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My name is Mal Marsh.
I was the oldest unTurned Were of my generation, waiting Turn after Turn for my own time... which never came. Until the day, driven by desperation and by the guilt I still carried concerning my sister Celia's tragic death, I decided it was time to stop waiting... and made a dangerous choice in the name of pride and fury.
Instead of remaining the Random Were that I was born... I enlisted the help of a friend, a creature beyond the strictly drawn boundaries of Were-kind, and chose to become a Lycan, a true wolf. I thought it would give me a chance to take my revenge on those I believed to be responsible for what had happened to my sister. Right until the moment I realized that things were much more complicated that I had ever believed possible... and that my choice might have far more repercussions than I had thought.
One thing was clear.
Everything I thought I knew about my family was wrong
I was the oldest unTurned Were of my generation, waiting Turn after Turn for my own time... which never came. Until the day, driven by desperation and by the guilt I still carried concerning my sister Celia's tragic death, I decided it was time to stop waiting... and made a dangerous choice in the name of pride and fury.
Instead of remaining the Random Were that I was born... I enlisted the help of a friend, a creature beyond the strictly drawn boundaries of Were-kind, and chose to become a Lycan, a true wolf. I thought it would give me a chance to take my revenge on those I believed to be responsible for what had happened to my sister. Right until the moment I realized that things were much more complicated that I had ever believed possible... and that my choice might have far more repercussions than I had thought.
One thing was clear.
Everything I thought I knew about my family was wrong
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2015
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Alma Alexander
73 books204 followersAlma Alexander is a scientist by education, duchess by historical accident, and an author who has written more than a score of novels, including 'The Secrets of Jin-shei', published in dozens of editions and languages around the world.
Known as the Duchess of Fantasy, she is also a blogger sharing writing tips, and glimpses of both the mundane and magic of a fantasy author's life.
Her latest novels include 'Val Hall', a series about a retirement home for Superheroes, Third Class; 'Embers of Heaven' a Jin-shei follow-up; 'Empress', a love story; and 'Midnight at Spanish Gardens'.
Coming in July is 'The Second Star', a novel about the big eternal questions – about who, or what, God is; about our own immortal souls and their salvation; what it really means to be human; and whether it is possible to go out to where the monsters dwell and expect to come home again unchanged. It is a story of how humans meet the stars, and find themselves there.
Her YA include the four-book Worldweavers series, and 'The Were Chronicles' trilogy.
Her work has been translated into 14 languages worldwide, including Hebrew,Turkish, and Catalan.
She is currently at work on a new series of alternate history novels with roots in Eastern Europe.
She lives in Bellingham, WA, with her husband, two cats, and assorted visiting wildlife.
Visit her website/blog at www.AlmaAlexander.org or AlmaAlexanderAuthor.com , like her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alma-A...
Known as the Duchess of Fantasy, she is also a blogger sharing writing tips, and glimpses of both the mundane and magic of a fantasy author's life.
Her latest novels include 'Val Hall', a series about a retirement home for Superheroes, Third Class; 'Embers of Heaven' a Jin-shei follow-up; 'Empress', a love story; and 'Midnight at Spanish Gardens'.
Coming in July is 'The Second Star', a novel about the big eternal questions – about who, or what, God is; about our own immortal souls and their salvation; what it really means to be human; and whether it is possible to go out to where the monsters dwell and expect to come home again unchanged. It is a story of how humans meet the stars, and find themselves there.
Her YA include the four-book Worldweavers series, and 'The Were Chronicles' trilogy.
Her work has been translated into 14 languages worldwide, including Hebrew,Turkish, and Catalan.
She is currently at work on a new series of alternate history novels with roots in Eastern Europe.
She lives in Bellingham, WA, with her husband, two cats, and assorted visiting wildlife.
Visit her website/blog at www.AlmaAlexander.org or AlmaAlexanderAuthor.com , like her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alma-A...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 11, 2017
I categorized Random, the first book in the Were series, as fantasy. Like most shapeshifter novels, there is no explanation given for the phenomenon. It might as well be magic. Yet in Wolf I found werewolf staffed laboratories. The plot is centered on a genetics project and gene therapy. Clearly, this is science fiction. There is a certain appropriateness in a shapeshifter series that morphs into a different genre.
From a thematic perspective, this isn't really a novel about werewolves. It's a novel about the misuse of drugs and the misuse of science. Authors have often used science fiction to disguise their writing about serious social problems.
The strongest aspect of Wolf is character development. Mal matures over the course of the book. His growth process is painful and very moving. Yet he has family and friends to help him through. By the way, I just loved Asia. She had her own growth process. During the course of the novel, she had to re-define family and make painful choices. I am hoping to see more of Asia in the third book of the series.
For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
From a thematic perspective, this isn't really a novel about werewolves. It's a novel about the misuse of drugs and the misuse of science. Authors have often used science fiction to disguise their writing about serious social problems.
The strongest aspect of Wolf is character development. Mal matures over the course of the book. His growth process is painful and very moving. Yet he has family and friends to help him through. By the way, I just loved Asia. She had her own growth process. During the course of the novel, she had to re-define family and make painful choices. I am hoping to see more of Asia in the third book of the series.
For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
August 2, 2015
I received a review copy of this book from the author, since I'd reviewed the previous book in the series.
The viewpoint character in this book is the brother of the previous book's viewpoint character, and spends the entire first part of the book going over the backstory from his perspective. In a sense, then, you don't need to read the previous book in order to orient yourself, but I really suggest that you do read it, because it was one of the best books I read last year.
I'm not certain whether the version I received was the final version. It felt to me as if it needed another round of revision, mainly because of the periodic appearance of 80, 100, even 120-word sentences that rambled from topic to topic, interrupting themselves several times along the way. I'm not sure if this was deliberate characterisation, the mind style of the character; it seemed to disappear later in the book, when the young man gained more sense of purpose and direction. If it was deliberate, it didn't work that well for me.
Something else that annoyed me slightly (and added to the sense that the book was just going on and on) is the lack of chapter breaks. I several times stopped reading partway through a scene in order to go to bed or get back to work after my lunch break, since I didn't know when the next stopping point was going to be.
So much for the flaws. I thought I might have found a third, in that the viewpoint character doesn't himself take most of the actions which progress and resolve the plot, relying on his friends to do so instead. On reflection, though, this isn't really a flaw. There are multiple kinds of main characters, just as there are multiple kinds of leader, and this character is the kind who inspires others around him by his devotion to a cause, by his willingness to risk everything for what's important to him, and by the fact that what's important to him is helping someone else. Even if it's important because of his guilt over past actions, it's still inspiring--not only to his fellow characters, but also to me. I found myself moved by his devotion to his sister and by the loyalty that inspired in the other characters.
Overall, then, while it wasn't, to me, as good as the previous book, and tended to wander and ramble at the beginning, I did find this book enjoyable, and the end both emotionally moving and satisfying.
The viewpoint character in this book is the brother of the previous book's viewpoint character, and spends the entire first part of the book going over the backstory from his perspective. In a sense, then, you don't need to read the previous book in order to orient yourself, but I really suggest that you do read it, because it was one of the best books I read last year.
I'm not certain whether the version I received was the final version. It felt to me as if it needed another round of revision, mainly because of the periodic appearance of 80, 100, even 120-word sentences that rambled from topic to topic, interrupting themselves several times along the way. I'm not sure if this was deliberate characterisation, the mind style of the character; it seemed to disappear later in the book, when the young man gained more sense of purpose and direction. If it was deliberate, it didn't work that well for me.
Something else that annoyed me slightly (and added to the sense that the book was just going on and on) is the lack of chapter breaks. I several times stopped reading partway through a scene in order to go to bed or get back to work after my lunch break, since I didn't know when the next stopping point was going to be.
So much for the flaws. I thought I might have found a third, in that the viewpoint character doesn't himself take most of the actions which progress and resolve the plot, relying on his friends to do so instead. On reflection, though, this isn't really a flaw. There are multiple kinds of main characters, just as there are multiple kinds of leader, and this character is the kind who inspires others around him by his devotion to a cause, by his willingness to risk everything for what's important to him, and by the fact that what's important to him is helping someone else. Even if it's important because of his guilt over past actions, it's still inspiring--not only to his fellow characters, but also to me. I found myself moved by his devotion to his sister and by the loyalty that inspired in the other characters.
Overall, then, while it wasn't, to me, as good as the previous book, and tended to wander and ramble at the beginning, I did find this book enjoyable, and the end both emotionally moving and satisfying.
December 5, 2016
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Mal March has just set his life off in a complicated and unprecedented journey. He has become a were-wolf, a rare and totally not random shape-shifting form, which means that he will have to leave his family and become part of the wolf pack. For Mal, this means redemption and a way to find answers in his life, but nothing ever turns out exactly as planned. Wolf is the second book in the Were Chronicles, and were the first book was his younger sister Jazz's story, this book is Mal's story. It goes back and gives some history and his view on some things leading up to his turning into a wolf, which occurred at the end of Random. This book takes up were book one ended and goes one. Author Alma Alexander once again gives a book that is captivating and exciting. You will not want to put it down until you finish it, and then you will be screaming for book three!
The Were Chronicles, book one Random and now book two Wolf, really need to be read in order, although you might be ok if you don't. I was so captivated by the story that I read all three books one right after the other! This book is all Mal's story and takes him from leaving his family through his journey. This book may be a paranormal, fantasy book but there is genetic testing and experiments, forced registration and so much more that is socially cutting edge. Author Alma Alexander gives readers a book that is fun and exciting, but if you sit back and think about it, it could provide excellent book club conversations! This series is my absolute favorite style, something that is fun and gets kids and teens reading, but at the same time has some many unlying socially conscious themes that it forces you to look at life and the world around you at the same time! Everyone should read this series!
Mal March has just set his life off in a complicated and unprecedented journey. He has become a were-wolf, a rare and totally not random shape-shifting form, which means that he will have to leave his family and become part of the wolf pack. For Mal, this means redemption and a way to find answers in his life, but nothing ever turns out exactly as planned. Wolf is the second book in the Were Chronicles, and were the first book was his younger sister Jazz's story, this book is Mal's story. It goes back and gives some history and his view on some things leading up to his turning into a wolf, which occurred at the end of Random. This book takes up were book one ended and goes one. Author Alma Alexander once again gives a book that is captivating and exciting. You will not want to put it down until you finish it, and then you will be screaming for book three!
The Were Chronicles, book one Random and now book two Wolf, really need to be read in order, although you might be ok if you don't. I was so captivated by the story that I read all three books one right after the other! This book is all Mal's story and takes him from leaving his family through his journey. This book may be a paranormal, fantasy book but there is genetic testing and experiments, forced registration and so much more that is socially cutting edge. Author Alma Alexander gives readers a book that is fun and exciting, but if you sit back and think about it, it could provide excellent book club conversations! This series is my absolute favorite style, something that is fun and gets kids and teens reading, but at the same time has some many unlying socially conscious themes that it forces you to look at life and the world around you at the same time! Everyone should read this series!
July 25, 2015
I must admit I was not thrilled the focus moved from Jazz to Mal in WOLF. I was not fond of Mal in RANDOM, and I was worried I would not like him enough to enjoy his story. I reread RANDOM before starting WOLF so the beginning was a little slow, although I forced myself to read and not skim. Since I still have tears in my eyes from finishing WOLF, I can honestly say I like Mal and enjoyed his story. These books are not full of action and fight scenes with soaring romances. The books are more character driven with exquisitely real world building.
RANDOM ended with Mal showing up at home after being claimed by the Lycans. WOLF begins with Mal's memories of being on the ship with Celia and his parents and continues with snapshots of his memories through leaving with the Lycan Alpha. WOLF is the story of Mal learning to live in his new world and his discovery of a conspiracy of lies involving the Lycans. I do not do spoilers, which makes reviewing this book difficult, but Mal grows up, learns to trust people, and forms a...pack of his own.
RANDOM ended with Mal showing up at home after being claimed by the Lycans. WOLF begins with Mal's memories of being on the ship with Celia and his parents and continues with snapshots of his memories through leaving with the Lycan Alpha. WOLF is the story of Mal learning to live in his new world and his discovery of a conspiracy of lies involving the Lycans. I do not do spoilers, which makes reviewing this book difficult, but Mal grows up, learns to trust people, and forms a...pack of his own.
December 21, 2015
I picked up this book after finishing the first one in the series (Random), and liked this one even more than the first. The story continues by following Jazz's older brother Mal and the decisions he makes as he Turns, and what he learns and finds out after doing so.
This book was just as strong as the first, which is not always the case, and I enjoyed the expansion and exploration of Were society as Mal becomes a werewolf. There is even more interesting science and political stuff in this book, specifically related to the werewolf society and their needs and history, and it all was fascinating. Mal's character is explored more than in the first book, and his motivations are interesting and clear yet develop as the book continues. The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm looking forward to picking up the third novel when it is released.
Definitely recommend this one, but read the first book before you pick up this one or you'll miss out on a lot of info and another great story.
This book was just as strong as the first, which is not always the case, and I enjoyed the expansion and exploration of Were society as Mal becomes a werewolf. There is even more interesting science and political stuff in this book, specifically related to the werewolf society and their needs and history, and it all was fascinating. Mal's character is explored more than in the first book, and his motivations are interesting and clear yet develop as the book continues. The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm looking forward to picking up the third novel when it is released.
Definitely recommend this one, but read the first book before you pick up this one or you'll miss out on a lot of info and another great story.
May 15, 2015
It is said there are no new stories...just new takes on old tales.
I would say this does not apply to Wolf or, in fact, to the Were Chronicles as a whole. I have never read an more original take on shapeshifters. Though heavy on the science of genomes and such, I was never once dropped out of this story, or able to anticipate in advance the journey it would take me on.
Wolf is a shining example of the skill and excellence inherent in Ms. Alexander's talent. I am very much looking forward to the release of Shifter so I can immerse myself in Saladin's tale.
I would say this does not apply to Wolf or, in fact, to the Were Chronicles as a whole. I have never read an more original take on shapeshifters. Though heavy on the science of genomes and such, I was never once dropped out of this story, or able to anticipate in advance the journey it would take me on.
Wolf is a shining example of the skill and excellence inherent in Ms. Alexander's talent. I am very much looking forward to the release of Shifter so I can immerse myself in Saladin's tale.
May 25, 2017
I'm continuing to really enjoy this trilogy. This book is all from the point of view of Mal, the brother of Jazz, the narrator of the first book.
Despite his being a werewolf, this book moves even farther away from fantasy. He starts working in a genetics lab and the book is settling in more to science fiction. I think this would be a book teenage boys would really enjoy.
Despite his being a werewolf, this book moves even farther away from fantasy. He starts working in a genetics lab and the book is settling in more to science fiction. I think this would be a book teenage boys would really enjoy.
December 1, 2015
They saved the day with SCIENCE! I can't speak to how accurate the science was as I tended to read those sections with "science babble, science babble, science babble" running through my head. But SCIENCE! I am very much looking forward to the next one.
July 31, 2017
Interesting take on werewolves. A wholly different society with somewhat genetic explanations. But slow. And just not grabby. There was definitely potential for a good story here but it ended up feeling more like a sketch. And not particularly believable. But at least it was different.
January 20, 2016
Review may contain spoilers for Random, the first book in The Were Chronicles.
A free ARC of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Ten months. Ten. That’s how long I suffered in agony after finishing Random and its doozy of a cliffhanger ending. Ten slow, painful months to try to get over the shock, to daydream about the characters I was missing, and to speculate about what I could expect from the series’ next installment, Wolf.
Now that those ten (TEN!) months are finally over and the sequel has arrived, I can cheerfully report that Wolf is well worth the wait. It’s got everything I loved about Random – beautiful writing, fascinating characters, more information about the intriguing world of Were-kind – as well as an added bonus: it’s narrated by Mal, my favorite character from Random.
When I heard that Jazz Marsh’s moody, enigmatic older brother would be the point-of-view character in Wolf, I was giddy. In Random, Mal started out as a seemingly minor character, your stereotypical sullen, standoffish teenage boy. By the end, however, he surprised everyone – myself included – by Turning into a Werewolf and emerging as a major player in the Marsh family’s story as well as the story of Were-kind in general. My curiosity wasn’t just piqued, it was set aflame, and I couldn’t wait to see what lay in store for Mal in Wolf.
Wolf picks up the thread of Mal’s story and follows him to his new home among his fellow Werewolves, known as the Lycans. Whereas Random showed Were-kind interacting with non-shape-shifting humans in the world at large, Wolf is a microcosm, focusing solely on the inner workings of the Lycan community. The Lycan compound, with its strict hierarchies and jealously guarded secrets, is its own – exclusive – little world. The Werewolves have their own unique culture, prejudices, and standards, and woe to any who don’t abide by their rules.
In order for Mal to infiltrate their ranks and uncover the truth about Stay and its effects on Were like his sister, he must eschew his family, his upbringing, and everything he once knew. Becoming a member of the pack means forfeiting his choices and accepting all of the decisions the Alphas make for him. The pack chooses his college courses, his job, and even his mate. Yep, that’s right– even though he’s just 17, Mal is expected to marry a woman of the pack’s choosing and get to work producing little Lycan babies. Gotta start spreading that new, valuable DNA around, ya know?
I loved watching Mal come into his own over the course of this book, rolling with everything the Lycans throw at him, even the stuff wholly outside of his comfort zone. He grumbles, and struggles, and balks…and then he grits his teeth, puts his head down, and soldiers on, because it’s the only way for him to move forward. It was so rewarding to see this grouchy, self-pitying boy grow and mature and become someone I was so proud of.
Despite my fondness of Mal, or perhaps because of it, I was not a fan of Asia, the girl the Lycans choose to be Mal’s mate. Maybe it’s jealousy on my part, but Asia just seems too perfect: she’s gorgeous, wild, brilliantly intelligent, and always in control. I did initially enjoy the dynamic between her and Mal – their first interactions are fraught with understandable tension, what with both being strangers and being called to give up their dreams at the pack’s command. This tension soon gives way to affection, though, as the two quickly come to accept and even love one another. This transition from strangers to intimates happened too fast for me, and I would have liked the awkwardness and uncertainty to linger for a while longer, for the discovery of love to be gradual and even grudging.
My only other “complaint,” if you can call it that, is similar to one I had when reading Random. The diction and sentence structure, while lovely, don’t always match with the voices you’d expect the characters to have. Dialogue occasionally comes out sounding like philosophers engaging in a grand intellectual debate instead of two people carrying on a regular conversation, and even Mal’s internal monologues tend to read like dissertations at times. As I mentioned in my review of Random, though, Alma Alexander’s writing is so interesting and beautiful that it doesn’t really matter how lofty the tone is. For example, here’s a passage I found particularly insightful:
As Mal establishes himself within his new pack, he slowly begins to unravel the Lycans’ closely guarded secrets. The facts he discovers about Turning Houses and the Half-Souled make his skin crawl, and the more he uncovers – the closer he gets to finding out the truth about his sister – the greater the risk to himself and to his fledgling relationship with Asia. I enjoyed watching as the stakes were raised, plot twists popped up, and old friends and family from Random reappeared to lend Mal a helping hand.
If you enjoyed Random, I have no doubt you’ll be exceedingly pleased with Wolf. It’s a worthy progression of the series, and Mal is a protagonist you can root for, sympathize with, and even fall for. I’m so excited to see what’s next for Mal, his friends, and his family in The Were Chronicles’ final chapter and only hope the months fly by until book three is released!
This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
A free ARC of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Ten months. Ten. That’s how long I suffered in agony after finishing Random and its doozy of a cliffhanger ending. Ten slow, painful months to try to get over the shock, to daydream about the characters I was missing, and to speculate about what I could expect from the series’ next installment, Wolf.
Now that those ten (TEN!) months are finally over and the sequel has arrived, I can cheerfully report that Wolf is well worth the wait. It’s got everything I loved about Random – beautiful writing, fascinating characters, more information about the intriguing world of Were-kind – as well as an added bonus: it’s narrated by Mal, my favorite character from Random.
When I heard that Jazz Marsh’s moody, enigmatic older brother would be the point-of-view character in Wolf, I was giddy. In Random, Mal started out as a seemingly minor character, your stereotypical sullen, standoffish teenage boy. By the end, however, he surprised everyone – myself included – by Turning into a Werewolf and emerging as a major player in the Marsh family’s story as well as the story of Were-kind in general. My curiosity wasn’t just piqued, it was set aflame, and I couldn’t wait to see what lay in store for Mal in Wolf.
Wolf picks up the thread of Mal’s story and follows him to his new home among his fellow Werewolves, known as the Lycans. Whereas Random showed Were-kind interacting with non-shape-shifting humans in the world at large, Wolf is a microcosm, focusing solely on the inner workings of the Lycan community. The Lycan compound, with its strict hierarchies and jealously guarded secrets, is its own – exclusive – little world. The Werewolves have their own unique culture, prejudices, and standards, and woe to any who don’t abide by their rules.
In order for Mal to infiltrate their ranks and uncover the truth about Stay and its effects on Were like his sister, he must eschew his family, his upbringing, and everything he once knew. Becoming a member of the pack means forfeiting his choices and accepting all of the decisions the Alphas make for him. The pack chooses his college courses, his job, and even his mate. Yep, that’s right– even though he’s just 17, Mal is expected to marry a woman of the pack’s choosing and get to work producing little Lycan babies. Gotta start spreading that new, valuable DNA around, ya know?
I loved watching Mal come into his own over the course of this book, rolling with everything the Lycans throw at him, even the stuff wholly outside of his comfort zone. He grumbles, and struggles, and balks…and then he grits his teeth, puts his head down, and soldiers on, because it’s the only way for him to move forward. It was so rewarding to see this grouchy, self-pitying boy grow and mature and become someone I was so proud of.
Despite my fondness of Mal, or perhaps because of it, I was not a fan of Asia, the girl the Lycans choose to be Mal’s mate. Maybe it’s jealousy on my part, but Asia just seems too perfect: she’s gorgeous, wild, brilliantly intelligent, and always in control. I did initially enjoy the dynamic between her and Mal – their first interactions are fraught with understandable tension, what with both being strangers and being called to give up their dreams at the pack’s command. This tension soon gives way to affection, though, as the two quickly come to accept and even love one another. This transition from strangers to intimates happened too fast for me, and I would have liked the awkwardness and uncertainty to linger for a while longer, for the discovery of love to be gradual and even grudging.
My only other “complaint,” if you can call it that, is similar to one I had when reading Random. The diction and sentence structure, while lovely, don’t always match with the voices you’d expect the characters to have. Dialogue occasionally comes out sounding like philosophers engaging in a grand intellectual debate instead of two people carrying on a regular conversation, and even Mal’s internal monologues tend to read like dissertations at times. As I mentioned in my review of Random, though, Alma Alexander’s writing is so interesting and beautiful that it doesn’t really matter how lofty the tone is. For example, here’s a passage I found particularly insightful:
“My life was layered with these moments; if it could be dug into, like an archaeological site, there would be layers of ashes and waste left over from catastrophic volcanic disasters in between the fertile parts where something good or useful was happening.”
As Mal establishes himself within his new pack, he slowly begins to unravel the Lycans’ closely guarded secrets. The facts he discovers about Turning Houses and the Half-Souled make his skin crawl, and the more he uncovers – the closer he gets to finding out the truth about his sister – the greater the risk to himself and to his fledgling relationship with Asia. I enjoyed watching as the stakes were raised, plot twists popped up, and old friends and family from Random reappeared to lend Mal a helping hand.
If you enjoyed Random, I have no doubt you’ll be exceedingly pleased with Wolf. It’s a worthy progression of the series, and Mal is a protagonist you can root for, sympathize with, and even fall for. I’m so excited to see what’s next for Mal, his friends, and his family in The Were Chronicles’ final chapter and only hope the months fly by until book three is released!
This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
July 4, 2015
Read review in its entirety at http://www.compassbookratings.com/rev...
Alma Alexander continues to thrill readers with Wolf (The Were Chronicles #2). The second book in the installment tantalizes with a progressive story line. The stakes are higher, the mysteries more intriguing, and the subjects slightly more mature, as Mal Marsh embarks on a journey that is not as self-serving as he once thought.
Unfamiliar with the previous novel? Not a problem for newcomers, as Ms. Alexander uses the first 50 or so pages to enlighten readers. Narrated in first person, male protagonist Mal sums up what happened in the preceding book in his own words. This is great for readers who skipped book one, but a bit frustrating for readers who are fresh off the cuff of Random (The Were Chronicles #1) and are biting at the chance for fresh material.
Instead of focusing primarily on one family as in the previous novel, Wolf begins to open up more questions about the Were community as a whole and their origin as well as future. Some loose ends that surprised readers during Random will culminate, while new questions are introduced and will hopefully be addressed in the third novel, Shifter (Were Chronicles #3).
Catapulted into a new setting by a new narrator and new (and not so new) conspirators, one thing is commonplace— family secrets abound and whether it's physical or emotional, change is once again on the way.
“Everything is different. It is all going to be different. Nothing will ever be the same again.”
Alma Alexander continues to thrill readers with Wolf (The Were Chronicles #2). The second book in the installment tantalizes with a progressive story line. The stakes are higher, the mysteries more intriguing, and the subjects slightly more mature, as Mal Marsh embarks on a journey that is not as self-serving as he once thought.
Unfamiliar with the previous novel? Not a problem for newcomers, as Ms. Alexander uses the first 50 or so pages to enlighten readers. Narrated in first person, male protagonist Mal sums up what happened in the preceding book in his own words. This is great for readers who skipped book one, but a bit frustrating for readers who are fresh off the cuff of Random (The Were Chronicles #1) and are biting at the chance for fresh material.
Instead of focusing primarily on one family as in the previous novel, Wolf begins to open up more questions about the Were community as a whole and their origin as well as future. Some loose ends that surprised readers during Random will culminate, while new questions are introduced and will hopefully be addressed in the third novel, Shifter (Were Chronicles #3).
Catapulted into a new setting by a new narrator and new (and not so new) conspirators, one thing is commonplace— family secrets abound and whether it's physical or emotional, change is once again on the way.
“Everything is different. It is all going to be different. Nothing will ever be the same again.”
August 10, 2015
I didn't love it as much as the first one but I still liked it very, very much. Mal's voice and experiences are so different from Jazz's. It's fascinating to be able to see inside his mind and learn how he felt about what happened with Celia. I was shocked and appalled (like Mal) to learn even a portion of what happened to Celia in the Turning Houses. It was very well written and definitely made me deeply consider the issues of the treatment of others within the story. Very well done. I'm hoping there will be a next installment!
January 5, 2021
A bunch of the beginning of Wolf repeated bits of the first book, Random. As soon as we got past the recap, Wolf surpassed Random's story. Can't wait to read the third!
August 14, 2016
Welp.
Here's the thing--Alexander's shapeshifting trilogy shouldn't really catch my attention. It's werewolves, which are fine but not really up my alley, and it's in modern times in an altered world setting, and this one in particular is pretty science-y.
BUT OH MY GOODNESS my attention is fully caught.
Perhaps it's the strength of the characters. Jazz, the narrator of Random, gets pushed to the side a bit as we follow Mal into the new world of being a werewolf, a world of secrets and isolation from the rest of the were-community. Through his eyes and his emotions we go back over the ground Jazz laid for us and it's a totally new experience, but then we go forward with his uncertainty and his stubbornness and his soft spots he wants no one to see. I found myself welcoming back characters (Chalky for the win!) and warily accepting new ones (Asia was a welcome surprise, although I'm still a little unsure of her), cautiously cheering for their triumphs and despairing at their discoveries.
Perhaps it's the strength of the world-building. I am super not a science person, yet I wasn't bored when Alexander went off on a science explanation of the intricacies of the Were folk; this ain't your backwoods fairy tale, folks. The werewolf community here is smart and secretive and very intent on genome stuff (nope, still don't really understand it) and even if the science is totally off it's presented in a way that pulls me in.
Perhaps it's the nostalgia Alexander brings. Being herself a transplant to America from Europe, Alexander manages to nail the uncertainties of new lands and the importance of clinging to whatever comes with you of the old life. Little Mal is someone I kind of want to hug a lot.
Or it's a number of other things, but regardless, this is a worthy sequel and I will definitely be tracking down the next volume.
Here's the thing--Alexander's shapeshifting trilogy shouldn't really catch my attention. It's werewolves, which are fine but not really up my alley, and it's in modern times in an altered world setting, and this one in particular is pretty science-y.
BUT OH MY GOODNESS my attention is fully caught.
Perhaps it's the strength of the characters. Jazz, the narrator of Random, gets pushed to the side a bit as we follow Mal into the new world of being a werewolf, a world of secrets and isolation from the rest of the were-community. Through his eyes and his emotions we go back over the ground Jazz laid for us and it's a totally new experience, but then we go forward with his uncertainty and his stubbornness and his soft spots he wants no one to see. I found myself welcoming back characters (Chalky for the win!) and warily accepting new ones (Asia was a welcome surprise, although I'm still a little unsure of her), cautiously cheering for their triumphs and despairing at their discoveries.
Perhaps it's the strength of the world-building. I am super not a science person, yet I wasn't bored when Alexander went off on a science explanation of the intricacies of the Were folk; this ain't your backwoods fairy tale, folks. The werewolf community here is smart and secretive and very intent on genome stuff (nope, still don't really understand it) and even if the science is totally off it's presented in a way that pulls me in.
Perhaps it's the nostalgia Alexander brings. Being herself a transplant to America from Europe, Alexander manages to nail the uncertainties of new lands and the importance of clinging to whatever comes with you of the old life. Little Mal is someone I kind of want to hug a lot.
Or it's a number of other things, but regardless, this is a worthy sequel and I will definitely be tracking down the next volume.
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