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The Howling II: The Return

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THE BEASTS STILL HUNGER. AND THIS TIME, THEY WON’T STOP UNTIL SHE’S ONE OF THEM.

Karyn Beatty thought she had escaped the nightmare. She thought the horrors of Drago burned away with the fire that consumed the town—and the creatures that stalked its shadows. But some evils refuse to die.

Haunted by gruesome memories and terrifying dreams, Karyn struggles to rebuild her life in the city. But when a series of brutal, animal-like killings shakes the streets, she realizes the nightmare isn’t over. Something is hunting her. Something that knows her scent… and whispers her name in the dark.

Because Marcia is still out there. The savage, seductive she-wolf who destroyed her life is alive—and she’s not alone. The pack is growing, the hunger is spreading, and Karyn is about to learn the terrifying once you’ve heard the howling, it never lets you go.

Encyclopocalypse Publications proudly presents the definitive edition of Gary Brandner’s chilling sequel—a relentless, blood-soaked ride into the heart of werewolf terror!

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2025

2 people are currently reading

About the author

Gary Brandner

90 books111 followers
Gary Phil Brandner (May 31, 1930 – September 22, 2013) was an American horror author best known for his werewolf themed trilogy of novels, The Howling. The first book in the series was loosely adapted as a motion picture in 1981. Brandner's second and third Howling novels, published in 1979 and 1985 respectively, have no connection to the film series, though he was involved in writing the screenplay for the second Howling film, Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf. The fourth film in the Howling series, Howling IV: The Original Nightmare, is actually the closest adaptation of Brandner's original novel, though this too varies to some degree.

Brandner's novel Walkers was adapted and filmed for television as From The Dead Of Night. He also wrote the screenplay for the 1988 horror film Cameron's Closet.

Born in the Midwest and much traveled during his formative years, Brandner published more than 30 novels, over 100 short stories, and also wrote a handful of screenplays. He attended college at the University of Washington where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. After graduating in 1955, he worked as an amateur boxer, bartender, surveyor, loan company investigator, advertising copywriter, and technical writer before turning to fiction writing. Brandner lived with his wife, Martine Wood Brandner, and several cats in Reno, Nevada.

He died of esophageal cancer in 2013.

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Profile Image for Library Timoris.
31 reviews2 followers
July 15, 2025
This book picks up 3 years after the events of the original, still following Karyn as she rebuilds her life after the events of that book. Unfortunately for her, the Werewolves of Drago are back and somehow even hornier.

Oh, also, they want revenge.

The Howling II really does feel like the second half of a whole - the climax to the original felt so rushed that this chance to expand upon the story feels welcome. Both books are short - only around 200 pages in the editions I read, so together, they provide a much more satisfying read.

This second novel is better paced - despite its short length, not much happened in the original until the rushed climax.

Here, there is the feeling that we are constantly in motion, constantly running as Karen flees her pursuers. The ending still feels a little rushed, but far less so than the original.

The dialogue feels a little bit more natural, and even though I deeply enjoyed the original, this just worked a little bit more for me.

I understand that Part III deals with different characters entirely, and as much as I enjoyed Karyn's story it does feel complete - so I'm glad that we are moving on rather than forcing her through another adventure.
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