What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Pack
The universe, some say, is so big that anything one can imagine is likely to be true somewhere.
The people of Garou were once cursed with an affliction that warped their minds and tortured their bodies when the full moon rose in the sky. Centuries later that curse has become a blessing; the shape-shifting hunters have learned to get along with the inner wolf rather than battle it to the death. But they remember, and they teach their young to always respect their instincts. The wolf’s power has been harnessed, but it can never be tamed.
The hunters have reached the stars, with the help of a remarkable mineral called the leap gem. Across the galaxy they travel, collecting scientific wisdom and harnessing the natural resources of the worlds they discover. When they discover a distant planet with gravity and oxygen similar to their own, it looks like a world ready-made for conquest. Mirra, the youngest star captain in history and possibly the most ambitious, leads her pack to the surface with the expectation of mastering and owning this new world.
She names it Otsanda, the She-Wolf.
But there are a few surprises waiting for her and her crew. The first is that the world is already inhabited by intelligent creatures, making it unfit for colonization, to Mirra’s bitter disappointment.
The second is that the two-legged inhabitants bear a striking resemblance to the Garou hunters themselves. The resemblance is so close, in fact, that the science officers wonder if the two species could be related. But that’s impossible.
The third surprise is that the natives seem to know all about the hunters. They scare each other with stories about them, about their moonlit curse and their bloodthirsty past.
They call them “werewolves.”
The people of Garou were once cursed with an affliction that warped their minds and tortured their bodies when the full moon rose in the sky. Centuries later that curse has become a blessing; the shape-shifting hunters have learned to get along with the inner wolf rather than battle it to the death. But they remember, and they teach their young to always respect their instincts. The wolf’s power has been harnessed, but it can never be tamed.
The hunters have reached the stars, with the help of a remarkable mineral called the leap gem. Across the galaxy they travel, collecting scientific wisdom and harnessing the natural resources of the worlds they discover. When they discover a distant planet with gravity and oxygen similar to their own, it looks like a world ready-made for conquest. Mirra, the youngest star captain in history and possibly the most ambitious, leads her pack to the surface with the expectation of mastering and owning this new world.
She names it Otsanda, the She-Wolf.
But there are a few surprises waiting for her and her crew. The first is that the world is already inhabited by intelligent creatures, making it unfit for colonization, to Mirra’s bitter disappointment.
The second is that the two-legged inhabitants bear a striking resemblance to the Garou hunters themselves. The resemblance is so close, in fact, that the science officers wonder if the two species could be related. But that’s impossible.
The third surprise is that the natives seem to know all about the hunters. They scare each other with stories about them, about their moonlit curse and their bloodthirsty past.
They call them “werewolves.”
248 pages, Paperback
Published December 12, 2016
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Napier
19 books21 followersI grew up in Waukegan, Illinois and upstate New York. My earliest memories are of re-imagining favorite cartoons on paper and inventing my own. I have a husband, three kids, and a ridiculous number of pets. I read adventure fantasy, horror, science-fiction, or anything else that takes me away from it all. I hope that my stories can do for others what they have done for me.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 25, 2024
This started a little slow for me and there were a lot of characters to keep track off, but it picked up into an intriguing mix of sci-fi and paranormal.
The overall concept is werewolf aliens in space, and there's a young captain trying to prove herself and leading a new mission to explore a mysterious planet.
There's a fine balance to not becoming a rogue or feral wolf, following pack dynamics, and a mystery surrounding their werewolf origins, including potential answers on this new planet.
It was interesting seeing how the characters lives were intermingled, although at times it felt hard to keep up with everything going on. Overall it was an interesting concept and the ending leaves it open for more.
The overall concept is werewolf aliens in space, and there's a young captain trying to prove herself and leading a new mission to explore a mysterious planet.
There's a fine balance to not becoming a rogue or feral wolf, following pack dynamics, and a mystery surrounding their werewolf origins, including potential answers on this new planet.
It was interesting seeing how the characters lives were intermingled, although at times it felt hard to keep up with everything going on. Overall it was an interesting concept and the ending leaves it open for more.
September 1, 2024
What an awesome adventure! It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, turning pages to find out what was going to happen next. And the incredible twist that you'll find within the pages will absolutely knock your socks off! I was just absolutely floored when I got to the big surprise!
For once, I felt the story was resolved at the end, something that paints the author as quite a writer. I almost always want a bunch more. Don't get me wrong, I would take more in this world in a heartbeat, but the story was neatly resolved, and I felt at peace with the resolution. It very much felt like a standalone story to me. But I could see a rich environment for other stories just as well. For a fantasy world, that is a beautiful construction. The author created a wonderful world, built it up in a way that didn't feel like any information dump, and made it feel real and tangible. Fantastic!
Even better, the author did what I love best with their sci-fi/fantasy story: they hit some epic social commentary topics. I don't want to give anything away, but they did it with grace and without hitting you over the head with them - but they are obvious and numerous. And I really enjoyed how the author handled them. I get goosebumps sometimes when an author does a great job at social commentary within a story, and it just gives me an extra special thrill.
I really enjoyed many of the characters, but I will admit this is where I struggled a little. For some reason, fantasy and sci-fi books often end up with so many characters it can be hard to keep them straight. This book did suffer from that issue, and I had to keep trying to remind myself who was who, which does take away from the flow of the story. Also, some of the names were similar, which added a layer of confusion. But I still loved the vibe of the characters!
If you love a good space exploration book this is a great book for you. It contains the multitudes of mysteries of a good ol’ fashioned Star Trek episode, except that the crew is made up of werewolves. But, something a little different than we’re used to. And the mystery of that is everything.
Content Warnings: Death, Violence, Euthanasia/Death Sentence, Cannibalism, Mentions of Sexual Assault, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Fear, Murder, Mental Illness, Alcohol Abuse, War
For once, I felt the story was resolved at the end, something that paints the author as quite a writer. I almost always want a bunch more. Don't get me wrong, I would take more in this world in a heartbeat, but the story was neatly resolved, and I felt at peace with the resolution. It very much felt like a standalone story to me. But I could see a rich environment for other stories just as well. For a fantasy world, that is a beautiful construction. The author created a wonderful world, built it up in a way that didn't feel like any information dump, and made it feel real and tangible. Fantastic!
Even better, the author did what I love best with their sci-fi/fantasy story: they hit some epic social commentary topics. I don't want to give anything away, but they did it with grace and without hitting you over the head with them - but they are obvious and numerous. And I really enjoyed how the author handled them. I get goosebumps sometimes when an author does a great job at social commentary within a story, and it just gives me an extra special thrill.
I really enjoyed many of the characters, but I will admit this is where I struggled a little. For some reason, fantasy and sci-fi books often end up with so many characters it can be hard to keep them straight. This book did suffer from that issue, and I had to keep trying to remind myself who was who, which does take away from the flow of the story. Also, some of the names were similar, which added a layer of confusion. But I still loved the vibe of the characters!
If you love a good space exploration book this is a great book for you. It contains the multitudes of mysteries of a good ol’ fashioned Star Trek episode, except that the crew is made up of werewolves. But, something a little different than we’re used to. And the mystery of that is everything.
Content Warnings: Death, Violence, Euthanasia/Death Sentence, Cannibalism, Mentions of Sexual Assault, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Fear, Murder, Mental Illness, Alcohol Abuse, War
August 30, 2024
Star Pack by Dawn Napier.
I loved the cover and blurb. I did enjoy this book. I got into it straight away. I love it when I get into a book it feels like I'm there watching everything happening. I loved the world Dawn created. I read in two sittings. Action all the way through. I liked the writing style. I did like the part with the gems. I do hope there is more to come as it doesn't feel finished to me.
Blurb.
The hunters have reached the stars, with the help of a remarkable mineral called the leap gem. Across the galaxy they travel, collecting scientific wisdom and harnessing the natural resources of the worlds they discover. When they discover a distant planet with gravity and oxygen similar to their own, it looks like a world ready-made for conquest. Mirra, the youngest star captain in history and possibly the most ambitious, leads her pack to the surface with the expectation of mastering and owning this new world.
She names it Otsanda, the She-Wolf.
But there are a few surprises waiting for her and her crew. The first is that the world is already inhabited by intelligent creatures, making it unfit for colonization, to Mirra’s bitter disappointment.
The second is that the two-legged inhabitants bear a striking resemblance to the Garou hunters themselves. The resemblance is so close, in fact, that the science officers wonder if the two species could be related. But that’s impossible.
The third surprise is that the natives seem to know all about the hunters. They scare each other with stories about them, about their moonlit curse and their bloodthirsty past.
They call them “werewolves.”
I loved the cover and blurb. I did enjoy this book. I got into it straight away. I love it when I get into a book it feels like I'm there watching everything happening. I loved the world Dawn created. I read in two sittings. Action all the way through. I liked the writing style. I did like the part with the gems. I do hope there is more to come as it doesn't feel finished to me.
Blurb.
The hunters have reached the stars, with the help of a remarkable mineral called the leap gem. Across the galaxy they travel, collecting scientific wisdom and harnessing the natural resources of the worlds they discover. When they discover a distant planet with gravity and oxygen similar to their own, it looks like a world ready-made for conquest. Mirra, the youngest star captain in history and possibly the most ambitious, leads her pack to the surface with the expectation of mastering and owning this new world.
She names it Otsanda, the She-Wolf.
But there are a few surprises waiting for her and her crew. The first is that the world is already inhabited by intelligent creatures, making it unfit for colonization, to Mirra’s bitter disappointment.
The second is that the two-legged inhabitants bear a striking resemblance to the Garou hunters themselves. The resemblance is so close, in fact, that the science officers wonder if the two species could be related. But that’s impossible.
The third surprise is that the natives seem to know all about the hunters. They scare each other with stories about them, about their moonlit curse and their bloodthirsty past.
They call them “werewolves.”
August 28, 2024
I want to say thank you inksmithpublishing and love boo tours, for this opportunity to be gifted a free book and my honest review.
This is a new genre, for a thriller type sci-fi and have werewolves in the mix, sign me up.
It starts off slow, it’s a lot of information and introduction, but once that’s done it takes off super quick. It’s about this young captain trying to prove not just herself but to everyone in her pack. It’s a lot of stress not go off rogue, and then be the leader that everyone looking at you to be. She goes into this mission finding this planet, that they have legends about your planet and species. Which is super cool, it kind of reminded me of Star Trek, when they go to their deep space exploration. I do hope there another one, because that ending… yeah I want more. 😁
Good read, definitely recommend.
This is a new genre, for a thriller type sci-fi and have werewolves in the mix, sign me up.
It starts off slow, it’s a lot of information and introduction, but once that’s done it takes off super quick. It’s about this young captain trying to prove not just herself but to everyone in her pack. It’s a lot of stress not go off rogue, and then be the leader that everyone looking at you to be. She goes into this mission finding this planet, that they have legends about your planet and species. Which is super cool, it kind of reminded me of Star Trek, when they go to their deep space exploration. I do hope there another one, because that ending… yeah I want more. 😁
Good read, definitely recommend.
June 24, 2017
A very entertaining book. I was expecting a simple story of space exploration, and it definitely delivered, but there was more. There is a lurking mystery woven into the Star Pack's mission that touches the people of two worlds, and pieces of that mystery are revealed throughout the tale.
The Garouean hunters are a believable alien culture, distinct from humans in many ways, but familiar at the same time. They are reliably lupine in their instincts and customs - not just people who turn into wolves, but a plausible mix of the two.
Although this book is filled with adventure and mystery, it takes time to develop characters and relationships. It's a story about "pack", loyalty, and the importance of the connections between us.
The Garouean hunters are a believable alien culture, distinct from humans in many ways, but familiar at the same time. They are reliably lupine in their instincts and customs - not just people who turn into wolves, but a plausible mix of the two.
Although this book is filled with adventure and mystery, it takes time to develop characters and relationships. It's a story about "pack", loyalty, and the importance of the connections between us.
August 21, 2024
I honestly only read this book because I wanted to know how this story could even work. Werewolves in space? Sounds ridiculous. It turned out to be a really good, thought provoking scifi thriller, ending in the way of most horror films where you aren't quite sure if this is the end or if a sequel might pop up at some point in the future.
The beginning is a bit slow, with character introductions so you can see how intricately woven everyone's lives are. The middle and second half in particular really pick up and I gobbled down the pages, determined to figure out just how these werewolf aliens from light-years away were connected to Ostanda, the strange blue planet that had both the two-legged and four-legged versions of themselves.
The beginning is a bit slow, with character introductions so you can see how intricately woven everyone's lives are. The middle and second half in particular really pick up and I gobbled down the pages, determined to figure out just how these werewolf aliens from light-years away were connected to Ostanda, the strange blue planet that had both the two-legged and four-legged versions of themselves.
August 27, 2024
This was a good read and had so much going on it in I don't know where to begin I really don't. I mean who doesn't like aliens and werewolf's together I've never read anything like this before and it was totally worth it.
I really enjoyed the writing style and thought it was well thought out and well down. This is newer genre for me; the sci fi and I am really loving it so much and I liked how in this book we are along for the ride of a girl trying to prove herself and discover a new world.
like how the ending was left open so there could be more to come which I really hope so because I loved this book I also really liked all the characters and how they are fit together!!
I really enjoyed the writing style and thought it was well thought out and well down. This is newer genre for me; the sci fi and I am really loving it so much and I liked how in this book we are along for the ride of a girl trying to prove herself and discover a new world.
like how the ending was left open so there could be more to come which I really hope so because I loved this book I also really liked all the characters and how they are fit together!!
December 1, 2019
Star Pack was a slow start for me as the writer presented the characters and introduced the reader to the world she created. Happily, the pace and action picked up. Before I knew it, space-exploring werewolves were buried, errr…nose deep, in a mystery of genetics on another planet. This one is worth the read...smart and unique.
November 19, 2017
Werewolves in space? Yes, and Dawn Napier does a fabulous job at creating a world where werewolves are space explorers. During a routine scouting mission Star Pack encounters a planet much like their own; and even more exciting, the creatures there have legends and stories about their kind. When the mission goes astray and contact is made, this creative sci-fi twist on the werewolf legend gets even better. Do not pass this book up, pick up a copy and read it! It's new, it's fresh, and it's a quick and enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews