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Mostly Human: Young Adult Werewolf Rockstar Fantasy Novel
What kind of life can you hope to live when being a world famous rock star is the most normal thing about you?
Alex Harris, lead singer of the band The Waterdogs, harbours a dark secret that he and his family have painstakingly kept for fifteen years.
While playing in the woods on his grandparent's farm, ten-year-old Alex stumbles across the body of a giant wolf. Believing the animal dead, he approaches the beast and quickly realises it isn't as dead as he thought, nor is it an ordinary wolf.
Mostly Human is the coming of age story of Alex growing up with his parents and his older sister Annabel, whilst coming to grips with his strange condition. Follow them in this journey of twists and turns through tragedies, heartbreak, intrigue, and into the clutches of organised crime.
Alex Harris, lead singer of the band The Waterdogs, harbours a dark secret that he and his family have painstakingly kept for fifteen years.
While playing in the woods on his grandparent's farm, ten-year-old Alex stumbles across the body of a giant wolf. Believing the animal dead, he approaches the beast and quickly realises it isn't as dead as he thought, nor is it an ordinary wolf.
Mostly Human is the coming of age story of Alex growing up with his parents and his older sister Annabel, whilst coming to grips with his strange condition. Follow them in this journey of twists and turns through tragedies, heartbreak, intrigue, and into the clutches of organised crime.
397 pages, ebook
Published July 4, 2016
22 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
About the author
D.I. Jolly
13 books100 followersGood Morning.
I wanted to be a writer since before I could actually read, when I first started playing a video game called Gabriel Knight Sin of the Father. I thought (and still think) that he was the coolest guy I'd ever seen and I wanted to be him when I grew up. Writer, bookstore in New Orleans, the works.
I live in Berlin now so I didn't get it totally on the mark but I I have written and had published 12 books, and very much like Gabriel Knight, without anyone having really noticed. Well not yet anyway.
I wanted to be a writer since before I could actually read, when I first started playing a video game called Gabriel Knight Sin of the Father. I thought (and still think) that he was the coolest guy I'd ever seen and I wanted to be him when I grew up. Writer, bookstore in New Orleans, the works.
I live in Berlin now so I didn't get it totally on the mark but I I have written and had published 12 books, and very much like Gabriel Knight, without anyone having really noticed. Well not yet anyway.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 5, 2016
The coming of age story of Alex Harris as he grows up to be a rock star. But what I loved about this was the balanced life between Alex and his sister and how his family always pulled together to try and solve a problem. The interaction between the children and the parents in a lot of YA novels either has parents-ex-machina or are totally absent. Not all stories but many and in this one they really feel like a family, which I loved.
February 7, 2017
Mostly Human follows the lives of Alex Harris and family while they navigate through their new reality of having a family member who is a werewolf.
While on a family vacation in Canada, Alex, in his attempts to help an injured wolf, gets bitten. His life, as well as his family’s is forever changed in that moment.
The characters experience heartbreak, grief, secrets, love and so much more on their journey to normalcy.
I liked the way the book began – the interview. The dialogue seemed so natural, the writing style kept me hooked and I had a feeling that I would love this book; however, the feeling did not last. Once the timeline switched and went back in time to 10 year old Alex, my connection to the story was broken. I think this happened because I got into the story with certain expectations. I was expecting to read about a rock star and his life as a werewolf with only glimpses into his past. I didn’t expect to follow an in depth story of his younger years, and that was solely my fault. I should have read the summary and not concentrate only on the “rock star” bit.
Nevertheless, it was a good story.
The Good:
• His family was very supportive and caring, patient and willing to alter their lives to accommodate his new situation. He had a family who loved him beyond words.
• Usually siblings don’t get along so well but in this book they were so protective of each other. I thought it to be a great relationship and a big step away from the cliché sibling relationship of always wanting to bite each other’s head off.
• It was a full length book which had the opportunity to really explore his life, from a young age to adult. With that being said, his character development was not rushed, it was slowly yet strategically progressed.
• My favorite parts were his teenage years and adult life which I found to be most interesting since Alex’s was the main POV at time.
The Not-So-Good:
• There were a lot of POV's to keep up with which made it a tad bit difficult to truly connect with a character and to really feel the gut-wrenching emotions they were experiencing. I read about loss and anger but I didn’t quite feel the pain nor did the anger resonate in me. I wanted to experience their emotions because I could see that it was a roller-coaster being that there were a lot of themes present.
• At times I thought the characters were overly emotional/melodramatic – mostly Debra and sometimes Alex’s sister. It could be because I did not connect with the characters and thus could not feel their emotions.
• Organized crime was mentioned in the summary; however it was not fully embedded into the story nor did it feel necessary. It was quite rushed in the last few pages and simply did not help in any way to push the story forward (in my humble opinion, but I may be wrong and failed to see the value of this bit in relation to the progression of the story).
Overall, it was a good story, I like werewolves. More time could have been spent on certain parts while others could have been briefly mentioned; however, I see the necessity of the in-depth look into his life growing up especially if there is a book 2. To truly understand a character and their motivations you would need to know their history.
Digital Copy provided by the author
While on a family vacation in Canada, Alex, in his attempts to help an injured wolf, gets bitten. His life, as well as his family’s is forever changed in that moment.
The characters experience heartbreak, grief, secrets, love and so much more on their journey to normalcy.
I liked the way the book began – the interview. The dialogue seemed so natural, the writing style kept me hooked and I had a feeling that I would love this book; however, the feeling did not last. Once the timeline switched and went back in time to 10 year old Alex, my connection to the story was broken. I think this happened because I got into the story with certain expectations. I was expecting to read about a rock star and his life as a werewolf with only glimpses into his past. I didn’t expect to follow an in depth story of his younger years, and that was solely my fault. I should have read the summary and not concentrate only on the “rock star” bit.
Nevertheless, it was a good story.
The Good:
• His family was very supportive and caring, patient and willing to alter their lives to accommodate his new situation. He had a family who loved him beyond words.
• Usually siblings don’t get along so well but in this book they were so protective of each other. I thought it to be a great relationship and a big step away from the cliché sibling relationship of always wanting to bite each other’s head off.
• It was a full length book which had the opportunity to really explore his life, from a young age to adult. With that being said, his character development was not rushed, it was slowly yet strategically progressed.
• My favorite parts were his teenage years and adult life which I found to be most interesting since Alex’s was the main POV at time.
The Not-So-Good:
• There were a lot of POV's to keep up with which made it a tad bit difficult to truly connect with a character and to really feel the gut-wrenching emotions they were experiencing. I read about loss and anger but I didn’t quite feel the pain nor did the anger resonate in me. I wanted to experience their emotions because I could see that it was a roller-coaster being that there were a lot of themes present.
• At times I thought the characters were overly emotional/melodramatic – mostly Debra and sometimes Alex’s sister. It could be because I did not connect with the characters and thus could not feel their emotions.
• Organized crime was mentioned in the summary; however it was not fully embedded into the story nor did it feel necessary. It was quite rushed in the last few pages and simply did not help in any way to push the story forward (in my humble opinion, but I may be wrong and failed to see the value of this bit in relation to the progression of the story).
Overall, it was a good story, I like werewolves. More time could have been spent on certain parts while others could have been briefly mentioned; however, I see the necessity of the in-depth look into his life growing up especially if there is a book 2. To truly understand a character and their motivations you would need to know their history.
Digital Copy provided by the author
January 6, 2017
DI Jolly’s novel Mostly Human is the tale of one family’s quest for normalcy following a horrible accident that turns ten-year-old Alex into a werewolf. What follows is a series of misadventures as Alex grows up and tries to harness this new part of himself, while balancing life as a teenager.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They were well-rounded, and I thought I could be good friends with both Alex’s parents and his sister, Annabel. They were quirky, funny, and took Alex’s change in great stride. Probably better than Alex, himself, who couldn’t seem to stay out of trouble as he attempted to harness the power of the wolf.
I did feel like the book had many places that were hard to keep straight, though. The POV shifted several times in one scene, which was jarring, and also there was a lot of repeat information given so the rest of the characters could be kept up-to-date on what has recently happened. This stalled the story in several places, and I found I just wanted to move to the next plot point.
But the book was exciting and kept my attention throughout. I’d love to find out what happens next, if Jolly intends this to be the start of a series, or possibly just includes Alex & Company in another book of the same universe.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They were well-rounded, and I thought I could be good friends with both Alex’s parents and his sister, Annabel. They were quirky, funny, and took Alex’s change in great stride. Probably better than Alex, himself, who couldn’t seem to stay out of trouble as he attempted to harness the power of the wolf.
I did feel like the book had many places that were hard to keep straight, though. The POV shifted several times in one scene, which was jarring, and also there was a lot of repeat information given so the rest of the characters could be kept up-to-date on what has recently happened. This stalled the story in several places, and I found I just wanted to move to the next plot point.
But the book was exciting and kept my attention throughout. I’d love to find out what happens next, if Jolly intends this to be the start of a series, or possibly just includes Alex & Company in another book of the same universe.
December 19, 2017
Firstly, I don't like the cover and never would have chosen this book from looking at it, that said, I think the story is great!
A whole new take on the werewolf thing and, family, friends etc.
Well thought out and a fairly fast paced read.
Easy to follow BUT, if you don't like cliffhangers, well maybe this isn't for you.
Personally, I would recommend it to everyone as it is awesome, but, when is the next book???
A whole new take on the werewolf thing and, family, friends etc.
Well thought out and a fairly fast paced read.
Easy to follow BUT, if you don't like cliffhangers, well maybe this isn't for you.
Personally, I would recommend it to everyone as it is awesome, but, when is the next book???
May 9, 2018
I didn't know I was into werewolf stories until I read this book. What moved me most was the depiction of family bonds and how they keep developing as the Harris family tries to deal with their son's werewolf identity. While the childhood chapters seemed a bit long to me sometimes, I really enjoyed reading about Alex's teenage and adult years and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
August 6, 2018
Never judge a book by its cover. Way to subvert the urban fantasy genre. It gave me some serious feels. Well done
January 30, 2018
Mostly Human: YA Werewolf Rockstar Fantasy – Written by DI Jolly – Reviewed 1/29/18
What kind of life can you hope to live when being a world-famous rock star is the most normal thing about you?
Alex Harris, lead singer of the band The Waterdogs, harbors a dark secret that he and his family have painstakingly kept for fifteen years. While playing in the woods on his grandparent’s farm, ten-year-old Alex stumbles across the body of a giant wolf. Believing the animal dead, he approaches the beast and quickly realizes it isn’t as dead as he thought, nor is it an ordinary wolf.
Mostly Human is the coming of age story of Alex growing up with his parents and his older sister Annabel, whilst coming to grips with his strange condition.
What did I like? Being a paranormal lover, this book appealed to me. I really enjoyed the characters of this book, they were well developed and amazing. The storyline is filled with lots of mystery and tragedies that keep the book moving at a fast pace.
What will you like? Major twists and turns through tragedies, heartbreak, intrigue, and into the clutches of organized crime. The emotional upheaval of Alex in his growth from childhood to adulthood and then becoming a Rock Star is amazing. The humor and the heartbreak will have you in tears and then laugh with even more tears. I loved the style of the author as he brings it all together with a lot of details and descriptions bringing the reader into the book. Enjoyable read and highly recommended. I received this from the author for an honest review with no other compensation.
What kind of life can you hope to live when being a world-famous rock star is the most normal thing about you?
Alex Harris, lead singer of the band The Waterdogs, harbors a dark secret that he and his family have painstakingly kept for fifteen years. While playing in the woods on his grandparent’s farm, ten-year-old Alex stumbles across the body of a giant wolf. Believing the animal dead, he approaches the beast and quickly realizes it isn’t as dead as he thought, nor is it an ordinary wolf.
Mostly Human is the coming of age story of Alex growing up with his parents and his older sister Annabel, whilst coming to grips with his strange condition.
What did I like? Being a paranormal lover, this book appealed to me. I really enjoyed the characters of this book, they were well developed and amazing. The storyline is filled with lots of mystery and tragedies that keep the book moving at a fast pace.
What will you like? Major twists and turns through tragedies, heartbreak, intrigue, and into the clutches of organized crime. The emotional upheaval of Alex in his growth from childhood to adulthood and then becoming a Rock Star is amazing. The humor and the heartbreak will have you in tears and then laugh with even more tears. I loved the style of the author as he brings it all together with a lot of details and descriptions bringing the reader into the book. Enjoyable read and highly recommended. I received this from the author for an honest review with no other compensation.
March 4, 2018
First off, I am a huge fan of fantasy literature and movies/shows, so I was really excited when a friend recommended “Mostly Human” to me. But I was also a bit weary, because at some point you have read all kinds of takes on ‘boy gets turned into werewolf’ shebang and nowadays you can't buy a book or turn on the TV without getting the same generic storyline.
That's where “Mostly Human” takes a different approach. To start with, it's not just about how an at the beginning of the novel very young Alex Harris becomes a werewolf and his struggle with that life changing incident, but also how the Harris family is affected by that event. The book is about the struggles everyone has to overcome who is different, about family coming together in hard times, about love and loss, and the struggles of growing up and finding your way. One could almost say it is a coming of age story. Of course, the werewolf part provides for not only suspense but some really hilarious situations. And that is also an aspect of the novel I greatly enjoyed, the at times dark humour and witty discussions amongst the characters. With great anticipation I am looking forward to the second installment (but don't worry, the ending is not a complete cliffhanger).
Considering this is D.I. Jolly's third publication, one can only congratulate him on this fresh take on the werewolf theme.
That's where “Mostly Human” takes a different approach. To start with, it's not just about how an at the beginning of the novel very young Alex Harris becomes a werewolf and his struggle with that life changing incident, but also how the Harris family is affected by that event. The book is about the struggles everyone has to overcome who is different, about family coming together in hard times, about love and loss, and the struggles of growing up and finding your way. One could almost say it is a coming of age story. Of course, the werewolf part provides for not only suspense but some really hilarious situations. And that is also an aspect of the novel I greatly enjoyed, the at times dark humour and witty discussions amongst the characters. With great anticipation I am looking forward to the second installment (but don't worry, the ending is not a complete cliffhanger).
Considering this is D.I. Jolly's third publication, one can only congratulate him on this fresh take on the werewolf theme.
May 17, 2019
***SPOILERS***
Mostly Human is a refreshing break from other werewolf literature I’ve read. Traditionally, werewolves came from the horror genre and recently they’ve become quite romantic. In contrast to the currently popular depictions, Mostly Human acts as a coming of age story. It focuses on one boy and his family, exploring in-depth the effects of the werewolf bite on their lives. The family immediately has to learn what exactly comes along with the werewolf-affliction, from changes in behaviour, to increased healing and strength, to, of course, changing into a wolf. They have to make tough decisions about hiding the affliction and who to reveal it to.
The author, D.I. Jolly, does a fantastic job guiding the reader through these tough decisions by spending ample time with every character so that the reader becomes familiar with their thoughts. He spends time watching the protagonist, Alix Harris, grow up, and shows us how being a werewolf affects many coming-of-age staples such as making new friends, his first time having sex, and his future career prospects. The book focuses quite strongly on the family bond and how they are always there for each other despite the difficulties.
The book does begin a bit slow, so be prepared for that, but once you make it past the beginning and into Alex’s more teenage and grown-up life, the pace really picks up! In particular, the climax is quite thrilling, pulling the reader along at a breath-taking pace. Well done to a fantastic writer!
Mostly Human is a refreshing break from other werewolf literature I’ve read. Traditionally, werewolves came from the horror genre and recently they’ve become quite romantic. In contrast to the currently popular depictions, Mostly Human acts as a coming of age story. It focuses on one boy and his family, exploring in-depth the effects of the werewolf bite on their lives. The family immediately has to learn what exactly comes along with the werewolf-affliction, from changes in behaviour, to increased healing and strength, to, of course, changing into a wolf. They have to make tough decisions about hiding the affliction and who to reveal it to.
The author, D.I. Jolly, does a fantastic job guiding the reader through these tough decisions by spending ample time with every character so that the reader becomes familiar with their thoughts. He spends time watching the protagonist, Alix Harris, grow up, and shows us how being a werewolf affects many coming-of-age staples such as making new friends, his first time having sex, and his future career prospects. The book focuses quite strongly on the family bond and how they are always there for each other despite the difficulties.
The book does begin a bit slow, so be prepared for that, but once you make it past the beginning and into Alex’s more teenage and grown-up life, the pace really picks up! In particular, the climax is quite thrilling, pulling the reader along at a breath-taking pace. Well done to a fantastic writer!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2017
Wow. I seem to be on a streak lately for awesome books!! This one is a twist on the werewolf story. Instead of a pack of wolves it's just one boy. Bitten by accident as a child, it tells the story of his entire family and how they deal with this. The writing is awesome, the characters are well thought out and very engaging. I loved every second of it, even the parts where I was wiping my eyes. It ends wide open, though, so now I've got to go see if there are more books or if I'm gonna have to wait for the rest of the story!!
As an independent reviewer for Romance Authors that Rock, I have to give this one a full 5 hearts. It's a roller coaster ride of emotion with all the best twists and turns!!
As an independent reviewer for Romance Authors that Rock, I have to give this one a full 5 hearts. It's a roller coaster ride of emotion with all the best twists and turns!!
July 10, 2020
A turbulent family history set against a richly realized backdrop over the course of years. Despite Alex's being only "mostly" human, his humanity rings achingly true; we watch him fall into a pattern of understandable if not quite sympathetic behavior. (The status he ultimately attains may in fact be the most normal thing about him, but it becomes far from the least of his problems.) Meanwhile, the variety and depth of emotional roles which the male characters play in each other's lives represents a dynamic from which literature as a whole would do well to learn.
October 20, 2022
I’m not a fan of the cover. I chanced upon this story after reading one of the author’s work on a different app.
Alex’s life after his bizarre encounter was not how I would have envisioned it would be. This is not your typical werewolf story.
I loved Alex’s unexpected wit and creativity when things get heavy, I find myself laughing out loud.
I almost always enjoyed how things took a different turn compared to what I would’ve expected.
Obviously, there is a book 2 and I’ll get to it soon.
Alex’s life after his bizarre encounter was not how I would have envisioned it would be. This is not your typical werewolf story.
I loved Alex’s unexpected wit and creativity when things get heavy, I find myself laughing out loud.
I almost always enjoyed how things took a different turn compared to what I would’ve expected.
Obviously, there is a book 2 and I’ll get to it soon.
November 16, 2022
I'm a big fan of this dude's writing. I've read the entire book on Kindle, and loved it!
The characters development reads as super organic and honest, the plot is nail-biting at times and while I had to wait 4 years for Mostly Human 2 to come out, you didn't have to.
It's a very refreshing read in the werewolf genre. I can't recommend these books enough, go read it.
The characters development reads as super organic and honest, the plot is nail-biting at times and while I had to wait 4 years for Mostly Human 2 to come out, you didn't have to.
It's a very refreshing read in the werewolf genre. I can't recommend these books enough, go read it.
November 29, 2023
Great Read
This is a GREAT Read. I love this type of Werewolf story. This Werewolf still with humanity noted, and the coming into his wolf. A family's journey with their loved one's affliction. AWESOME start to a great series, and yes, a big cliffhanger
This is a GREAT Read. I love this type of Werewolf story. This Werewolf still with humanity noted, and the coming into his wolf. A family's journey with their loved one's affliction. AWESOME start to a great series, and yes, a big cliffhanger
May 1, 2017
I am going to be blunt. The cover of Mostly Human does not show the awesome story that is beyond the cover. If I were browsing on Amazon and saw this, I would pass on by. My suggestion to the author would be a new cover that reflects the story. Because Alex looks like he’s part zombie and the picture of Annabel in the background doesn’t do her justice….at all.
I really liked that the book was told in 3 parts. Alex as a child, Alex as a teen and Alex as an adult. I think that it fully showed how being a werewolf affected Alex at each stage of his life. As a child, he couldn’t do sports anymore (because of his strength and speed) and he had to adjust to being a werewolf. He couldn’t get his heartbeat up, get upset in public or do anything that a normal tween that age would do. He had to learn to live with his wolf, which was achieved through breathing exercises, meditation, and Tai Chi.
As a teenager, Alex had to learn to deal with typical and atypical situations as both a teenage boy and as a teenage werewolf. While he was dealing with changes, an awful thing happens and Alex blames himself. Actually, blames himself to the point where he starts looking for a cure so he could be normal again. I wanted to cry during his scenes with his grandfather and grandmother when he went to live with them to get over what happened. That was the saddest part of the entire book. The guilt he had was very overwhelming.
As an adult, Alex was successful, a great brother/son/uncle and still was a werewolf. He explained his absences during the full moon as a “medical condition”. I do think that he still struggled with being a werewolf at times but if came across that he accepted it. He also came across as a bit of a player. His relationships didn’t last beyond 3 months and when he wasn’t exclusive with a girl, he was sleeping with a different one each night. That was probably the only thing I didn’t like about the book.
The end of the book ended with a cliffhanger and it made me scream. If you have followed my blog for anytime, you know that I don’t care for cliffhangers. While I see their purpose, they annoy the ever-living out of me. Saying that this cliffhanger does make me want to read book 2 when it comes out. I need to find out what happens to Alex!!
**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**
I really liked that the book was told in 3 parts. Alex as a child, Alex as a teen and Alex as an adult. I think that it fully showed how being a werewolf affected Alex at each stage of his life. As a child, he couldn’t do sports anymore (because of his strength and speed) and he had to adjust to being a werewolf. He couldn’t get his heartbeat up, get upset in public or do anything that a normal tween that age would do. He had to learn to live with his wolf, which was achieved through breathing exercises, meditation, and Tai Chi.
As a teenager, Alex had to learn to deal with typical and atypical situations as both a teenage boy and as a teenage werewolf. While he was dealing with changes, an awful thing happens and Alex blames himself. Actually, blames himself to the point where he starts looking for a cure so he could be normal again. I wanted to cry during his scenes with his grandfather and grandmother when he went to live with them to get over what happened. That was the saddest part of the entire book. The guilt he had was very overwhelming.
As an adult, Alex was successful, a great brother/son/uncle and still was a werewolf. He explained his absences during the full moon as a “medical condition”. I do think that he still struggled with being a werewolf at times but if came across that he accepted it. He also came across as a bit of a player. His relationships didn’t last beyond 3 months and when he wasn’t exclusive with a girl, he was sleeping with a different one each night. That was probably the only thing I didn’t like about the book.
The end of the book ended with a cliffhanger and it made me scream. If you have followed my blog for anytime, you know that I don’t care for cliffhangers. While I see their purpose, they annoy the ever-living out of me. Saying that this cliffhanger does make me want to read book 2 when it comes out. I need to find out what happens to Alex!!
**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**
December 25, 2023
Look, I'll be honest, I wrote this book. I also wrote the sequel so clearly, I think it's worth investing a bit of time into.
Alex Harris in is a 'man' trying desperately to hide from himself, as we all know, you can only hide for so long before the wolf comes knocking.
At the age of ten he was bitten by a werewolf and he's carried that secret with him everywhere he goes.
Want to know more? Read the book.
Alex Harris in is a 'man' trying desperately to hide from himself, as we all know, you can only hide for so long before the wolf comes knocking.
At the age of ten he was bitten by a werewolf and he's carried that secret with him everywhere he goes.
Want to know more? Read the book.
January 23, 2023
I wrote this book, of course I love it.
A dive into the world of Alex Harris a boy who grows up to be a world famous Rockstar, even though he's been bitten by a werewolf at the age of ten.
A character driven story that delves into the positive and negative effects of bi-polar disorder and how it not only affects the person, but the people around them.
A dive into the world of Alex Harris a boy who grows up to be a world famous Rockstar, even though he's been bitten by a werewolf at the age of ten.
A character driven story that delves into the positive and negative effects of bi-polar disorder and how it not only affects the person, but the people around them.
June 5, 2017
I ended up ultimately liking this book a lot, and decided it was way too good for 2 stars, but I had my issues with it as well, especially during the first half.
The main fault I found with this book (besides the grammatical errors and misspellings) was the first half. The first 175 pages out of this 400 page book focus on what happens when Alex is 10 years old and is first bitten by a wolf. It gets really draggy, with just a bunch of rushing him to the hospital and debating about what really happened, and it was only made messier by the fact that there are a lot of points-of-view, and which character we're following the POV of changes in every paragraph at certain points. A lot of these characters are Alex's relatives, and I felt like many of them didn't deserve a POV during that part. It also didn't help that people are introduced really haphazardly, like referred to by name before we know who they actually are in relation to Alex. Not only could it have just been Alex's POV and his dad's, but it could have been way shorter. When it gets to the part about Alex waking up at the hospital, I thought that the book could have just started there, and he could have woken up and remembered the wolf attack or something, and skipped the whole rushing to the hospital.
Also, I wish the wolf that bit him had played a larger part in the story. It seems really random that he just finds a wolf tied up, tries to free it, and gets bitten, never to see that wolf (or any werewolf) ever again. Especially since his dad spends some time wondering how a wolf that big got tied down. When he went back to the farm for a few months as a teenager, I was hoping that he would encounter that wolf again or something, but nope.
I also wish that the sections that take place during his adulthood hadn't been so short in comparison, because those were the best parts, and they just kind of flew by. I was hoping for some more band stuff.
One thing that I may be weird for taking issue with is the fact that Alex as a teenager hooks up with 2 grown women (2 separate occasions) who throw themselves at him, one of whom knew perfectly well how old he was and decided to seduce him anyway. Even though this is all in keeping with Alex's crazy personality, I just didn't buy that two grown-ass women would throw themselves at a teenager, somehow. It also annoyed me that the one who knew how old he was got off without any consequences, despite being caught in the act and told that it was illegal.
There is also a part where a character goes to get an abortion and the person checking to see that she's pregnant actually SHOWS HER THE ULTRASOUND. I'm 95% sure that's not how it's done, and that's really bad form. Like, really bad. Obviously, it's ok for someone seeking an abortion to change their minds, but there are way better ways for a character to decide to keep the baby after all than for them to have the baby pointed out to them on an ultrasound. Any technician who does that to a woman seeking an abortion is a really horrible person. So all I could think while reading that part was "that would never fly in reality".
The book takes place on a man-made island called Syn Island that's basically treated like its own country. This is a really cool concept, but ended up feeling like it could have taken place anywhere in North America and been no different. It would have been great to see more of the setting while we're on Syn Island, because all we really get are small tidbits like the fact that anyone born on Syn island who moves away from there still has to pay a tax there because it has no natural resources.
All of that being said, though, I really enjoyed the family dynamics, especially between Alex and his sister. Their banter was great, and there was a lot of dialogue that made me laugh. Alex's personality is also really well-rounded and very different from other main characters I've read about. And past the first half, the book is extremely fast-paced and a lot of fun. It also does a really good job of using cliffhangers at the end of each chapter to keep you reading. If you're like me and you found the part where he's 10 years old a bit draggy, don't judge the whole book based on that, because it really does pick up almost halfway through.
Another thing I loved was the discussion on today's mainstream pop and the way it comes across as overproduced and less-than-genuine. There are even some great quotes that Alex says about pop music. And the interstitials during which he is being interviewed on the radio are really awesome, too, and I loved the way that the last one of them segued into the last section instead of just served as an in-between to divide the sections again.
I also liked the fact that there is enough stuff with his band to show that they didn't start off good. Because way too often, a character in a book joins a band and they're automatically good. But here, we have 3 extremely gifted kids at a special school who befriend Alex, and they're like "we're a Tool tribute band" but decide to do originals instead once Alex shows them his poems.
The main fault I found with this book (besides the grammatical errors and misspellings) was the first half. The first 175 pages out of this 400 page book focus on what happens when Alex is 10 years old and is first bitten by a wolf. It gets really draggy, with just a bunch of rushing him to the hospital and debating about what really happened, and it was only made messier by the fact that there are a lot of points-of-view, and which character we're following the POV of changes in every paragraph at certain points. A lot of these characters are Alex's relatives, and I felt like many of them didn't deserve a POV during that part. It also didn't help that people are introduced really haphazardly, like referred to by name before we know who they actually are in relation to Alex. Not only could it have just been Alex's POV and his dad's, but it could have been way shorter. When it gets to the part about Alex waking up at the hospital, I thought that the book could have just started there, and he could have woken up and remembered the wolf attack or something, and skipped the whole rushing to the hospital.
Also, I wish the wolf that bit him had played a larger part in the story. It seems really random that he just finds a wolf tied up, tries to free it, and gets bitten, never to see that wolf (or any werewolf) ever again. Especially since his dad spends some time wondering how a wolf that big got tied down. When he went back to the farm for a few months as a teenager, I was hoping that he would encounter that wolf again or something, but nope.
I also wish that the sections that take place during his adulthood hadn't been so short in comparison, because those were the best parts, and they just kind of flew by. I was hoping for some more band stuff.
One thing that I may be weird for taking issue with is the fact that Alex as a teenager hooks up with 2 grown women (2 separate occasions) who throw themselves at him, one of whom knew perfectly well how old he was and decided to seduce him anyway. Even though this is all in keeping with Alex's crazy personality, I just didn't buy that two grown-ass women would throw themselves at a teenager, somehow. It also annoyed me that the one who knew how old he was got off without any consequences, despite being caught in the act and told that it was illegal.
There is also a part where a character goes to get an abortion and the person checking to see that she's pregnant actually SHOWS HER THE ULTRASOUND. I'm 95% sure that's not how it's done, and that's really bad form. Like, really bad. Obviously, it's ok for someone seeking an abortion to change their minds, but there are way better ways for a character to decide to keep the baby after all than for them to have the baby pointed out to them on an ultrasound. Any technician who does that to a woman seeking an abortion is a really horrible person. So all I could think while reading that part was "that would never fly in reality".
The book takes place on a man-made island called Syn Island that's basically treated like its own country. This is a really cool concept, but ended up feeling like it could have taken place anywhere in North America and been no different. It would have been great to see more of the setting while we're on Syn Island, because all we really get are small tidbits like the fact that anyone born on Syn island who moves away from there still has to pay a tax there because it has no natural resources.
All of that being said, though, I really enjoyed the family dynamics, especially between Alex and his sister. Their banter was great, and there was a lot of dialogue that made me laugh. Alex's personality is also really well-rounded and very different from other main characters I've read about. And past the first half, the book is extremely fast-paced and a lot of fun. It also does a really good job of using cliffhangers at the end of each chapter to keep you reading. If you're like me and you found the part where he's 10 years old a bit draggy, don't judge the whole book based on that, because it really does pick up almost halfway through.
Another thing I loved was the discussion on today's mainstream pop and the way it comes across as overproduced and less-than-genuine. There are even some great quotes that Alex says about pop music. And the interstitials during which he is being interviewed on the radio are really awesome, too, and I loved the way that the last one of them segued into the last section instead of just served as an in-between to divide the sections again.
I also liked the fact that there is enough stuff with his band to show that they didn't start off good. Because way too often, a character in a book joins a band and they're automatically good. But here, we have 3 extremely gifted kids at a special school who befriend Alex, and they're like "we're a Tool tribute band" but decide to do originals instead once Alex shows them his poems.
January 8, 2017
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
When Alex Harris was 10 years old and visiting his grandparent's farm in Canada, he is attacked by an injured wolf. He recovers more quickly than the doctor predicts and at the first sign of stress after returning from the hospital, hulks out. But instead of turning green and growing a handful of sizes, he sprouts hair everywhere and his body transforms its shape into a large wolf.
The book follows Alex for the few days following the bite, then high school (learning to cope with the wolf), and then his career as a rock-star. I loved this approach, this way of dealing with the werewolf. Not just Jolly's way of dealing with the werewolf, but Alex's family's way of dealing with his animal form (I'll keep the details up my sleeve, read it yourself). There's a lot of emotional ups and downs for Alex -- like any pre-adolescent and adolescent male (and, like most rock stars, a post-adolescent male that acts like a teenager) -- he's emotionally volatile, and trying to learn to deal with the world in general. It's a little harder for him than most teens -- thanks to his resistance to injury and disease, and his strength. Once he reaches his adult years, there's some interesting developments regarding his artistic career and his family's brush with organized crime.
I love a good werewolf story -- I really enjoy a decent one, out of all the various types of Fantasy Creatures/Races/Monsters out there, I don't think there's one I enjoy more than a lycanthrope. Mostly Human keeps that streak going.
One of the best parts of this book is how the curse/infection/condition affects not just the human who goes furry every now and then, but everyone around him (whether they know it or not). When Alex was on the farm and initially turned, everyone was supportive and encouraging -- just the way a good family should treat a kid going through something major. But then later, when the initial crisis had passed, everyone falls apart (at least for a few minutes). Not en masse or anything, but individually they express some sort of anger or grief, puzzlement, despair, etc. Once that time is passed, they regroup and come together to support Alex. That was so great to see -- I'm not sure that there's anyone I've read who shows a family coming together to support the lycanthrope the way this family does.
Alex's sister, Annabel, is a gem and my only complaint about her is that we don't get more of the character -- and every age and stage. I liked his friends, doctors, and relatives, too -- actually, every character that gets more than a handful of paragraphs is well-used and appealing. But Annabel outshines them all.
I don't have any major concerns or problems with this book -- it was a fun escape. Not that it was perfect, there were three things that didn't work for me, none of them were deal-breakers, but they were things that kept nagging at me.
I have no idea why Jolly felt the need to invent a fictional setting for the Harris' home -- it may become clear in a sequel (which I can only assume is forthcoming), maybe it won't. I liked the setting, but I don't see where it helps (it doesn't hurt). I'd feel better about things if I could figure it out -- too much time was spent describing it for it to be a throw-away detail, there's something to it and I can't see it.
The first sex scene was more detailed than I really needed -- I see where he was going (not just the comedic intent) with it, but still, I didn't need that. Thankfully, after that, Jolly gave everyone the privacy they deserved when it came sex.
The 10-year old version of Alex doesn't talk like a 10 year-old. He'd be a stretch at 13. Still, I enjoyed that part of the book so much I shrugged it off.
This was a lot of fun, with a large cast of characters that draw the reader in and keeps you engaged. The story seemed secondary to character development -- not just Alex, but his whole family (both officially and those considered family). Yeah, I'd have liked some more of Alex the rock star -- and the organized crime thing the book description promised -- but what we got was good, and saying that the book was mostly character development isn't a bad thing. It's just not what I expected.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
---
When Alex Harris was 10 years old and visiting his grandparent's farm in Canada, he is attacked by an injured wolf. He recovers more quickly than the doctor predicts and at the first sign of stress after returning from the hospital, hulks out. But instead of turning green and growing a handful of sizes, he sprouts hair everywhere and his body transforms its shape into a large wolf.
The book follows Alex for the few days following the bite, then high school (learning to cope with the wolf), and then his career as a rock-star. I loved this approach, this way of dealing with the werewolf. Not just Jolly's way of dealing with the werewolf, but Alex's family's way of dealing with his animal form (I'll keep the details up my sleeve, read it yourself). There's a lot of emotional ups and downs for Alex -- like any pre-adolescent and adolescent male (and, like most rock stars, a post-adolescent male that acts like a teenager) -- he's emotionally volatile, and trying to learn to deal with the world in general. It's a little harder for him than most teens -- thanks to his resistance to injury and disease, and his strength. Once he reaches his adult years, there's some interesting developments regarding his artistic career and his family's brush with organized crime.
I love a good werewolf story -- I really enjoy a decent one, out of all the various types of Fantasy Creatures/Races/Monsters out there, I don't think there's one I enjoy more than a lycanthrope. Mostly Human keeps that streak going.
One of the best parts of this book is how the curse/infection/condition affects not just the human who goes furry every now and then, but everyone around him (whether they know it or not). When Alex was on the farm and initially turned, everyone was supportive and encouraging -- just the way a good family should treat a kid going through something major. But then later, when the initial crisis had passed, everyone falls apart (at least for a few minutes). Not en masse or anything, but individually they express some sort of anger or grief, puzzlement, despair, etc. Once that time is passed, they regroup and come together to support Alex. That was so great to see -- I'm not sure that there's anyone I've read who shows a family coming together to support the lycanthrope the way this family does.
Alex's sister, Annabel, is a gem and my only complaint about her is that we don't get more of the character -- and every age and stage. I liked his friends, doctors, and relatives, too -- actually, every character that gets more than a handful of paragraphs is well-used and appealing. But Annabel outshines them all.
I don't have any major concerns or problems with this book -- it was a fun escape. Not that it was perfect, there were three things that didn't work for me, none of them were deal-breakers, but they were things that kept nagging at me.
I have no idea why Jolly felt the need to invent a fictional setting for the Harris' home -- it may become clear in a sequel (which I can only assume is forthcoming), maybe it won't. I liked the setting, but I don't see where it helps (it doesn't hurt). I'd feel better about things if I could figure it out -- too much time was spent describing it for it to be a throw-away detail, there's something to it and I can't see it.
The first sex scene was more detailed than I really needed -- I see where he was going (not just the comedic intent) with it, but still, I didn't need that. Thankfully, after that, Jolly gave everyone the privacy they deserved when it came sex.
The 10-year old version of Alex doesn't talk like a 10 year-old. He'd be a stretch at 13. Still, I enjoyed that part of the book so much I shrugged it off.
This was a lot of fun, with a large cast of characters that draw the reader in and keeps you engaged. The story seemed secondary to character development -- not just Alex, but his whole family (both officially and those considered family). Yeah, I'd have liked some more of Alex the rock star -- and the organized crime thing the book description promised -- but what we got was good, and saying that the book was mostly character development isn't a bad thing. It's just not what I expected.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 26, 2024
this had everything that I was hoping for from the beginning of Mostly Human series, it had everything that I was expecting from a werewolf novel and enjoyed the overall feel of the story. The characters worked with this universe and I wanted to read more with them. The author does a great job in writing this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 11, 2023
This is a fun coming-of-age story about a boy who’s a werewolf. More importantly it’s a lovely portrait of a close family and the relationships within it. I also enjoyed the pop culture references throughout (Neverending Story, He-Man, Batman, Tool) and suspect Alex and I are the same age :) Great storytelling Jolly!
April 28, 2020
D.I. Jolly is one of my favorite writers! Another great read!
February 28, 2017
Book #5 of 2017 review is now up for Mostly Human by D.I. Jolly. http://christinebookreviewcorner.blog... #BookReview #fantasy #novel #YoungAdult
July 8, 2017
Great take on werewolves! I love the characters on Jolly's story, I think they are well developed and feels like the title of the book, mostly human!
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