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Werewolf Rising
On the eve of Luc s thirteenth birthday, a man called Ranger offers him a horrifying, enticing truth: Luc is a shapeshifter, a werewolf. It s time to come home to his pack and to make his first change into wolf form. Luc is thrilled by his new powers and loves the community of the pack. But Luc s uncle wants to see the shapeshifters destroyed. How can Luc save his new family from the danger he has brought them? This spinetingling, accessible read is packed with middle-grade boy appeal and perfect for summer reading.
Author Biography: R. L. LaFevers is the author of four other fantasy novels. She lives in California.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published August 17, 2006
4 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
R.L. LaFevers
15 books2,019 followersR.L. LaFevers (Robin Lorraine when she’s in really big trouble) grew up surrounded by shelves of old dusty books and a passel of brothers. She has also spent a large portion of her life being told she was making up things that weren’t there, which only proves she was destined to write fiction. She is the author of over fourteen books for young readers, including THEODOSIA AND THE SERPENTS OF CHAOS, (Houghton Mifflin, 2007) which received starred reviews and was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Booksense Summer Pick, and nominated for the Malice Domestic’s Agatha Award, and the NATHANIEL FLUDD, BEASTOLOGIST series. R.L. also writes the His Fair Assassin books using her full name, Robin LaFevers, but cannot get Goodreads to link the two, so you have to check out a separate profile for that. So sorry for the inconvenience!
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 6, 2024
Hello everyone, I'm Mr. C Reviewer, and tonight we're discussing (She/Her) (Book under Pen-name: R.L. LaFevers), PA Name: Robin Lorraine's book, Werewolf Rising.
The book was Published August 17th 2006, The narrative, told using first person perspective following Luc. Which spans 26 chapters and 199 pages.
Summary: On the brink of his thirteenth birthday, Luc encounters Ranger, a mysterious figure who reveals a shocking and thrilling secret: Luc is a shapeshifter, a werewolf destined to return to his pack and undergo his first transformation. Excited by his newfound abilities and embraced by the camaraderie of the pack, Luc’s joy is soon overshadowed by a looming threat—his uncle seeks to eradicate all shapeshifters.
Review: -I found the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter to be quite captivating, as they maintained a cohesive theme throughout the book. The book is well-crafted, featuring vivid descriptions of settings and characters that facilitate easy visualization. There was a minor instance where a detail was reiterated as if it were new information, but this did not significantly detract from my overall enjoyment.
The world-building was remarkable; it effectively presented various wolf facts without overwhelming us with excessive details. Although this slightly impacted the pacing, I valued the chance to revisit concepts like hunting stages before engaging in action, as it clearly highlighted potential risks. I had never encountered a story where characters revert back to human form while wearing their previous human clothing, which struck me as unusual. Nonetheless, I appreciated that the author provided a rationale for this aspect and explored it within the story.
I appreciated the story’s beginning, especially the opening page that vividly illustrated a dream. As readers, we could sense this from the bed setting. I found the dream sequence to be refreshingly concise; lengthy dream scenes at the start of books often lead to confusion. It was enjoyable to navigate the narrative alongside Luc as he uncovered new revelations. I do believe that the book had the potential to be even more captivating. A more extended narrative with heightened action and dynamic events would have significantly increased my enjoyment. I felt that the pacing within both the human and shapeshifter communities was somewhat hurried. A deeper exploration of Luc’s mental state would have been beneficial, particularly given his abrupt separation from everything he once knew.
-Given the brevity of the book, I felt that we didn’t spend enough time with the characters, particularly Ranger and Luc’s friend, Nuri. I feel that it would have been beneficial for Ranger to have at least exchanged a few words with Luc in passing or for Luc to have recalled seeing him before their personal meeting within the book. This absence made the narrative feel somewhat disjointed, especially considering that Luc made significant sacrifices based on a fleeting emotion. However, I appreciated the deeper exploration of Luc’s family history throughout the story.
-I appreciated that the book did not include any romance, as I felt it was unnecessary for the story. The ending resonated with me; it felt satisfying and neatly concluded. A sequel would be a great idea since the story was brief, and I would love to delve deeper into the pack dynamics and get to know the characters better. I envision this book being adapted into a mini-series or even a film someday. Additionally, I hope an audiobook version will be released, as I enjoy listening while following along with a physical copy. This approach enhances my focus, particularly as someone on the autism spectrum, and would also benefit those who struggle with accessing e-books or physical copies.
For each story that I read, I rate it out of 10 so for this am going to give it a 7. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.
The book was Published August 17th 2006, The narrative, told using first person perspective following Luc. Which spans 26 chapters and 199 pages.
Summary: On the brink of his thirteenth birthday, Luc encounters Ranger, a mysterious figure who reveals a shocking and thrilling secret: Luc is a shapeshifter, a werewolf destined to return to his pack and undergo his first transformation. Excited by his newfound abilities and embraced by the camaraderie of the pack, Luc’s joy is soon overshadowed by a looming threat—his uncle seeks to eradicate all shapeshifters.
Review: -I found the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter to be quite captivating, as they maintained a cohesive theme throughout the book. The book is well-crafted, featuring vivid descriptions of settings and characters that facilitate easy visualization. There was a minor instance where a detail was reiterated as if it were new information, but this did not significantly detract from my overall enjoyment.
The world-building was remarkable; it effectively presented various wolf facts without overwhelming us with excessive details. Although this slightly impacted the pacing, I valued the chance to revisit concepts like hunting stages before engaging in action, as it clearly highlighted potential risks. I had never encountered a story where characters revert back to human form while wearing their previous human clothing, which struck me as unusual. Nonetheless, I appreciated that the author provided a rationale for this aspect and explored it within the story.
I appreciated the story’s beginning, especially the opening page that vividly illustrated a dream. As readers, we could sense this from the bed setting. I found the dream sequence to be refreshingly concise; lengthy dream scenes at the start of books often lead to confusion. It was enjoyable to navigate the narrative alongside Luc as he uncovered new revelations. I do believe that the book had the potential to be even more captivating. A more extended narrative with heightened action and dynamic events would have significantly increased my enjoyment. I felt that the pacing within both the human and shapeshifter communities was somewhat hurried. A deeper exploration of Luc’s mental state would have been beneficial, particularly given his abrupt separation from everything he once knew.
-Given the brevity of the book, I felt that we didn’t spend enough time with the characters, particularly Ranger and Luc’s friend, Nuri. I feel that it would have been beneficial for Ranger to have at least exchanged a few words with Luc in passing or for Luc to have recalled seeing him before their personal meeting within the book. This absence made the narrative feel somewhat disjointed, especially considering that Luc made significant sacrifices based on a fleeting emotion. However, I appreciated the deeper exploration of Luc’s family history throughout the story.
-I appreciated that the book did not include any romance, as I felt it was unnecessary for the story. The ending resonated with me; it felt satisfying and neatly concluded. A sequel would be a great idea since the story was brief, and I would love to delve deeper into the pack dynamics and get to know the characters better. I envision this book being adapted into a mini-series or even a film someday. Additionally, I hope an audiobook version will be released, as I enjoy listening while following along with a physical copy. This approach enhances my focus, particularly as someone on the autism spectrum, and would also benefit those who struggle with accessing e-books or physical copies.
For each story that I read, I rate it out of 10 so for this am going to give it a 7. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.
March 26, 2012
This was one of the best books I've read, simply for the story and history put into it. R.L. really matched the vision in my head of what Lycanthians are like-- surely not to be compared to the 'Spirit Warriors' of Twilight. Twilight is a series that is only popular because young teenage girls secretly want to become a vampire or werewolf and be loved by everyone.
But I digress, this isn't about a teeny-bopper book series-- it's about the wonderful world R.L. created for us to enjoy.
I picked the book up by chance when my niece brought it home and fell in love with it. Wolves are my absolute favorite animals, and I relate to them very much.
Every other depiction of Lycans is making them out as brutes who turn at the full moon, or can't control themselves. I love the movies Underworld and Van Helsing, but realistically, I've always felt Lycans are far more wonderous creatures than given credit. They aren't all beasts with a blood-lust. They are protectors of humanity and of the earth.
My favorite character is definitely Luc with Ranger coming in at a close 2nd. Luc is the unusual hero, the kid you'd never think to be the person he truly is. Kind of like Harry Potter in that sense; two kids who never knew they were something special until someone whisks them away into a world where they don't immediately slip into [due to lack of knowledge, antagonists abound] but when they do you feel happy for them.
Truly, your opinions are your own, and I cannot fault you them or bash you unfairly. For everyone has different tastes. But I simply can't see how anyone can't love this book.
But I digress, this isn't about a teeny-bopper book series-- it's about the wonderful world R.L. created for us to enjoy.
I picked the book up by chance when my niece brought it home and fell in love with it. Wolves are my absolute favorite animals, and I relate to them very much.
Every other depiction of Lycans is making them out as brutes who turn at the full moon, or can't control themselves. I love the movies Underworld and Van Helsing, but realistically, I've always felt Lycans are far more wonderous creatures than given credit. They aren't all beasts with a blood-lust. They are protectors of humanity and of the earth.
My favorite character is definitely Luc with Ranger coming in at a close 2nd. Luc is the unusual hero, the kid you'd never think to be the person he truly is. Kind of like Harry Potter in that sense; two kids who never knew they were something special until someone whisks them away into a world where they don't immediately slip into [due to lack of knowledge, antagonists abound] but when they do you feel happy for them.
Truly, your opinions are your own, and I cannot fault you them or bash you unfairly. For everyone has different tastes. But I simply can't see how anyone can't love this book.
December 23, 2008
I don't abandon books very often. Usually I have to finish them no matter what. I easily put this one down :) (Actually I skimmed through it and read the final chapter.. I have to say I'm glad I didn't waste my time!)
September 3, 2010
This is SUCH a good book! You learn a lot about werewolves--excuse me lycanthians--and you follow a new lycanthian. I love that you can actually see how they feel in their wolf form by the way Lafevers writes (tons of detail). READ THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE WEREWOLVES!
April 29, 2018
[REVIEW TO COME AT A LATER DATE UPON RE-READ.]
August 12, 2020
What a fantastic werewolf novel! This was one of my favorites when I was a teenager and I love that I found a copy for my bookshelves. I also enjoyed the main theme of questioning what it means to be a monster. If someone has fangs and fur, does that make them a monster, or is it what lies in your soul?
Recommended to anyone who appreciates the earth, werewolf/shifters, coming of age, and just a great story!
Recommended to anyone who appreciates the earth, werewolf/shifters, coming of age, and just a great story!
June 27, 2017
This is one of my favorite books. I enjoyed the plot, in general, and plot twists that were thrown in. I highly recommend this book to others.
February 18, 2018
Read this a long time ago, loved it.
February 12, 2022
Once I heard that Robin LaFevers, the author of one of my new favorite series, had once penned a werewolf novel I knew I had to check it out as soon as possible. Published back in 2006 for a middle grade audience under the pseudonym R.L. LaFevers (no doubt because the main character was a boy and we wouldn't want to advertise that women could write boys' books), I didn't really expect much from it, but still was hopeful for an interesting take on werewolves from an author I greatly enjoyed.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, Werewolf Rising had an interesting premise but lacked the character to keep me engaged in its story. If you have a younger reader who has recently become engrossed with werewolves or wolves, then they'll probably enjoy this. No language or romance, and extremely mild violence puts this in the perfect range for elementary or middle grade readers. Perhaps not all I had hoped from one of my favorite authors, I still had fun peering into another world of werewolves.
Approximate Reading Time: 3 hours
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, Werewolf Rising had an interesting premise but lacked the character to keep me engaged in its story. If you have a younger reader who has recently become engrossed with werewolves or wolves, then they'll probably enjoy this. No language or romance, and extremely mild violence puts this in the perfect range for elementary or middle grade readers. Perhaps not all I had hoped from one of my favorite authors, I still had fun peering into another world of werewolves.
Approximate Reading Time: 3 hours
June 13, 2014
This adolescent werewolf, unaware of his true nature, is a slow runner in PE and has awkward fantasies of eating live squirrels. His pack rescues him from his mean human uncle and reveals his true nature to him. They have to worry about anti-werewolf "abolitionist execution squads." Supposedly the adolescent werewolves have to learn Latin because that's their real ancestral language, but they never actually speak it, and instead they use terms like alpha (Greek) and fenriki (from Fenris, a Norse wolf monster).
April 21, 2013
Read this as a possible way to engage with Y books for male readers interested in books like Twilight but not as romantic. The boy in this book is 13, so it may not appeal to my middle school readers, but it's shelved in Y in our system. Not sure what that will mean for circulation. It was a very quick read over 3 lunch breaks and a bit in the evening. Not my favorite, but I enjoyed some of the descriptions.
September 11, 2013
I usually try to finish books but I really hated this one from the very start. It was just so predictable I thought I was going to die from boredom. It was so stupid, and honestly if he had common sense he wouldn't leave with someone he just met. So so so stupid. I regret even trying to read this book.
October 29, 2008
I think my students will enjoy this story, if only because the story is about werewolves. Unfortunately, I found the story not as sophisticated as I had hoped and the characters mainly one-dimentional.
December 13, 2013
An alright novel. It was skewered by a muddled plot and a hurried ending. It generally seemed like the clichéd "boy discovers that he's a werewolf and must fight the forces stirring within himself" story. It wasn't a good book, in my opinion, but some may like it.
December 13, 2015
I have read this book awhile back before i started goodreads....
From what i remember from this book- I had liked it.. I remember there was a lot of action that had kept my attention!!! I thought it was pretty good!!!
From what i remember from this book- I had liked it.. I remember there was a lot of action that had kept my attention!!! I thought it was pretty good!!!
October 17, 2008
Give to fans of Blood & Chocolate; Twilight
February 20, 2009
God this is a good book.What can I say?I juz love my books so almost all of them are gonna be good or great.
July 1, 2009
I thought this book was spectacular! I really hope there's a sequel!
November 17, 2012
The cover really drew me to this book and I had been really looking forward to reading this one. I guess I should have listened and NOT judged this book by its cover.
September 25, 2010
easy read, but very interesting plot
October 7, 2010
it was amazing
December 6, 2010
I found this book a sale for $3 so for what I payed it was a good book. my brother read it and liked it
September 2, 2011
it was ok
November 18, 2014
wished it was longer
July 4, 2012
Wow, that was painfully bad. I stopped two thirds of the way through.
November 27, 2012
To be completely honest, I hated this book! It was okay at first and then it was so boring!
November 23, 2014
Great story! To bad there's no sequel ... it has an interesting take to werewolf stories, werewolf cilvilization is really cool.
May 16, 2016
i love the book. they should make another after this to tell us what to the luc and where did the pack go.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews