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The Hybrid of High Moon #2
Bent Outta Shape
HALF WITCH, HALF WEREWOLF, ALL ATTITUDE.Tamara Bentley’s back and she has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stop the supernatural cold war that’s been brewing between the witches and werewolves surrounding her home of High Moon, Pennsylvania. But it won’t be easy.Someone is dead set on screwing it all up. Not only do they want to put an end to the fragile peace before it can even begin, but they’re looking to shift the balance of power by blowing open the gates that protect the world from the things that lie beyond.After a surprise attack leaves both sides crippled, Tamara and her friends are the only ones left who can stop their dark plans from coming to fruition. Too bad they’re outgunned and outnumbered. Even Tamara’s unique heritage might not be enough to save her home, her family, and everything she holds dear before Hell itself is unleashed upon the Earth.----------The Girl Who Fights Witches delivers an electrifying blend of action, suspense, and attitude that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of K.F. Breene, Annette Marie, or Shayne Silvers, will love the unforgettable thrills of the High Moon series.Please Note: This book was previously available as Bent Outta Shape (The Hybrid of High Moon - 2)
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2019
220 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Rick Gualtieri
88 books765 followersRick Gualtieri loves to write adventure, mayhem, and snarky dialogue. His bestselling Tome of Bill series combines all of this into a world of supernatural danger with hard-hitting action and plenty of sharp-tongued geeky humor.
Rick lives alone in a dark, evil place called New Jersey with only his wife, three kids, and countless pets to both keep him company and constantly plot against him. When he's not busy monkey-clicking out words, he can typically be found jealously guarding his collection of vintage Transformers from all who would seek to defile them.
Defilers beware!
Email: rickg.author@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/RickGualtieriAuthor
Rick lives alone in a dark, evil place called New Jersey with only his wife, three kids, and countless pets to both keep him company and constantly plot against him. When he's not busy monkey-clicking out words, he can typically be found jealously guarding his collection of vintage Transformers from all who would seek to defile them.
Defilers beware!
Email: rickg.author@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/RickGualtieriAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 4, 2020
After book 1 I had to start book 2 right away. Bent is such a unique character and the way she looks at her new found knowledge well its admirable. I also love that her best friend has her back the way that she does.
This book starts off with Bent at college but she goes back home for the holidays and well no other way to say it but all hell lets loose.
Bent finds out who she really is deep down. I kind of love how this book forced her to see more of herself than what she already knew.
Her little brother cracks me up and I really hope the audio for book 3 comes out soon because I am dying to find out what happens.
Again the narration is great I really enjoyed it.
This book starts off with Bent at college but she goes back home for the holidays and well no other way to say it but all hell lets loose.
Bent finds out who she really is deep down. I kind of love how this book forced her to see more of herself than what she already knew.
Her little brother cracks me up and I really hope the audio for book 3 comes out soon because I am dying to find out what happens.
Again the narration is great I really enjoyed it.
April 15, 2023
"Not every universe can be as awesome as mine."
Sooo many good one liners. So much snark. Bent is back at it, but this time shes fighting for/with her mom's side. By the end of this book I was left with way more questions than I was with answers. Thankfully there is a book 3 to go buy and start reading :)
A few of my Favorite lines: "this is fun! Might build a treehouse up here. Of course, I'll need a rug. Care to volunteer asshole?"
"It wasn't hard to imagine them standing around a cauldron chanting "double double, toil and trouble," all while chain smoking Virginia slims"
"I was about to let a werewolf use me as a meat shield"
Sooo many good one liners. So much snark. Bent is back at it, but this time shes fighting for/with her mom's side. By the end of this book I was left with way more questions than I was with answers. Thankfully there is a book 3 to go buy and start reading :)
A few of my Favorite lines: "this is fun! Might build a treehouse up here. Of course, I'll need a rug. Care to volunteer asshole?"
"It wasn't hard to imagine them standing around a cauldron chanting "double double, toil and trouble," all while chain smoking Virginia slims"
"I was about to let a werewolf use me as a meat shield"
June 10, 2022
It was bad enough I was powerless and spending the day with a bunch of people who’d nuke me from orbit if they found out what I really was. But now there was going to be an asshole present who had both the knowledge and cause to rat me out.
Books are funny things. Sometimes you know you just love the hell out of one and it even makes you come up to people in the supermarket, preaching like a greasy-haired grifter trying to pay off the loan for his tour bus about how wonderful it is (the book, not the grifting … or both, your call). With other books you're like, I'm not sure how much this one is doing it for me. You know, it's different than I expected and it makes me feel itchy in the underpants of my mind. And then despite all this, you find yourself reading WAY too late into the night (or better said, early into the morning) and then even catch yourself getting up only a few hours later to keep on reading this book that by all indications you weren't so sure about (see ref. brain undies). Because now you're hooked and fvck everything else going on in life because you have to find out if Chris and Cass and Bent and the twins and more are doing okay. So yeah, as you've probably guessed this was one of those latter books to me.
…I was following a naked woman through the woods, something that was rapidly becoming a common occurrence in my life.
Gualtieri really surprised the hell out of me with this one. I mean, from my Masters of Bill-o-logy studies, I knew that the witches could be real a-holes when they wanted to be (even though the author insisted to me in a private note that this is NOT the same universe)(hint: I still think he's wrong about that!). But dayamn! Snotty little farts when they get their robes all bunched up in their cracks, aren't they? Sure, we still have some grade A werewolf stuff going on - plus that pleasant sense of She-Hulk running around in her bra and panties to boot (trust me on this). But the local Doctor Strange folks really shat in the proverbial Christmas pudding, didn't they? No, I won't be discussing Scarlet Witch-y stuff here so don't even start…
This day, Christmas of all days, had been a nightmare. And it wasn’t over.
I think it's this latter point kind of threw me for a loop. Christmas stories - and yes, this should SO count as one - are generally hit or miss affairs. Yes, I worship and adore DM.Guay for bringing us the classic that is "Hell for the Holidays" and will forevermore thank Tim Burton for bringing us "The Nightmare Before Christmas", but the list doesn't go on very much beyond that. So yeah, when I realized that this story of Gualtieri's was going to be centered around my very least favorite holiday of the year, well, maybe the adrenaline rush didn't start at page 1. But friends: I was wrong! And for that I am truly… well, nothing really. I just kept reading is all.
He had a shocked look on his face and a bisected belly,
then his guts all spilled out like a bowl full of jelly.
This 2nd full chapter of the "Bent" series is just as thrilling, amazing, funny and generally whack-a-doodle as what I've read up to this point! It may sound all broken record-y, but as usual, Gualtieri nails the characters, the emotions, the tension and the cultural references to please any fan of this genre and any others, too! And knowing that I've got at least two books to go after this only makes me all the more happy! Like opening gifts on Christmas morning… that hopefully don't melt my face off once I see what's inside! Sure, I got the spilled beans bit (you'll know it when you see it) because I was paying attention... but the other surprises and the wild reveals and the twists and the … oh my, I need to sit down now! But really only because I want to start Book 3 right away not because I may have literally just swooned there!
“You’ve been a naughty girl,” Asshole the elf said…“It’s nothing but coal for you.”
So y'all be good now, ya hear? Because needless to say, something is definitely watching you … sorry, scrying you! And whoever or whatever it is knows if you've been bad or good, especially if you use foul language like “Póg mo thóin!” So be "good" for Valdemar's - or Brigid's if you prefer - sake!
Books are funny things. Sometimes you know you just love the hell out of one and it even makes you come up to people in the supermarket, preaching like a greasy-haired grifter trying to pay off the loan for his tour bus about how wonderful it is (the book, not the grifting … or both, your call). With other books you're like, I'm not sure how much this one is doing it for me. You know, it's different than I expected and it makes me feel itchy in the underpants of my mind. And then despite all this, you find yourself reading WAY too late into the night (or better said, early into the morning) and then even catch yourself getting up only a few hours later to keep on reading this book that by all indications you weren't so sure about (see ref. brain undies). Because now you're hooked and fvck everything else going on in life because you have to find out if Chris and Cass and Bent and the twins and more are doing okay. So yeah, as you've probably guessed this was one of those latter books to me.
…I was following a naked woman through the woods, something that was rapidly becoming a common occurrence in my life.
Gualtieri really surprised the hell out of me with this one. I mean, from my Masters of Bill-o-logy studies, I knew that the witches could be real a-holes when they wanted to be (even though the author insisted to me in a private note that this is NOT the same universe)(hint: I still think he's wrong about that!). But dayamn! Snotty little farts when they get their robes all bunched up in their cracks, aren't they? Sure, we still have some grade A werewolf stuff going on - plus that pleasant sense of She-Hulk running around in her bra and panties to boot (trust me on this). But the local Doctor Strange folks really shat in the proverbial Christmas pudding, didn't they? No, I won't be discussing Scarlet Witch-y stuff here so don't even start…
This day, Christmas of all days, had been a nightmare. And it wasn’t over.
I think it's this latter point kind of threw me for a loop. Christmas stories - and yes, this should SO count as one - are generally hit or miss affairs. Yes, I worship and adore DM.Guay for bringing us the classic that is "Hell for the Holidays" and will forevermore thank Tim Burton for bringing us "The Nightmare Before Christmas", but the list doesn't go on very much beyond that. So yeah, when I realized that this story of Gualtieri's was going to be centered around my very least favorite holiday of the year, well, maybe the adrenaline rush didn't start at page 1. But friends: I was wrong! And for that I am truly… well, nothing really. I just kept reading is all.
He had a shocked look on his face and a bisected belly,
then his guts all spilled out like a bowl full of jelly.
This 2nd full chapter of the "Bent" series is just as thrilling, amazing, funny and generally whack-a-doodle as what I've read up to this point! It may sound all broken record-y, but as usual, Gualtieri nails the characters, the emotions, the tension and the cultural references to please any fan of this genre and any others, too! And knowing that I've got at least two books to go after this only makes me all the more happy! Like opening gifts on Christmas morning… that hopefully don't melt my face off once I see what's inside! Sure, I got the spilled beans bit (you'll know it when you see it) because I was paying attention... but the other surprises and the wild reveals and the twists and the … oh my, I need to sit down now! But really only because I want to start Book 3 right away not because I may have literally just swooned there!
“You’ve been a naughty girl,” Asshole the elf said…“It’s nothing but coal for you.”
So y'all be good now, ya hear? Because needless to say, something is definitely watching you … sorry, scrying you! And whoever or whatever it is knows if you've been bad or good, especially if you use foul language like “Póg mo thóin!” So be "good" for Valdemar's - or Brigid's if you prefer - sake!
July 16, 2019
I've never hidden the fact that I absolutely adore Gualtieri's books. He's amazing and captures female characters like most male writers can not do. He also manages to write a novel with a female protagonist without forcing a romance into it. There's sexual attraction that is brought up, but that's about all, it's a minor focus, and once you get to the guts of the book, which is the majority of it, it's no longer a thing in the slightest. This is a character who relies on her friends and her own merit and nothing more to tell the story. She's driven and strong and doesn't spend the book crying because things go wrong. It's the second book in the series, and Tamara Bent is still refreshing as Spring.
This book, however, is not going to be for everyone. As with the last book, this isn't a day-to-day in the life of Tamara Bent. This book almost entirely takes place in one evening, and like the last book, most of that evening becomes a continual fight scene, which actually is longer in this novel than it is in the first one. I am not complaining, but don't go into this novel thinking this is a power struggle that takes days, weeks, months. This is a power struggle that goes on for Christmas Day, and that's what you get out of the novel. That's not true, this novel does take place a few days before that, but the majority is spent with Tamara fighting for her life. This is something Gualtieri does with many of his novels, but it's not typically expected in this sort of urban fantasy novel. Again, I personally am not complaining, but I can see people wanting something different.
Pros:
Great storytelling
Great character development in a relatively short time period
Bent is the best, seriously.
It holds respect for the ideas it borrows from.
Cons:
It's mostly one very long continual fight scene with a few breaks.
It's a very open ending for the sequel.
This book, however, is not going to be for everyone. As with the last book, this isn't a day-to-day in the life of Tamara Bent. This book almost entirely takes place in one evening, and like the last book, most of that evening becomes a continual fight scene, which actually is longer in this novel than it is in the first one. I am not complaining, but don't go into this novel thinking this is a power struggle that takes days, weeks, months. This is a power struggle that goes on for Christmas Day, and that's what you get out of the novel. That's not true, this novel does take place a few days before that, but the majority is spent with Tamara fighting for her life. This is something Gualtieri does with many of his novels, but it's not typically expected in this sort of urban fantasy novel. Again, I personally am not complaining, but I can see people wanting something different.
Pros:
Great storytelling
Great character development in a relatively short time period
Bent is the best, seriously.
It holds respect for the ideas it borrows from.
Cons:
It's mostly one very long continual fight scene with a few breaks.
It's a very open ending for the sequel.
March 30, 2024
I thought I had this novel figured out about three chapters in—literally no real surprises to come. And while I had figured out the main "surprise" I was wrong about just about all my other guesses. As a result, Gaultieri presents the reader with an action-packed novel with a lot of surprises and a few interesting discoveries.
The novel opens in the early chapters with a very dumb decision on the part of Bent's parents. Bent knows it's a dumb decision. The reader knows it's a dumb decision. And I would guess that the parents knew it was dumb decision too. But honestly, family makes us do some very stupid things and so, dumb or not, I thought it was believable. As a result of that decision (and I would be shocked if anyone considered this a spoiler), Bent is unpowered for most of the novel and having to fight with her wits rather than her magical abilities. That created some wonderful tension. In the last book, she basically took on a whole werewolf pack and beat them, so she's a tank. Taking that ability away from her was a great idea, even if it required a really dumb decision.
There was also a very nice uncovering of some of the secrets of the werewolf pack--especially the person of the alpha female. Gaultieri continues to expand Bent's world and to give some pretty strong clues about the big crisis which is coming down the road.
The novel opens in the early chapters with a very dumb decision on the part of Bent's parents. Bent knows it's a dumb decision. The reader knows it's a dumb decision. And I would guess that the parents knew it was dumb decision too. But honestly, family makes us do some very stupid things and so, dumb or not, I thought it was believable. As a result of that decision (and I would be shocked if anyone considered this a spoiler), Bent is unpowered for most of the novel and having to fight with her wits rather than her magical abilities. That created some wonderful tension. In the last book, she basically took on a whole werewolf pack and beat them, so she's a tank. Taking that ability away from her was a great idea, even if it required a really dumb decision.
There was also a very nice uncovering of some of the secrets of the werewolf pack--especially the person of the alpha female. Gaultieri continues to expand Bent's world and to give some pretty strong clues about the big crisis which is coming down the road.
June 14, 2019
BENT OUT OF SHAPE is the second book of the Hybrid of High Moon series by Rick Gualtieri. It's not set in the same world as THE TOME OF BILL since they've established that Lycnanthropes don't exist there. Instead, it takes place in a parallel urban fantasy where werewolves and witches are mortal enemies. Bentley is the child of a union between those two races and has been kept secret for her first twenty years of life. That all went to hell in the last book and she had to face down the werewolf race, now it's the witches' turn.
While the plot is a little derivative of the first book, I have to say I really enjoyed the use of Christmas for an butt-kicking good time. We also get more insight into how werewolf pack dynamics work as well as the culture of witches. Bentley gets some new friends and a possible (pair) of love interests that intrigue me. I really recommend people pick this up as Bentley is a great protagonist who reminds me a bit of my character Jane Doe from the Bright Falls Mysteries. Snarky, fun, and not so much a tomboy as a junior Arya Stark in the making.
9/10
While the plot is a little derivative of the first book, I have to say I really enjoyed the use of Christmas for an butt-kicking good time. We also get more insight into how werewolf pack dynamics work as well as the culture of witches. Bentley gets some new friends and a possible (pair) of love interests that intrigue me. I really recommend people pick this up as Bentley is a great protagonist who reminds me a bit of my character Jane Doe from the Bright Falls Mysteries. Snarky, fun, and not so much a tomboy as a junior Arya Stark in the making.
9/10
May 29, 2020
I got bent, again, and I liked it!
I forgot just how much I enjoyed the first entry to this series. Bent Outta Shape was just as good, if not better than the original. Again, we find ourselves with Bent and her family/friends as they dive deeper into her hybrid Lycan/witch life and the drama/adventures it brings.
I love Rick's ability to develop a scene in the right amount of detail that allows me to visualize it. The various fights in this audiobook were made that much more enjoyable because of this fact.
As with the last entry, Rachel did a fantastic job with the narration. I've really got to look more into other books she has narrated.
Another easy 5/5 from Mr. Gualtieri.
I forgot just how much I enjoyed the first entry to this series. Bent Outta Shape was just as good, if not better than the original. Again, we find ourselves with Bent and her family/friends as they dive deeper into her hybrid Lycan/witch life and the drama/adventures it brings.
I love Rick's ability to develop a scene in the right amount of detail that allows me to visualize it. The various fights in this audiobook were made that much more enjoyable because of this fact.
As with the last entry, Rachel did a fantastic job with the narration. I've really got to look more into other books she has narrated.
Another easy 5/5 from Mr. Gualtieri.
April 1, 2021
Bent Outta Shape, book 2 of the Hybrid of High Moon, is a book I picked up through Kindle Unlimited. Bent is such a great character and the writer has done an exceptional job of making her a strong, well-developed female character in this action-packed series. This author is one of the few male authors with a gift for writing female protagonists and exploring various relationships between all the characters.
July 4, 2023
Still a good and fun read but I’m starting to wonder if our MC might be a bit dense. Perhaps she’s taken one too many hits to the head, but her stupidity is concerning.
Alas, I’ll forgive this and try to look at her as more of a bruiser. A brute. She’s the muscle, not the brains. If I continue with this mindset it will be less annoying to read her perspective. (Since people in the book literally spell things out for her all the time and she either ignores it or it goes over her head lol)
Alas, I’ll forgive this and try to look at her as more of a bruiser. A brute. She’s the muscle, not the brains. If I continue with this mindset it will be less annoying to read her perspective. (Since people in the book literally spell things out for her all the time and she either ignores it or it goes over her head lol)
December 12, 2023
This book lost my interest. I was looking for improvement in the relationships between the various factions - for unifying and growing together over a bumpy path, but an improving one. This is not that. There's a lot of violence, backstabbing, and ever-more-horrible circumstances happening to the heroine in the series. I read the synopses of the next couple books and bailed on this story at chapter 31. It has a lot of tense thriller-esque energy that I hate. I avoid thrillers for a reason.
August 27, 2020
Cool sequel
I liked it more than enough to reccomand it.
What I liked less than the first book would be a spoiler.
Still, Rick is improving, I wonder if writting with awards winning author R.E. Carr is rubing off on him.
I liked it more than enough to reccomand it.
What I liked less than the first book would be a spoiler.
Still, Rick is improving, I wonder if writting with awards winning author R.E. Carr is rubing off on him.
October 16, 2025
I love these books!
This do reflects our current political climate!
Racism? Speciesism? Prejudice?
On the eve of Christmas Bent’s world goes to crap. But her allies, though few, are solid.
This do reflects our current political climate!
Racism? Speciesism? Prejudice?
On the eve of Christmas Bent’s world goes to crap. But her allies, though few, are solid.
October 31, 2025
good read
Tamara is quite the beast when needed. I was just as angry at what her parents did to her as she was. Yet still family dynamics good, especially the development of her relationship with her brother
Tamara is quite the beast when needed. I was just as angry at what her parents did to her as she was. Yet still family dynamics good, especially the development of her relationship with her brother
March 16, 2019
Mind bending
Another great book in the Bent series. I can't wait to see the next release of this series. I hope it's sooooon.
Another great book in the Bent series. I can't wait to see the next release of this series. I hope it's sooooon.
April 16, 2019
Fun book to read.
I chose the 5 🌟 rating because the book starts off hitting the ground running. The family dynamic is great, and I cannot wait until the next one is out.
I chose the 5 🌟 rating because the book starts off hitting the ground running. The family dynamic is great, and I cannot wait until the next one is out.
June 24, 2019
Great writing!
January 8, 2020
Got a little bogged down with reading for school, but was finally able to finish this and I loved it. Ran right out and bought the next one.
July 20, 2022
Good reading. Good fun Good Gualtierl
I’m just going to say - if you like a great story with intrigue and fun - read this series.
I’m just going to say - if you like a great story with intrigue and fun - read this series.
October 15, 2023
I enjoyed reading it very much, lots of action. Looking forward to reading the next one hope its as well written.
September 2, 2024
I felt this one started out a bit slow, but really picked up later. I was not going to head to book 3, but will give it a chance.
Read
April 2, 2023Too YA
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews