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Black Marks
No good deed goes unpunished.
Detroit is a hole where even a werewolf's sins can be buried. Or so Jake Brennan hopes. Hiding from his hunters, shooting heroin to negate the effect of the full moon, he is beginning to turn things around. And the day he is witness to a brutal attack on ER Doctor Gwen Cheevey, Jake is transformed into something a hero.
But when a clip of his good deed goes viral, Jake's days of hiding are over.
To keep Gwen safe, Jake will need to embrace the beast within. Is he strong enough to control it, or will Gwen become another black mark against his name?
Detroit is a hole where even a werewolf's sins can be buried. Or so Jake Brennan hopes. Hiding from his hunters, shooting heroin to negate the effect of the full moon, he is beginning to turn things around. And the day he is witness to a brutal attack on ER Doctor Gwen Cheevey, Jake is transformed into something a hero.
But when a clip of his good deed goes viral, Jake's days of hiding are over.
To keep Gwen safe, Jake will need to embrace the beast within. Is he strong enough to control it, or will Gwen become another black mark against his name?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2017
13 people are currently reading
818 people want to read
About the author
Pete Aldin
36 books61 followersPete Aldin is the author of Black Marks (2017), and the Doomsday's Child series (2017-22). As Peter J Aldin, he is the creator of the CUSET-DCHC universe with novels including Eventide and Third Contact (2020).
Get a free scifi ebook at https://petealdin.com/the-cuset-dchc-...
Pete's short fiction has appeared in publications including Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, the acclaimed ABC Anthologies and Niteblade. His non-fiction has appeared in parenting and business magazines.
He is a fan of alcoholic ciders and rum, the FIFA franchise on xBox and board games. He don’t like pina coladas nor taking walks in the rain.
Get a free scifi ebook at https://petealdin.com/the-cuset-dchc-...
Pete's short fiction has appeared in publications including Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, the acclaimed ABC Anthologies and Niteblade. His non-fiction has appeared in parenting and business magazines.
He is a fan of alcoholic ciders and rum, the FIFA franchise on xBox and board games. He don’t like pina coladas nor taking walks in the rain.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 30, 2018
Black Marks
By: Pete Aldin
Narrated by: Travis Baldree
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
I really enjoyed this werewolf story. It lets us have a good look at the mind and emotions of the man who is a good person deep inside but harbors an evil under the surface that he battles at the lunar cycles. He has people after him, he wants to make friends yet knows it can be deadly for them, and his feelings about himself.
The narrator does a tremendous job of helping the listener feel part of the action and understand the key characters. Wonderful job!
By: Pete Aldin
Narrated by: Travis Baldree
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
I really enjoyed this werewolf story. It lets us have a good look at the mind and emotions of the man who is a good person deep inside but harbors an evil under the surface that he battles at the lunar cycles. He has people after him, he wants to make friends yet knows it can be deadly for them, and his feelings about himself.
The narrator does a tremendous job of helping the listener feel part of the action and understand the key characters. Wonderful job!
November 21, 2017
Well this was all sorts of awesome!! It isn't just a werewolf book, it was so much more. So Jake Brennan is a werewolf on the run from hunters and his own demons. He is homeless in Detroit and shooting heroin 3 days a month during the waxing, full and waning moon, to stop his beast from emerging. During the rest of the month, Jake does his best to make amends for what he is. When he witnesses a doctor being dragged towards a van, Jake immediately goes to help. A passerby takes a video of him being a hero and posts it to youtube. The wrong people see the video and once again, Jake is being hunted. But Jake may have an unwitting ally in the doctor he saved. Can he control the beast and save her from the people and things that are hunting him?
I wasn't too sure what to expect from this, but it did sound like something I'd love, so I gave it a go. And boy was I happy I did!! I adored Jake!!! His journey to where he is now was hard, and he feels the need to atone for the people he has killed while in wolf form. He is trying to keep the beast at bay with drugs, but sometimes he doesn't have the money for them and his beast gets free. He is raked with guilt and doesn't form relationships easily. But when he saves the doctors life, and then saves a little girls life, he realises that he may need some help from the doctor. She can prescribe him things to keep him safe!! Jake is a deeply flawed man, but he is always trying to do the right thing, and I loved that! I loved seeing him fight his beast and not give into the bad, which always seems easier to do. He held onto what his mother taught him and tried to live the right way as best he could.
I also loved Gwen. She is an ER doctor and unhappy with it. She swore an oath to do no harm but she feels that being an ER doctor isn't for her. She doesn't feel like she is making a difference. But it's when she is nearly abducted that she knows for sure that this isn't for her. Meeting Jake is also something that makes up her mind. She sees that he is homeless and that he is a junkie, and feels that maybe she can make a difference in his life. Maybe she can help him get clean, but she has no idea what she is letting herself in for. Her life is about to change forever!!
This is a fast paced, dark and amazing read. It's bloody, it's captivating and it's brilliant!! Seriously, I loved this!! I loved the characters and I loved the story. I even loved the ending because it fitted who Jake was! Go give this a go, you won't be sorry!!
Travis Baldree absolutely nailed the performance!! He gave me chills with the way he did the beast!!! His inflections were brilliant and it really brought the book alive. I was seriously impressed with everything!!
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
I wasn't too sure what to expect from this, but it did sound like something I'd love, so I gave it a go. And boy was I happy I did!! I adored Jake!!! His journey to where he is now was hard, and he feels the need to atone for the people he has killed while in wolf form. He is trying to keep the beast at bay with drugs, but sometimes he doesn't have the money for them and his beast gets free. He is raked with guilt and doesn't form relationships easily. But when he saves the doctors life, and then saves a little girls life, he realises that he may need some help from the doctor. She can prescribe him things to keep him safe!! Jake is a deeply flawed man, but he is always trying to do the right thing, and I loved that! I loved seeing him fight his beast and not give into the bad, which always seems easier to do. He held onto what his mother taught him and tried to live the right way as best he could.
I also loved Gwen. She is an ER doctor and unhappy with it. She swore an oath to do no harm but she feels that being an ER doctor isn't for her. She doesn't feel like she is making a difference. But it's when she is nearly abducted that she knows for sure that this isn't for her. Meeting Jake is also something that makes up her mind. She sees that he is homeless and that he is a junkie, and feels that maybe she can make a difference in his life. Maybe she can help him get clean, but she has no idea what she is letting herself in for. Her life is about to change forever!!
This is a fast paced, dark and amazing read. It's bloody, it's captivating and it's brilliant!! Seriously, I loved this!! I loved the characters and I loved the story. I even loved the ending because it fitted who Jake was! Go give this a go, you won't be sorry!!
Travis Baldree absolutely nailed the performance!! He gave me chills with the way he did the beast!!! His inflections were brilliant and it really brought the book alive. I was seriously impressed with everything!!
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
November 22, 2020
I wasn't sure about this novel as werewolf's and horror were not usually my cup of tea. But after a couple of chapters, I was immersed in the pages and next thing I know I'm nearly half way through it after the first sitting. That's what I want out of a book and from a story, to forget about my own world and be taken into their world and the author here has done a great job of that. Certainly a lot more than a werewolf story. Superbly written with fine detail. I look forward to more from the author.
February 17, 2019
5 stars
Excellent story. I was sad to reach the end. Spoiler: Couldn't they have lived happily ever after with a simple prescription?? Anyway...such is life. Loved the book. Please continue writing!!
Excellent story. I was sad to reach the end. Spoiler: Couldn't they have lived happily ever after with a simple prescription?? Anyway...such is life. Loved the book. Please continue writing!!
June 3, 2025
Okay, so we have a problem guys. And the problem is you haven't read this book yet! So we need to fix that.
Because this is a fantastic read, and I loved it more than I expected to. I don't normally read urban thrillers, but I was intrigued with the werewolf part. And let me tell you, Pete did a fantastic job with it. It was like being thrown back to early 2000 when I watched a werewolf movie and was creeped out with how scary and creepy it was. Because let's be real I was only a kid and wasn't supposed to see movies like that, and reading this was like watching a movie.
The character are great, you have 3 main character which are differently build, with one that most of the times hates life, 1 on the run from bad people and 1 revenge full awesome dude.
Sometimes you go one by one chapter and sometimes you have 2 povs in one chapter. But Pete did a exceptional job with blending in the narrative so it didn't feel that the pov jumping got tiring or confusing.
So even if you are a fan of urban thrillers or not, you should definitely try it. Get out of your favorite genre and try something new, because this is worth it.
And how cool wouldn't it to have this as a movie next to Teen Wolf with the guy from Back to the Future! Its a movie I would for sure seen.
This is the second book I read by Pete Aldin, and I will definitely check out his other works.
Because this is a fantastic read, and I loved it more than I expected to. I don't normally read urban thrillers, but I was intrigued with the werewolf part. And let me tell you, Pete did a fantastic job with it. It was like being thrown back to early 2000 when I watched a werewolf movie and was creeped out with how scary and creepy it was. Because let's be real I was only a kid and wasn't supposed to see movies like that, and reading this was like watching a movie.
The character are great, you have 3 main character which are differently build, with one that most of the times hates life, 1 on the run from bad people and 1 revenge full awesome dude.
Sometimes you go one by one chapter and sometimes you have 2 povs in one chapter. But Pete did a exceptional job with blending in the narrative so it didn't feel that the pov jumping got tiring or confusing.
So even if you are a fan of urban thrillers or not, you should definitely try it. Get out of your favorite genre and try something new, because this is worth it.
And how cool wouldn't it to have this as a movie next to Teen Wolf with the guy from Back to the Future! Its a movie I would for sure seen.
This is the second book I read by Pete Aldin, and I will definitely check out his other works.
December 23, 2017
( Format : Audiobook )
"Junkies don't go to heaven"
He wanted to be good like his mother said he was, not a bad man, like his father. But for Jake, for 3 nights every month at the time of the full moon, unless he is able to anaesthetize himself completely, he will wake up, naked, sometimes bloody, not knowing where he has been. Because Jake is a werewolf. And the animal inside him wants to come out.
Very much not the usual werewolf story: no running with the pack, no delight in the power of the freedom. No, the reader travels with a troubled soul whose life is blighted with being what he is, of terrible 'memories' forgotten but still imagined and the inner conflicting voice which constantly argues for him to give in and be something he fears and hates. This is a story of struggle against the odds, of how things can be made possible by sheer determination. A metaphor.
The ending is unexpected, but good. Travis Baldree reads well, his slightly sinister voice for Jake encompassing his hopeless desperatkon, his desire to be other than what he is. The narration increases the power of this story as well as giving Jake and the other protagonists voice.
I received a complimentary copy of Black Marks, at my request, from the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom - thank you - and this brief review is given voluntarily, an attempt to share my feelings about it. There is action, plenty of it, but much is of the inner kind as well as external confrontation. And there is also love, but not just of the romantic kind. A constant swirl of thoughts and emotions of an ordinary man caught in an exceptional circumstance trying his best to do what he can to be 'good'.
An unusual book, very well worth reading. I will be watching for the author's other works.
A definite recommendation
"Junkies don't go to heaven"
He wanted to be good like his mother said he was, not a bad man, like his father. But for Jake, for 3 nights every month at the time of the full moon, unless he is able to anaesthetize himself completely, he will wake up, naked, sometimes bloody, not knowing where he has been. Because Jake is a werewolf. And the animal inside him wants to come out.
Very much not the usual werewolf story: no running with the pack, no delight in the power of the freedom. No, the reader travels with a troubled soul whose life is blighted with being what he is, of terrible 'memories' forgotten but still imagined and the inner conflicting voice which constantly argues for him to give in and be something he fears and hates. This is a story of struggle against the odds, of how things can be made possible by sheer determination. A metaphor.
The ending is unexpected, but good. Travis Baldree reads well, his slightly sinister voice for Jake encompassing his hopeless desperatkon, his desire to be other than what he is. The narration increases the power of this story as well as giving Jake and the other protagonists voice.
I received a complimentary copy of Black Marks, at my request, from the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom - thank you - and this brief review is given voluntarily, an attempt to share my feelings about it. There is action, plenty of it, but much is of the inner kind as well as external confrontation. And there is also love, but not just of the romantic kind. A constant swirl of thoughts and emotions of an ordinary man caught in an exceptional circumstance trying his best to do what he can to be 'good'.
An unusual book, very well worth reading. I will be watching for the author's other works.
A definite recommendation
January 5, 2018
I need to preface this review by saying I know the author (we were work buddies) but I did pay for my copy - mates rates of course!! When Pete told me he had authored a book I was really keen to read it. Then he told me the genre and I thought ...oh dear...I'm going to have to be terribly polite as I'm not generally a fan of paranormal fiction.
So I was incredibly relieved to find myself deep into the story really quickly. For me this wasn't a 'werewolf' book, this was a story of the search for redemption for a flawed (but quite likeable) character.
Someone else in this thread has given a very in depth precis of the book so I won't go any further than to say - if you're a regular paranormal fiction reader, enjoy a book that hasn't been written by numbers with a ridiculously convoluted set of 'rules' the characters have to follow. For those of you who are new to the genre (or Pete) - you will spoiled for other werewolf books as this is a well written book that has well rounded and interesting characters with an interesting premise.
So I was incredibly relieved to find myself deep into the story really quickly. For me this wasn't a 'werewolf' book, this was a story of the search for redemption for a flawed (but quite likeable) character.
Someone else in this thread has given a very in depth precis of the book so I won't go any further than to say - if you're a regular paranormal fiction reader, enjoy a book that hasn't been written by numbers with a ridiculously convoluted set of 'rules' the characters have to follow. For those of you who are new to the genre (or Pete) - you will spoiled for other werewolf books as this is a well written book that has well rounded and interesting characters with an interesting premise.
September 11, 2017
I ran across Mr. Aldin at Denver Comic Con and picked up this book. I admit he charmed me into buying it with his Australian accent, but I'm so glad he did. I loved it, and the book itself is why I'm now a fan! From the very first chapter, I was hooked and found it difficult to put down. The characters were well developed, the pacing was fast, and though the ending was not was I was expecting, it was right for the characters and made perfect sense.
I don't read a lot of werewolf stories because so many are the same story written in a different setting, but I found this book refreshing and a different twist than any of the others I have read. If you are a lover of dark fantasies, you should pick this one up. You won't be disappointed. And I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's works.
I don't read a lot of werewolf stories because so many are the same story written in a different setting, but I found this book refreshing and a different twist than any of the others I have read. If you are a lover of dark fantasies, you should pick this one up. You won't be disappointed. And I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's works.
March 22, 2017
Jake Brennan is a troubled soul harbouring a secret, hiding from the hunters, hiding from himself every month when the moon grows fat.
Yet he longs for redemption. And when he rescues Doctor Gwen Cheevey from a brutal attack, he sets a train of events in motion that will forces him to face his past and his future.
A fast paced read from an author with the skills to weave a fine tale. Recommended.
Yet he longs for redemption. And when he rescues Doctor Gwen Cheevey from a brutal attack, he sets a train of events in motion that will forces him to face his past and his future.
A fast paced read from an author with the skills to weave a fine tale. Recommended.
April 11, 2017
On its surface Black Marks is a well delivered werewolf novel. Deeper down, it’s all about doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult. Loved this book both for the metaphor and the delivery.
February 13, 2019
Awesome
About a werewolf who helps save a doctor from being assaulted, s kids life using an epipen and one guy who blames the werewolf for murdering his wife and a cousin who claims to be family to werewolf
About a werewolf who helps save a doctor from being assaulted, s kids life using an epipen and one guy who blames the werewolf for murdering his wife and a cousin who claims to be family to werewolf
November 23, 2023
I do like some werewolf stuff, and this surprisingly is very...human. There's a lot of character behind the mains.
Jake is the main character, would I say hero, not too sure but you have empathy with him. Believing himself to be fully a monster, he does everything to keep the wolf inside at bay...including hard drugs. But in his mind he always keeps the ways of his mother's teaching close to him-he wants to be good, he wants to be with his mother in Heaven and so constantly on the run, squatting, doing odd jobs at the time of the full moon to score, Jake just about survives but when he does change-he doesn't remember.
And now he has run from an incident with a vengeful husband and a hunter on his tail, he winds up in Detroit mixing with the homeless and staying in the shadows until he gets the chance to do good, saving a young doctor's life from being assaulted and worse, he enters Gwen's life and turns it upside down and then using some of his own life saving medicine to help a troubled mother save her child-Jake starts to strike off the Black Marks against his name.
All he wants is normality until his cousin appears who lets him into some of the family knowledge and wants Jake to embrace the animal within.
Really is a story that shows, never judge a book by its cover as they say. There's a lot of heart underneath all the fur.
Jake is the main character, would I say hero, not too sure but you have empathy with him. Believing himself to be fully a monster, he does everything to keep the wolf inside at bay...including hard drugs. But in his mind he always keeps the ways of his mother's teaching close to him-he wants to be good, he wants to be with his mother in Heaven and so constantly on the run, squatting, doing odd jobs at the time of the full moon to score, Jake just about survives but when he does change-he doesn't remember.
And now he has run from an incident with a vengeful husband and a hunter on his tail, he winds up in Detroit mixing with the homeless and staying in the shadows until he gets the chance to do good, saving a young doctor's life from being assaulted and worse, he enters Gwen's life and turns it upside down and then using some of his own life saving medicine to help a troubled mother save her child-Jake starts to strike off the Black Marks against his name.
All he wants is normality until his cousin appears who lets him into some of the family knowledge and wants Jake to embrace the animal within.
Really is a story that shows, never judge a book by its cover as they say. There's a lot of heart underneath all the fur.
March 13, 2018
Great
Have 5 as it's just a Dan good read, one of the best books I've read in this genre. Great story, good characters and we'll written. Recommended
Have 5 as it's just a Dan good read, one of the best books I've read in this genre. Great story, good characters and we'll written. Recommended
February 10, 2019
This book opened my eyes. There are the romantic werewolf-hero stories (the ones I mostly read) and there are the gothic horror stories with the big bad wolf (which I read too like Stephen King's Cycle of the Werewolf) and there might be, but far less, the realistic what-it-would-be-to-be-a-werewolf-nowadays stories. Black Marks falls in this way smaller category.
The story follows Jake who keeps his inner beast at bay with drugs 3 days a month around the full moon. He's homeless, he is on the run and socially awkward. He tries to be a good man so he can join his momma in heaven.
We see the problems of homeless people, of people on low income, and also people who chase a dream but fail because they lost themselves on the way.
I give this story a 4,5 as it was a bit slow to start with but all the psychological elements in it and the really interesting storyline make up for it, as in other Pete Aldin books which I've enjoyed so far.
And the end is just perfect for this, remember, non-fairytale!
One logical problem I had (trying not to spoil): Carter should have known that Eddie set him up, after all he knew Tim's story....
The story follows Jake who keeps his inner beast at bay with drugs 3 days a month around the full moon. He's homeless, he is on the run and socially awkward. He tries to be a good man so he can join his momma in heaven.
We see the problems of homeless people, of people on low income, and also people who chase a dream but fail because they lost themselves on the way.
I give this story a 4,5 as it was a bit slow to start with but all the psychological elements in it and the really interesting storyline make up for it, as in other Pete Aldin books which I've enjoyed so far.
And the end is just perfect for this, remember, non-fairytale!
One logical problem I had (trying not to spoil): Carter should have known that Eddie set him up, after all he knew Tim's story....
April 5, 2018
Really good book. I couldn't stop reading it. Felt for the characters, especially Jake, and really wanted some good to happen for them -well except Eddie...Carter was kind of so-so. I really like Gwen at first but by the end of the book I didn't care for her at all. I was happy with the way it ended, despite some of the hopes I had while I was reading it. I would definitely recommend and will read again.
*I won a free review copy from a Goodreads Contest. This is no way impacts my rating or my opinion of this book*
*I won a free review copy from a Goodreads Contest. This is no way impacts my rating or my opinion of this book*
October 9, 2019
Living as a werewolf
I really enjoyed this story about a young man trying to find a way to live a some what normal life while coping with his monthly curse of becoming a werewolf.
This story captured and held my interest all the way through. I didn't like the ending though, but I understand why it has to end this way.
I won this story on Goodreads as a first reads story. Thank you so much for choosing me. I look forward to reading more of your stories... Great job!!
I really enjoyed this story about a young man trying to find a way to live a some what normal life while coping with his monthly curse of becoming a werewolf.
This story captured and held my interest all the way through. I didn't like the ending though, but I understand why it has to end this way.
I won this story on Goodreads as a first reads story. Thank you so much for choosing me. I look forward to reading more of your stories... Great job!!
May 18, 2022
Bought this after meeting the author at Supernova. (He’s very nice, FYI), & because I very much like werewolves.
This was an engaging & fast-paced modern-day werewolf story. I liked both the main characters (actually I think all characters were well written) and enjoyed Aldin’s writing style.
More of a thriller than a horror. I would have liked to see more werewolf action throughout the novel, but it had a satisfying ending. 3.5stars
This was an engaging & fast-paced modern-day werewolf story. I liked both the main characters (actually I think all characters were well written) and enjoyed Aldin’s writing style.
More of a thriller than a horror. I would have liked to see more werewolf action throughout the novel, but it had a satisfying ending. 3.5stars
May 12, 2017
When I invest time and money in a new and upcoming writer, I'm often hesitant. It's a risk. Why read something new when there's 20+ books on my to-read list by authors I trust? Often two things happen when I read new writers. One, I abandon after my one-hour novel stress test, or two, I come to the last page after pushing through and feel my investment in purchasing and reading the novel has been ill-spent.
Neither happened with this read. In fact, just the opposite. In short, Black Marks is an immersive, entertaining and gritty debut.
Aldin takes no time submerging you into a fascinating world where a werewolf, and his demons, intercept with the modern streets of decrepit Detroit. The city of Detroit and its modern urban narrative has always fascinated me so having it set in Detroit was something I really enjoyed. His characters are rich, complex, flawed, endearing. There are some pretty deep themes that run through this book. How does one deal with the horrors of the past? What does true redemption look like? How can you make wrong right? Aldin answers these questions with a rich honesty that makes this book worthy of anyone's time.
A couple of minor things irked me. Pete uses the term sonaofabitch too much, and the pace of the novel was perhaps a bit too quick for me. This is personal preference though. I like to smell and hear and see every scene I read, I like to know intricacies of the characters I get introduced to, and sometimes the plot was moving so quick I didn't get a chance to be as intimate as I would have liked to have been.
Overall though, Black Marks is a compelling debut, in both authorship and narrative. Looking forward to seeing what else Pete Aldin releases in the future, officially a fixture on my radar.
Neither happened with this read. In fact, just the opposite. In short, Black Marks is an immersive, entertaining and gritty debut.
Aldin takes no time submerging you into a fascinating world where a werewolf, and his demons, intercept with the modern streets of decrepit Detroit. The city of Detroit and its modern urban narrative has always fascinated me so having it set in Detroit was something I really enjoyed. His characters are rich, complex, flawed, endearing. There are some pretty deep themes that run through this book. How does one deal with the horrors of the past? What does true redemption look like? How can you make wrong right? Aldin answers these questions with a rich honesty that makes this book worthy of anyone's time.
A couple of minor things irked me. Pete uses the term sonaofabitch too much, and the pace of the novel was perhaps a bit too quick for me. This is personal preference though. I like to smell and hear and see every scene I read, I like to know intricacies of the characters I get introduced to, and sometimes the plot was moving so quick I didn't get a chance to be as intimate as I would have liked to have been.
Overall though, Black Marks is a compelling debut, in both authorship and narrative. Looking forward to seeing what else Pete Aldin releases in the future, officially a fixture on my radar.
April 19, 2024
Black Marks is a gripping foray into Pete Aldin’s compellingly written urban fantasy about a werewolf struggling to do something good with his life. The book weaves the dark and intricate tale of Jake Brennan, a man grappling with his inner demons, into the gritty backdrop of Detroit. Aldin’s narrative is compelling and nuanced, the setting real, and he offers a powerful take on the Jekyll/Hyde aspects of werewolf lore that feels both familiar and innovative.
The pacing is brisk with a plot that keeps you wanting more, while the characters are well-developed and their motivations fleshed out, making them relatable and their struggles tangible.
I listened to the audiobook and found narrator is perfect for this story, bringing the story to life by capturing the story’s essence and the harshness of Jake’s life.
Overall, Black Marks is a solid read and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves gritty urban fantasy stories with deep characters and well-crafted setting. It’s a story that stays with you. Whether you’re a fan of werewolves or just good fiction, this book is worth your time.
The pacing is brisk with a plot that keeps you wanting more, while the characters are well-developed and their motivations fleshed out, making them relatable and their struggles tangible.
I listened to the audiobook and found narrator is perfect for this story, bringing the story to life by capturing the story’s essence and the harshness of Jake’s life.
Overall, Black Marks is a solid read and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves gritty urban fantasy stories with deep characters and well-crafted setting. It’s a story that stays with you. Whether you’re a fan of werewolves or just good fiction, this book is worth your time.
November 26, 2017
I don't often read books where the werewolf has no control over both transformations and their actions while transformed, so this was a change of pace for me.
The different aspects of the story worked really well together, there was lots going on and the overall seriousness of the book was offset by humorous moments.
The characters are well developed and their interactions are realistic (ignoring the werewolf aspect). The writing is well done and enjoyable and it made connecting with the story easy.
I enjoyed the character voices and the overall delivery was smooth and natural. I thought the narrator did an excellent job of conveying the tone of the book.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The different aspects of the story worked really well together, there was lots going on and the overall seriousness of the book was offset by humorous moments.
The characters are well developed and their interactions are realistic (ignoring the werewolf aspect). The writing is well done and enjoyable and it made connecting with the story easy.
I enjoyed the character voices and the overall delivery was smooth and natural. I thought the narrator did an excellent job of conveying the tone of the book.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2018
Redemption and the Human (?) Condition
Interesting take on the werewolf trope... much like in the old werewolf movies of the early 20th century, Jake Brennan is haunted by his werewolf behavior and wishes to erase the "black marks" against his soul. Packed with action, maybe a little heavy on the social justice front, but overall a good read.
Thanks to Amazon and the publisher for the free digital copy of this novel.
Interesting take on the werewolf trope... much like in the old werewolf movies of the early 20th century, Jake Brennan is haunted by his werewolf behavior and wishes to erase the "black marks" against his soul. Packed with action, maybe a little heavy on the social justice front, but overall a good read.
Thanks to Amazon and the publisher for the free digital copy of this novel.
April 24, 2018
Audible:This is a very good werewolf book.Travis Baldree does a great job narrating.I enjoyed the storyline.It would be nice to see what happens between the doctor and the hobo.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
June 30, 2024
This is a really modern take on the werewolf genre with a pacy action-orientated story line and great characters that I actually cared for. I completely fell for Aldin's writing and couldn't put it down until I finished. I guess I'm now a fan of the werewolf genre.
Read
March 12, 2018Read for Australian Shadows Awards judging.
September 2, 2022
Pitch perfect. An amazing twist on the werewolf myth. And just a damn good thriller in its own right, even without the werewolfery.
April 22, 2017
A pacy werewolf story full of genuine pathos.
While the story is full of the requisite bone-crunching action, what really sets this book apart, I think, is its heart. Pete Aldin gives us an immersing and sympathetic look at what it's like to be homeless, to grow up in the margins of civilization. Black Marks invites us to look at the kind of trauma that puts people in these circumstances, and the different ways people dealing with these problems without every preaching or wallowing.
Fast, slick, evocative prose, tense plotting and great characters. You should check this one out.
While the story is full of the requisite bone-crunching action, what really sets this book apart, I think, is its heart. Pete Aldin gives us an immersing and sympathetic look at what it's like to be homeless, to grow up in the margins of civilization. Black Marks invites us to look at the kind of trauma that puts people in these circumstances, and the different ways people dealing with these problems without every preaching or wallowing.
Fast, slick, evocative prose, tense plotting and great characters. You should check this one out.
Read
March 6, 2018Read for judging. Rating to come.
Want to read
March 20, 2018I received this book for free from the author/publisher in response for an honest review of the book. I have not had the opportunity to read this book at this time. I will add my
review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.
review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.
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