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She-Wolf
Seventeen-year-old Deborah Sokolov’s life has suddenly turned dark. Her grandparents, the people she loved and who raised her, have been savagely murdered. She knows that the man who confessed to the killings is lying, his lies bought and paid for. She drops out of school, taking drugs and alcohol to cover up her pain. Passed out on the street, she’s rescued by a man who helps her become She-Wolf. Deborah’s life is in escalating danger as she gets closer to finding her grandparents’ killer. “A she-wolf doesn’t run,” Deborah thinks, “she hunts.”
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 29, 2022
Seventeen-year-old Deborah Sokolov had been living with her grandparents since the death of her parents. When they are killed, Deborah spirals into depression and self-doubt. She realizes that the man who confessed to their murder is not guilty and sets out to find out who the real killer might be. Her grandfather had been involved with the Ukrainian mob, so that is where Deborah's investigation must start. Danger and death follow Deborah and even shadows her surviving brother and his girlfriend who have been trying to help Deborah move past her pain.
She-Wolf is an interesting character study of a woman who has suffered so much loss that some wild hidden part of her is unleashed. We meet several other characters as the story unfolds, but very little of their personalities are revealed. The writing draws the reader into the action and violence that keep the story moving until the final showdown when we find out who the villain really is. In reality, it is clear that nobody in Deborah's world is innocent. There are subtle hints at what might happen to Deborah after the end of the story, but it is mostly left to the speculation of the reader. She-Wolf is classified as YA but with the pervasive violence and drug use, would fit better into the New Adult category. Overall, She-Wolf is is an engrossing read that would have been much better if there had been more to the story.
3 1/2 stars.
She-Wolf is an interesting character study of a woman who has suffered so much loss that some wild hidden part of her is unleashed. We meet several other characters as the story unfolds, but very little of their personalities are revealed. The writing draws the reader into the action and violence that keep the story moving until the final showdown when we find out who the villain really is. In reality, it is clear that nobody in Deborah's world is innocent. There are subtle hints at what might happen to Deborah after the end of the story, but it is mostly left to the speculation of the reader. She-Wolf is classified as YA but with the pervasive violence and drug use, would fit better into the New Adult category. Overall, She-Wolf is is an engrossing read that would have been much better if there had been more to the story.
3 1/2 stars.
February 17, 2022
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
SHE-WOLF: SHE DOESN'T HIDE. SHE HUNTS. by Francis Moss is a Young Adult action and adventure novel and a survival story told in close first person, past tense POV. It opens in present day where we are transported with seventeen-year-old Deborah Sokolov in the trunk of her grandpa’s car to the Boardwalk in Brooklyn, NY. We learn she is an infamous killer kidnapped by two mob guys speaking a blend of English, Ukrainian and Russian, which Deborah distinguishes as she tries to prove it is not her day to die. Chapter two transports us back in time so we move forward through the penultimate chapter until we returned to present day for the conclusion.
A car accident orphaned Deborah at age two, so she and her brother, Ethan, then aged six, were raised by their grandparents, Viktor and Nadiya, in Brighton Beach or as they knew it, Malen’ka Odesa or Little Odessa. Omnipresent Ukrainian and Russian language adds texture as do cultural influences woven throughout the story, including Ukranian and Russian holidays, the Julian calendar, the Eastern Orthodox Church, foods and customs. We learn that Deborah’s grandpa Viktor is not a mobster but a mobster’s bookkeeper, a distinction that seems important to her, but another distinction--that Deborah and her family are Ukrainian and not Russian as are their many oppressors--is a vibrant echo of today's headlines. Deborah recognizes and enjoys a protected status because of Grandpa’s mob bookkeeper job--a negative yet elevated station in life.
I was drawn to Deborah, or Deb as she's known to some. Her spirit in high school is confident, comfortable and even comedic at times. We see deep into her mind one heart as she pushes her well-meaning yet misogynistic grandpa. She enjoys a solid relationship with her grandparents, especially as her grandfather taught her to shoot--a skill she will use later. The narrator is trustworthy. We always know where Deborah stands, even when she is confused. One of her most interesting personality traits is to notice her multiple selfs or personas, and her related insights, as she processes the many traumas hurled at her.
The prose often exposes minimal yet revelatory detail to capture not only what a character is experiencing but how they feel about it, like when Deborah notices, for the first time, age spots, wrinkled skin, and blue veins on her ailing grandpa’s hand. Other typical YA transitions from youth to adult make frequent visits, such as Deborah’s perception of others seeing her as a child when she feels grown up. This short novel weighs in at 208 pages or about 52,000 words but makes up for that brevity with an eye-popping 63 named characters.
(Spoiler Alert) For a cover labeled "action and adventure," SHE-WOLF was slow to action. Moreover, early action occurred with Deborah as a witness, having no agency or effect on the outcome. The catalyst to her change was a compelling, worthy launch for Deborah. However, her transition from victim to she-wolf happened about halfway through the book--too late for my taste. Yet she must have felt it was early as she screamed that she was not the she-wolf immediately before morphing into the she-wolf. I wanted her to take charge, but instead, after she transformed, she took drugs and numbed, stifling her progress. Her motivation and wants became confused and less clear. In a surprisingly strong supporting role, Becky, her brother's girlfriend, pushed Deborah towards new goals and change with only apathy from Deborah. Becky and Deborah even agreed that Becky was the warrior and that Deborah was not. One surprising plot twist had Deborah abandon her investigation and revenge trajectory to take up another case from a sort-of boyfriend she hadn’t seen since middle school where she risked her life and nearly lost it. The back third of the book had enough action for an entire novel, but I would have enjoyed slowing down and spending more time on some of those details and scenarios that could have provided a bigger payoff for the narrative. And then on page 169, a little more than 80% through the book, Deborah finally accepts her calling as the she-wolf.
The ending was strong, and the last forty pages were true page-turners. For me, the ending held only one surprise since, from notes I made on page 31 and 36, I pegged the mystery killer, who seemed too obvious early on, and who was revealed with a meant-to-be-surprising and twisting flourish on page 203. The only surprise came in Deborah's misperceptions of who was evil and who was not. She got it wrong, which I didn't like since she was willing to assume a decade's long family friend was evil. After the final action, we literally got three words of what happened next. I wanted one more chapter answering some of the open questions and sharpening our understanding of how life continued for some of the main characters.
But you should read about this vovchytsya, the she-wolf and decide what you think.
SHE-WOLF: SHE DOESN'T HIDE. SHE HUNTS. by Francis Moss is a Young Adult action and adventure novel and a survival story told in close first person, past tense POV. It opens in present day where we are transported with seventeen-year-old Deborah Sokolov in the trunk of her grandpa’s car to the Boardwalk in Brooklyn, NY. We learn she is an infamous killer kidnapped by two mob guys speaking a blend of English, Ukrainian and Russian, which Deborah distinguishes as she tries to prove it is not her day to die. Chapter two transports us back in time so we move forward through the penultimate chapter until we returned to present day for the conclusion.
A car accident orphaned Deborah at age two, so she and her brother, Ethan, then aged six, were raised by their grandparents, Viktor and Nadiya, in Brighton Beach or as they knew it, Malen’ka Odesa or Little Odessa. Omnipresent Ukrainian and Russian language adds texture as do cultural influences woven throughout the story, including Ukranian and Russian holidays, the Julian calendar, the Eastern Orthodox Church, foods and customs. We learn that Deborah’s grandpa Viktor is not a mobster but a mobster’s bookkeeper, a distinction that seems important to her, but another distinction--that Deborah and her family are Ukrainian and not Russian as are their many oppressors--is a vibrant echo of today's headlines. Deborah recognizes and enjoys a protected status because of Grandpa’s mob bookkeeper job--a negative yet elevated station in life.
I was drawn to Deborah, or Deb as she's known to some. Her spirit in high school is confident, comfortable and even comedic at times. We see deep into her mind one heart as she pushes her well-meaning yet misogynistic grandpa. She enjoys a solid relationship with her grandparents, especially as her grandfather taught her to shoot--a skill she will use later. The narrator is trustworthy. We always know where Deborah stands, even when she is confused. One of her most interesting personality traits is to notice her multiple selfs or personas, and her related insights, as she processes the many traumas hurled at her.
The prose often exposes minimal yet revelatory detail to capture not only what a character is experiencing but how they feel about it, like when Deborah notices, for the first time, age spots, wrinkled skin, and blue veins on her ailing grandpa’s hand. Other typical YA transitions from youth to adult make frequent visits, such as Deborah’s perception of others seeing her as a child when she feels grown up. This short novel weighs in at 208 pages or about 52,000 words but makes up for that brevity with an eye-popping 63 named characters.
(Spoiler Alert) For a cover labeled "action and adventure," SHE-WOLF was slow to action. Moreover, early action occurred with Deborah as a witness, having no agency or effect on the outcome. The catalyst to her change was a compelling, worthy launch for Deborah. However, her transition from victim to she-wolf happened about halfway through the book--too late for my taste. Yet she must have felt it was early as she screamed that she was not the she-wolf immediately before morphing into the she-wolf. I wanted her to take charge, but instead, after she transformed, she took drugs and numbed, stifling her progress. Her motivation and wants became confused and less clear. In a surprisingly strong supporting role, Becky, her brother's girlfriend, pushed Deborah towards new goals and change with only apathy from Deborah. Becky and Deborah even agreed that Becky was the warrior and that Deborah was not. One surprising plot twist had Deborah abandon her investigation and revenge trajectory to take up another case from a sort-of boyfriend she hadn’t seen since middle school where she risked her life and nearly lost it. The back third of the book had enough action for an entire novel, but I would have enjoyed slowing down and spending more time on some of those details and scenarios that could have provided a bigger payoff for the narrative. And then on page 169, a little more than 80% through the book, Deborah finally accepts her calling as the she-wolf.
The ending was strong, and the last forty pages were true page-turners. For me, the ending held only one surprise since, from notes I made on page 31 and 36, I pegged the mystery killer, who seemed too obvious early on, and who was revealed with a meant-to-be-surprising and twisting flourish on page 203. The only surprise came in Deborah's misperceptions of who was evil and who was not. She got it wrong, which I didn't like since she was willing to assume a decade's long family friend was evil. After the final action, we literally got three words of what happened next. I wanted one more chapter answering some of the open questions and sharpening our understanding of how life continued for some of the main characters.
But you should read about this vovchytsya, the she-wolf and decide what you think.
May 29, 2022
While I felt it was a little slow to get started, once it did, this fast paced & action packed thriller hooked me in! The author did such a tremendous job with the main character , Deborah! A spunky, curious and fiery young girl, who had already faced and lost so much in her young life, when more tragedy hits, and she has lost everyone but her brother, she has to grow up, fast, and has only one thing on her mind, revenge! family and loyalty had always been of great importance in her life , and someone had wronged her family , killed her grandparents, and the person claiming he had been the one whom committed the murders, Deborah knew was not truly the killer! She had to get revenge , but first she needed answers! . She has to do her own investigating , because no one is taking her suspicions seriously , acting as if she doesn’t know what she’s talking about , an Every step closer she faces road blocks, people standing in her way, disregarding her, putting herself in danger; causing her to fall into a depression, using drugs just to make the pain and everything go away, basically giving up ! But this is a girl of strong will and determination, she’s not going to succumb to her sadness an grief, she gets back up an on her game and gets back to her hunt! This time, nothing will stand in her way!
Great attention to detail all through out the book, as if you are right there, can see what Deborah is seeing, feel what she is feeling. The last few chapters are true page turners, to the point I would tell myself, only one more chapter then bed, but I couldn’t close it, I had to finish. To see if my prediction was right. And while I had a good idea who it was the she wolf was hunting, the ending is one with a twist and quite a shock, but a good shock! Deborah had it wrong 😱
I was definitely hoping for another chapter. Now I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel! I would love to see what happens after the fact, when everyone finally finds out the truth, where Deborah goes from here.
If you’re one for mystery, suspense, action and thriller, give this one a read!!
Great attention to detail all through out the book, as if you are right there, can see what Deborah is seeing, feel what she is feeling. The last few chapters are true page turners, to the point I would tell myself, only one more chapter then bed, but I couldn’t close it, I had to finish. To see if my prediction was right. And while I had a good idea who it was the she wolf was hunting, the ending is one with a twist and quite a shock, but a good shock! Deborah had it wrong 😱
I was definitely hoping for another chapter. Now I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel! I would love to see what happens after the fact, when everyone finally finds out the truth, where Deborah goes from here.
If you’re one for mystery, suspense, action and thriller, give this one a read!!
April 21, 2022
Deborah already lost her parents and had lived most her life with her grandparents and her brother. Her grandfather worked as a bookkeeper for the Ukranian mob, and he found discrepancies in the records. Almost overnight Deborah lost her grandparents in a fire at their home and a man turned himself in to the police as the killer. She turned to drugs to forget but unanswered questions persisted, and she knew her grandparents had been killed by a family member or the Russian mob. Clues continued to appear as she talked to people and slowly, she honed her skills in weaponry, fighting and running. She turned into the She-Wolf her grandfather had started calling her. She even found the original records as well as practiced with her grandfather's gun. And then she hunted for the unknown person who ordered the hit.
A fantastic and suitable read from YA to adult readers, this action-packed hunt for the truth keeps one anxious to keep running beside the She-Wolf to gather the facts and, hopefully, live long enough to exact revenge as the hunter pursues her prey. One evolves from childhood to adult with the heroine, living each passing day and every encounter as the truth is slowly brought to light.
A fantastic and suitable read from YA to adult readers, this action-packed hunt for the truth keeps one anxious to keep running beside the She-Wolf to gather the facts and, hopefully, live long enough to exact revenge as the hunter pursues her prey. One evolves from childhood to adult with the heroine, living each passing day and every encounter as the truth is slowly brought to light.
May 25, 2022
Thank you to Katrina @Goodreads and the publisher, Encelia Press, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I went into reading this blind, only knew it was a thriller. TBH based on the title, I might not have otherwise read it which goes to show do not judge a book by the title. The title has meaning and you need to read the book to get it.
This was a fast-paced mystery thriller that is fit to be enjoyed by readers YA and up. Finally a lead female who is strong, smart, and just so dang likable you are rooting her on. Here’s a strong-willed girl, raised by her beloved grandparents, who are then murdered and she’s left in the aftermath trying to find her path in life while dealing with the grief of such a heart wrenching loss. She has a thirst for revenge, fights her way both mentally and physically, and goes on a hunt for the truth. Add in a Russian gang and you will find this a wild ride.
This was a fast-paced mystery thriller that is fit to be enjoyed by readers YA and up. Finally a lead female who is strong, smart, and just so dang likable you are rooting her on. Here’s a strong-willed girl, raised by her beloved grandparents, who are then murdered and she’s left in the aftermath trying to find her path in life while dealing with the grief of such a heart wrenching loss. She has a thirst for revenge, fights her way both mentally and physically, and goes on a hunt for the truth. Add in a Russian gang and you will find this a wild ride.
February 7, 2022
Although I enjoyed the story line – teenage girl’s grandparents (guardians) were murdered and her quest for revenge. It is a fast paced thriller with a lot going on as Deborah deals with the pain of loss, the hunger for revenge and the importance of family. The She-Wolf in the title is the woman she becomes as the rage inside her comes out. What I didn’t care for was the narrative. Although written in the first person from Deborah’s point of view, it seemed off to me. I think some of the narrative could be trimmed. The story ends abruptly giving the reader to make their own conclusion as to what happens next.
July 13, 2022
Total transparency, I was sent this book to review, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. I rate She-Wolf 4 out of 5 stars!
Deborah is a young Ukrainian girl who was brought up by her grandparents. When her grandparents are murdered, and an impossible suspect confesses, she know it is not really the killer. Deborah becomes hardened with grief, and turns to vices to drown her sorrows. She eventually harnesses that grief, to become all she is destined to be; a she-wolf. She no longer hides, she hunts.
I have never read a book quite like this, but it was extremely captivating and well written. Anyone who is a fan of thrillers should give this book a read.
Deborah is a young Ukrainian girl who was brought up by her grandparents. When her grandparents are murdered, and an impossible suspect confesses, she know it is not really the killer. Deborah becomes hardened with grief, and turns to vices to drown her sorrows. She eventually harnesses that grief, to become all she is destined to be; a she-wolf. She no longer hides, she hunts.
I have never read a book quite like this, but it was extremely captivating and well written. Anyone who is a fan of thrillers should give this book a read.
April 5, 2022
She-Wolf is an action packed story about a young girl, Deborah, who is seeking revenge for the murder of her beloved grandparents, who have raised her since her parents death when she was a mere child. Described as a YA adventure, She-Wolf is a fast paced, singular point of view thriller that moves smoothly from present to past and back again. Violent and graphic at times, but integral to the telling of the story. Many twists and turns, intriguing characters, and a solid ending. Great weekend read.
July 2, 2022
I wish I could give it 3.5 stars but the characters were too under developed for 4 stars (in my opinion).
I enjoyed the storyline and the pace of the book. It was a quick and easy read with little fluff. That said, I think the characters were a little under developed and I was missing some of the “feeling” I would have liked to see. I also feel like the book stopped a little short and needed a chapter or two more to tie up loose ends and truly feel complete. Overall, I did enjoy it for a quick easy read and it was engaging enough to finish in one sitting.
I enjoyed the storyline and the pace of the book. It was a quick and easy read with little fluff. That said, I think the characters were a little under developed and I was missing some of the “feeling” I would have liked to see. I also feel like the book stopped a little short and needed a chapter or two more to tie up loose ends and truly feel complete. Overall, I did enjoy it for a quick easy read and it was engaging enough to finish in one sitting.
August 5, 2022
This book was sent to me to be read and be reviewed. I truly enjoyed this book so much and honestly didn’t expect to. The protagonist, Deborah, lost her parents and was being raised by her grandparents who then get murdered. She grows determined to seek unanswered questions and begins seeking revenge for their death. A fast paced read with twists. Don’t judge a book by its cover/title definitely applies to this one. Only thing I wish was that where was an epilogue since I had a few unanswered questions in mind.
September 2, 2022
She-Wolf was an entertaining book. It was not surprising or especially clever, but I do enjoy a good revenge story.
The main character was written well, and I was intrigued by the way the author articulated grief. The story was fine, but disjointing because it felt pretty young adult, and then it would suddenly become very adult. That being said, if it was a nod towards the reality of how life can be for a young adult, then well done.
The main character was written well, and I was intrigued by the way the author articulated grief. The story was fine, but disjointing because it felt pretty young adult, and then it would suddenly become very adult. That being said, if it was a nod towards the reality of how life can be for a young adult, then well done.
April 10, 2022
There is nothing better then when a story can make you feel for the main character. Francis made me feel for this girl. I wanted to hug her, help her, and I wanted to see her get her revenge. This is a book you won't be able to put down. This girl wasn't made to be weak little girl.. she is a she-wolf!!
I absolutely recommend everyone read this book. You won't regret it!!
I absolutely recommend everyone read this book. You won't regret it!!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews