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Lost Dogs #5
Silver Skin
“Why do the weirdos always sit next to me?”
Roy van Waldenberger just wants to go home. The love of his life has come back from the dead, and she needs him. He's in a hurry, he's on the wrong train, and he's got no interest in company.
When a strange young woman takes the seat opposite his and starts asking questions, he's less than thrilled.
Especially as the young woman is covered in blood after taking on the gang of therianthropes that tried to capture him, and that he wasn't able to handle on his own.
On top of that, she's some kind of journalist, and she's decided to be his sidekick.
Not gonna happen.
Only, she really did help him out when he was attacked, and she knows it.
He owes her.
When the chance comes to get rid of Alene for good, Roy's first instinct is to go for it.
He did tell her he didn't want anything to do with her.
He did tell her he wouldn't wait.
He told her.
But weirdos are people too...
Roy van Waldenberger just wants to go home. The love of his life has come back from the dead, and she needs him. He's in a hurry, he's on the wrong train, and he's got no interest in company.
When a strange young woman takes the seat opposite his and starts asking questions, he's less than thrilled.
Especially as the young woman is covered in blood after taking on the gang of therianthropes that tried to capture him, and that he wasn't able to handle on his own.
On top of that, she's some kind of journalist, and she's decided to be his sidekick.
Not gonna happen.
Only, she really did help him out when he was attacked, and she knows it.
He owes her.
When the chance comes to get rid of Alene for good, Roy's first instinct is to go for it.
He did tell her he didn't want anything to do with her.
He did tell her he wouldn't wait.
He told her.
But weirdos are people too...
- GenresFantasy
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2019
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 23, 2020
It's been a while since I visited the Lost Dogs world and it felt like slipping back into an old familiar pair of slippers.
The first four books of the series set up the storylines for ex-pit fighter Roy van Waldenberger and wannabe-journalist Alene Moneya, and now book five, Silver Skin, blends their tales like a seamless zipper. (The book title didn't become clear until late in the read, and the realization was sobering.) I enjoyed Roy's well-paced character arc here as he goes from resenting Alene's presence and assistance, to grudgingly accepting her, to actively helping when she gets in trouble.
I always thirst for more world-building in this series. It seems like a wonderful backdrop with a shiny, technological veneer overlaying large swaths of decay and poverty. Didn't get to see quite as much of it in this time but the flavor is there, and consistent with previous volumes.
The only nitpick I had was a handful of repeated phrases in the narrative. Because the Lost Dogs are easy to consume in a single sitting, those phrases stood out in my mind. But it didn't detract from my enjoyment. This has been my favorite of the series thus far.
I'd recommend this--and the whole series, really--to someone interested in shifter-style UF (without the romance angles), and anyone looking for short, quick reads.
The first four books of the series set up the storylines for ex-pit fighter Roy van Waldenberger and wannabe-journalist Alene Moneya, and now book five, Silver Skin, blends their tales like a seamless zipper. (The book title didn't become clear until late in the read, and the realization was sobering.) I enjoyed Roy's well-paced character arc here as he goes from resenting Alene's presence and assistance, to grudgingly accepting her, to actively helping when she gets in trouble.
I always thirst for more world-building in this series. It seems like a wonderful backdrop with a shiny, technological veneer overlaying large swaths of decay and poverty. Didn't get to see quite as much of it in this time but the flavor is there, and consistent with previous volumes.
The only nitpick I had was a handful of repeated phrases in the narrative. Because the Lost Dogs are easy to consume in a single sitting, those phrases stood out in my mind. But it didn't detract from my enjoyment. This has been my favorite of the series thus far.
I'd recommend this--and the whole series, really--to someone interested in shifter-style UF (without the romance angles), and anyone looking for short, quick reads.
January 24, 2022
'Two wanderers lost in the night. Side by side. The old wolf. The fledgeling monster. Broken and scarred. Within and without.'
Another fabulous instalment of this series, and this time around we get to see Roy and Alene together.
Of course Roy wants nothing to do with the blood soaked weirdo who had saved his life and now wants to tag along on his journey. But the truth is that he owes her.
And weirdos are people too...
I may have found myself shaking my head at Roy, alongside Alene. And I may have even had the urge to deck him.
Because what he did was despicable and as far as it can get from the 'Honest Man' he considered himself to be.
But then I loved his character growth during this part of the journey, in particular the way he learned from his wolf. The man-beast interaction is one of the highlights of this series but in this particular instalment it practically sang to me. Beautifully done.
Alene continues to be my favourite. A fabulous mix of strength and vulnerability, she is one of those characters I can't help but love. And the shit she goes through.... Heartbreaking! And downright bone-chilling at one time.
'Blood on his hands. Blood on her lips. Killers. Fighters. Murderers. Monsters. Alone in the night, and side by side. Lost. Running for a past long gone. Searching for a future not undone. Clinging to hope. Chasing a dream. Alone. Going home.'
Written in a beautiful prose, almost lyrical at times, even during downright gruesome scenes, Silver Skin is, just like it's predecessors, a damn fine read that's practically addictive.
Another fabulous instalment of this series, and this time around we get to see Roy and Alene together.
Of course Roy wants nothing to do with the blood soaked weirdo who had saved his life and now wants to tag along on his journey. But the truth is that he owes her.
And weirdos are people too...
I may have found myself shaking my head at Roy, alongside Alene. And I may have even had the urge to deck him.
Because what he did was despicable and as far as it can get from the 'Honest Man' he considered himself to be.
But then I loved his character growth during this part of the journey, in particular the way he learned from his wolf. The man-beast interaction is one of the highlights of this series but in this particular instalment it practically sang to me. Beautifully done.
Alene continues to be my favourite. A fabulous mix of strength and vulnerability, she is one of those characters I can't help but love. And the shit she goes through.... Heartbreaking! And downright bone-chilling at one time.
'Blood on his hands. Blood on her lips. Killers. Fighters. Murderers. Monsters. Alone in the night, and side by side. Lost. Running for a past long gone. Searching for a future not undone. Clinging to hope. Chasing a dream. Alone. Going home.'
Written in a beautiful prose, almost lyrical at times, even during downright gruesome scenes, Silver Skin is, just like it's predecessors, a damn fine read that's practically addictive.
February 17, 2023
I love coming back to the Lost Dogs-series, because these books are fantastic character-driven stories – or rather character studies – with a really interesting world-building casually hinted at that I would like to see more of. They are also pretty quick reads.
The first four books have introduced the two main characters, Roy van Waldenberger and Alene Moyena, and their respective background. In the last book Lost, Naked, Furious these two characters met at the very end for the first time. Now, in Silver Skin they finally share the stage over a complete book. Narrating voice is Roy van Waldenberger’s, so this time we see Alene through the eyes of another person which gives us a new perspective about her and of course more deep glimpses into Roy’s way of thinking. The main focus of the book is these two characters, both loners, interactinging and getting to know each other. I really enjoyed going through the different stages of their relationship. At the beginning, Roy resents Alena being with him, mainly because she presents some kind of obstacle to his own plans and he simply wants to be left alone. After a while, he grudgingly accepts her and in the end he goes out of his way to help her. Roy’s ‘shared view’ – his own thoughts and the wolf’s thoughts or rather instincts – adds a whole new level to their relationship (and his thoughts in general). This inner dialogue between the human side of the main characters and their inner beasts is outstandingly done in all books so far, I truly love it.
I am really curious how the story is going to continue, but I know I could read this series for a looooooooooong time.
The first four books have introduced the two main characters, Roy van Waldenberger and Alene Moyena, and their respective background. In the last book Lost, Naked, Furious these two characters met at the very end for the first time. Now, in Silver Skin they finally share the stage over a complete book. Narrating voice is Roy van Waldenberger’s, so this time we see Alene through the eyes of another person which gives us a new perspective about her and of course more deep glimpses into Roy’s way of thinking. The main focus of the book is these two characters, both loners, interactinging and getting to know each other. I really enjoyed going through the different stages of their relationship. At the beginning, Roy resents Alena being with him, mainly because she presents some kind of obstacle to his own plans and he simply wants to be left alone. After a while, he grudgingly accepts her and in the end he goes out of his way to help her. Roy’s ‘shared view’ – his own thoughts and the wolf’s thoughts or rather instincts – adds a whole new level to their relationship (and his thoughts in general). This inner dialogue between the human side of the main characters and their inner beasts is outstandingly done in all books so far, I truly love it.
I am really curious how the story is going to continue, but I know I could read this series for a looooooooooong time.
July 31, 2022
Silver Skin contains a long-anticipated moment for me: Alena and Roy, the two very different and very wonderful protagonists of this series, meet at last. This is quite a brief installment of the series (not quite 100 pages), so it's very closely focused on their relationship and how it develops, from resentment to allies to a tentative friendship for these two deeply lonely people, each broekn in their own way. I thought this close focus made a lot of sense for the text, but again, I was wishing for some slightly longer narratives I could sink my teeth into at this point of the story.
July 28, 2021
Another solid instalment here that brings the two lead characters together for the first time. Roy isn't too keen about his unwanted guest, but she did save him from a gang of thugs and so he kind of owes her... maybe. Alene... it's difficult to know exactly what Alene wants. Maybe the story of a lifetime. Maybe the company. Maybe just the escape.
I felt the characterisations here were done brilliantly as Roy battles his irritation and his inner wolf... only to find that sometimes, the wolf might just have the right idea. Alene is a little more difficult to read, particularly as you are seeing her through Roy's eyes, but her strength and her vulnerability on full display here.
I would have liked to see a little more world-building here, as whilst what you get fits well with previous instalments, there isn't really anything new or any additional depth gained here. I'd love to see more exploration of the world in future instalments.
All in all, another great read that was over all too quickly.
I felt the characterisations here were done brilliantly as Roy battles his irritation and his inner wolf... only to find that sometimes, the wolf might just have the right idea. Alene is a little more difficult to read, particularly as you are seeing her through Roy's eyes, but her strength and her vulnerability on full display here.
I would have liked to see a little more world-building here, as whilst what you get fits well with previous instalments, there isn't really anything new or any additional depth gained here. I'd love to see more exploration of the world in future instalments.
All in all, another great read that was over all too quickly.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews