent and sibling issues and of course having to hide from the bad guys who want to collar and enslave him.
About the time you think you have this story mostly figured out, everything changes and gets even more complex. There are so many players in this story that it's almost impossible to keep them all straight, for me anyway. Friends become foes and foes turn into friends so fast it's hard to keep up, but the big showdown battle was worth waiting for. A happy for now ending promises more to come in later books.
June 26, 2015
Really really enjoyable. Great page turner. I found myself a little sad at the end of the book, wishing that there was more... Oh wait, there is book two, "Blood." And I will be starting that as soon as I finish this review.
I had thought this was going to be another trashy m/m novel (which I do enjoy), but after a few chapters, I simply couldn't put it down. The plot was really engaging and creative. I would adore the characters Jesse Daro created. Even Captain Hook, the family dog, was dear to my heart. I felt like I was with each characters as they had to struggle with conflicts, make tough decisions, and fight for their believes. The adolescence journey of Marshall and Seth was especially heart warming.
I hope Jesse Daro keeps writing these stories, they are wonderful and inspirational.
I had thought this was going to be another trashy m/m novel (which I do enjoy), but after a few chapters, I simply couldn't put it down. The plot was really engaging and creative. I would adore the characters Jesse Daro created. Even Captain Hook, the family dog, was dear to my heart. I felt like I was with each characters as they had to struggle with conflicts, make tough decisions, and fight for their believes. The adolescence journey of Marshall and Seth was especially heart warming.
I hope Jesse Daro keeps writing these stories, they are wonderful and inspirational.
August 7, 2017
I don't know what to say. This book, despite the cover I don't like, was actually very good. I was paranoid starting this because it's free and hasn't been published, the last book I read like that didn't work out well. I was worried it would be awful. I have never been more glad to be wrong.
This book was so fun, not only have we a m/m romance but we also have awesome Jaguars and brave Bunnys. The characters were so awesome and I'm soooooo glad I was right about two certain characters.
I can't wait to see what happens in book two.
This book was so fun, not only have we a m/m romance but we also have awesome Jaguars and brave Bunnys. The characters were so awesome and I'm soooooo glad I was right about two certain characters.
I can't wait to see what happens in book two.
January 15, 2013
I'm really impressed by this first book in the Ark Trilogy. Jesse Daro wrote and excellent work here. I liked Seth as the main protagonist. His wit, humor and intelligence is well integrated in his character. Even more, I really loved how deeply he knew that his twin J.J wasn't the enemy. I'm happy how this first part ended with Seth and J.J reunion. I liked Marshall, too. His light romance with Seth is good part of this storyline. I'll definitely read all other book in this series.
August 4, 2017
I really enjoyed the world here, and I wonder about how it's going to progress in the next book.
I'd love a non YA book set in this world.
Wondering who is trust worthy, and who is going to betray, was enough to keep me hooked.
The Werekin's have a different background, and aren't your typical shifters.
I liked the slow progression with Seth and his mother.
Well done.
I'm not big on YA, and I do think this would work better with non YA characters. But I still enjoyed it, and will continue reading at some point.
I'd love a non YA book set in this world.
Wondering who is trust worthy, and who is going to betray, was enough to keep me hooked.
The Werekin's have a different background, and aren't your typical shifters.
I liked the slow progression with Seth and his mother.
Well done.
I'm not big on YA, and I do think this would work better with non YA characters. But I still enjoyed it, and will continue reading at some point.
January 4, 2024
Absolutely amazing. I read the original draft when it was on FictionPress. I loved it then, I love it now. (My favorite is still the King Arthur retelling that was also available at the time.)
September 9, 2024
Rating: 4 out of 5
What an unexpected treat!
From past experiences, I'm a little gun-shy about free, self-published books. Usually they are in need of heavy editing and have a myriad of problems with characters, plot, and setting. I'm pleased to say that (almost) none of that is present in this book, and what little there is does not get in the way of an exciting read.
Daro has done a fine job of world-building here. The ramifications of historical actions are played out in a logical manner, and this makes the world very believable. My only complaint here is that some of the mythical backstory is a little mushy and unclear, but other than that I really enjoyed the setup.
The characters here are believable, and there are quite a few! I admit I sometimes got a little lost toward the end trying to make sense of the cast. I really liked Seth, the main character, a werejaguar. The author falls a bit into the trope of one's animal influencing the human's actions and behaviors, but that's a minor quibble. As a teenager Seth is a smart-aleck know-it-all, though as the book progresses he starts to get his head in order and this makes him a much more sympathetic character. Marshall, his love interest, is a little one-dimensional but we get a pretty clear idea of what his motivations may be. The rest of the cast is a fun collection of characters, and the shifting allegiances (and sudden reveals) definitely keep the reader guessing.
The plotting here is more than a little convoluted. I suspect a professional editor might suggest reducing the twists and turns just a bit, but it is a fun ride that was anything but predictable. The mix of mundane high-school life and high-stakes life-or-death action can be a little jarring at times, though.
I think that the first chapter is worthy of mention. It's tough to bring a reader into a story from the very first words, and even tougher to throw them right into the middle of the action. The first chapter of this book is one of the best at this that I have seen and is worthy of any professionally-written novel.
Finally, I came by this book in a list of gay romances (and a recommended book at that). While it has gay characters and a budding romance, the interactions on that front are strictly G-rated. I would say that this is a great urban fantasy that happens to have gay characters. (Oddly, I've also seen it classified as Young Adult - as near as I can tell YA in this context is "Yeah, they're gay, but they don't have sex." This seems weirdly different from the mainstream definition of YA, but there ya go.)
Skin is the first of The Ark Trilogy (Skin, Blood, Bones), all of which are downloadable for free from Goodreads. I look forward to reading the rest of the books!
What an unexpected treat!
From past experiences, I'm a little gun-shy about free, self-published books. Usually they are in need of heavy editing and have a myriad of problems with characters, plot, and setting. I'm pleased to say that (almost) none of that is present in this book, and what little there is does not get in the way of an exciting read.
Daro has done a fine job of world-building here. The ramifications of historical actions are played out in a logical manner, and this makes the world very believable. My only complaint here is that some of the mythical backstory is a little mushy and unclear, but other than that I really enjoyed the setup.
The characters here are believable, and there are quite a few! I admit I sometimes got a little lost toward the end trying to make sense of the cast. I really liked Seth, the main character, a werejaguar. The author falls a bit into the trope of one's animal influencing the human's actions and behaviors, but that's a minor quibble. As a teenager Seth is a smart-aleck know-it-all, though as the book progresses he starts to get his head in order and this makes him a much more sympathetic character. Marshall, his love interest, is a little one-dimensional but we get a pretty clear idea of what his motivations may be. The rest of the cast is a fun collection of characters, and the shifting allegiances (and sudden reveals) definitely keep the reader guessing.
The plotting here is more than a little convoluted. I suspect a professional editor might suggest reducing the twists and turns just a bit, but it is a fun ride that was anything but predictable. The mix of mundane high-school life and high-stakes life-or-death action can be a little jarring at times, though.
I think that the first chapter is worthy of mention. It's tough to bring a reader into a story from the very first words, and even tougher to throw them right into the middle of the action. The first chapter of this book is one of the best at this that I have seen and is worthy of any professionally-written novel.
Finally, I came by this book in a list of gay romances (and a recommended book at that). While it has gay characters and a budding romance, the interactions on that front are strictly G-rated. I would say that this is a great urban fantasy that happens to have gay characters. (Oddly, I've also seen it classified as Young Adult - as near as I can tell YA in this context is "Yeah, they're gay, but they don't have sex." This seems weirdly different from the mainstream definition of YA, but there ya go.)
Skin is the first of The Ark Trilogy (Skin, Blood, Bones), all of which are downloadable for free from Goodreads. I look forward to reading the rest of the books!
January 8, 2014
This book is fantastic. Seriously loved it. Read the first two in the series in one day and am just reading the third. The concept, characters, story were all well thought out and draws the reader in. If you like paranormal action stories with a hint of mm romance - this is definitely the book (series) for you. I cannot recommend this book enough - i seriously could not put it down and had to immediately start the next book. The only thing that has started to annoy me with the last book is the chapters jump from different characters point of views. I really can't stand this especially since the this book and the second one is predominately in one protagonists point of view (Seth).
May 27, 2016
This book I downloaded as a pdf file, which is not my preferred reading sample. This book needs a little bit of proof reading as there were some spelling mistakes so if your one of those readers that can't get past those, don't read. On the other hand you will be missing a brilliant book, I loved the concept of this story and was fully immersed in the story world, it even brought a tear to my eye. I'm hoping that in the 2nd book some loose ends in the plot will be solved, this is my first book by this author but it won't be my last.
May 11, 2017
Little naive, with inconsistiencies in characters behavior & plot.
Eg
Eg
June 21, 2015
I fell in love with the series from chapter one to the last chapter of the third book. Though it has it's ups and downs, the story of Seth is one that I will remember for a long time, just like all the series that helped Jesse Daro become the writer she is now that is writing such awesome books.
July 19, 2016
All the suspense is a little boring for my taste. In my part of the world, highschool teens are only in love with each others, playing ball between them and totally ignoring the society, wars, species and so on.
August 12, 2013
This was fun to read. Shifter/YA urban fantasy deal. Hard to tell who the good or bad guys were throughout.
September 6, 2013
WOW!! This was awesome!!! That's all I'm gonna say. Stayed up literally all night to read this, so that's all I can say at this point.
September 11, 2016
Read all three books, one after another.
January 7, 2016
4.25*
December 13, 2016
Completely different from any other shape shifter series I have read. I loved every minute of it. I love the main character, Seth, especially since he isn't your typical protagonist.
May 29, 2015
FANTASTIC! This is just AMAZING! Immediately starting on book 2!!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews