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World of the Jezebel Files #1
Howl at the Moon
Dr. Raisa Montefiore has based her life on science, but at the moment, only three facts are relevant: A) werewolves don’t exist, B) she may have created the one standing in front of her, C) revisit fact A.
She’s a magic scientist with a mission to heal, but when her passion project is twisted to create the world’s first wolf shifter and her entire world comes crashing down, she’s thrown from the lab and onto a path filled with changing—and dangerous—unknowns.
With her life’s research on the line, she’s forced to work with the wolf, an infuriating man who was bossy enough before he went furry. Worse still is their cover story: fake dating. Their deadly pursuers are looking pretty good in comparison.
She’s trusting the Big Bad Wolf to protect her from the perils of the forest, while hoping he’s not the biggest danger of them all. Or that she won't give in to the urge to throw his corpse in a vat of strong acid, leaving no trace of his remains.
Either way, Raisa is redeeming her life’s work and no man—or wolf—is going to stop her.
She’s a magic scientist with a mission to heal, but when her passion project is twisted to create the world’s first wolf shifter and her entire world comes crashing down, she’s thrown from the lab and onto a path filled with changing—and dangerous—unknowns.
With her life’s research on the line, she’s forced to work with the wolf, an infuriating man who was bossy enough before he went furry. Worse still is their cover story: fake dating. Their deadly pursuers are looking pretty good in comparison.
She’s trusting the Big Bad Wolf to protect her from the perils of the forest, while hoping he’s not the biggest danger of them all. Or that she won't give in to the urge to throw his corpse in a vat of strong acid, leaving no trace of his remains.
Either way, Raisa is redeeming her life’s work and no man—or wolf—is going to stop her.
360 pages, ebook
First published February 6, 2023
94 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Wilde
43 books1,063 followersDeborah Wilde is a global wanderer and hopeless romantic. After twelve years as a screenwriter, she was also a total cynic with a broken edit button, so, she jumped ship, started writing funny, sexy, urban fantasy and paranormal women’s fiction books, and never looked back.
She loves writing smart, flawed, wisecracking women who can solve a mystery, kick supernatural butt, banter with hot men, and still make time for their best female friend, because those were the women she grew up around and admired. Granted, her grandmother never had to kill a demon at her weekly friend lunches, but Deborah is pretty sure she could have.
she/her
Smart (ass) heroines. Epic magic. Red-hot romance.
She loves writing smart, flawed, wisecracking women who can solve a mystery, kick supernatural butt, banter with hot men, and still make time for their best female friend, because those were the women she grew up around and admired. Granted, her grandmother never had to kill a demon at her weekly friend lunches, but Deborah is pretty sure she could have.
she/her
Smart (ass) heroines. Epic magic. Red-hot romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 6, 2024
Podobał mi się naukowy wątek tej książki. Główna bohaterka zmieniła gliniarza w wilkołaka, bo podała mu swoje serum, które miało uratować jego życie. Ogólnie polubiłam też bohaterów: przekomarzanie się głównej pary i fragmenty z kuzynem głównej bohaterki i jego narzeczoną, chętnie przeczytam ich trylogię. Wątek romantyczny to jak na razie zdecydowanie slow-burn. Niestety fabuła po jakimś czasie zaczęła mnie męczyć i końcówka mnie rozczarowała, bo zbytnio nie dowiedzieliśmy się nic nowego. Sięgnę po następną część, ale już bez początkowego entuzjazmu.
March 22, 2023
I loved the premise of this book and felt it was raw, relatable, and hard to put down. I liked the main characters, the pacing, and the tropes. This Red Riding Hood retelling, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, shifter romance was intriguing and I loved the representation in it. I haven't read any books by this author so I was a bit confused when it came to the world, but overall this was a solid read.
October 14, 2025
(Je l'écris en lettres minuscules) 😬🤐 J'ai été moins emballée par ce spin-off alors que l'univers est identique à celui découvert dans la série Ashira Cohen (que j'adore). D'ailleurs, cette lecture m'a encore plus donné envie d'y retourner tellement j'avais la nostalgie de ses aventures.
Ici, j'ai beaucoup moins accroché à la dynamique du couple. Gideon et Raisa se chamaillent beaucoup et se comportent comme des gamins. Donnez-moi un Levi Montefiore s'il vous plaît. La comparaison est indiscutable.
Côté intrigue, c'est comme d'habitude - de l'énergie brouillonne et qui s'éparpille... un monde de magie et de mystères... des pactes contre des paroles à prendre avec des pincettes... Mmm, j'avoue, j'ai vraiment été moins captivée. Mais ce n'est que partie remise. 😌
Ici, j'ai beaucoup moins accroché à la dynamique du couple. Gideon et Raisa se chamaillent beaucoup et se comportent comme des gamins. Donnez-moi un Levi Montefiore s'il vous plaît. La comparaison est indiscutable.
Côté intrigue, c'est comme d'habitude - de l'énergie brouillonne et qui s'éparpille... un monde de magie et de mystères... des pactes contre des paroles à prendre avec des pincettes... Mmm, j'avoue, j'ai vraiment été moins captivée. Mais ce n'est que partie remise. 😌
January 21, 2023
Woohoo, we're back in the world in the Jezebel world! And even though we do meet up with Ash and Levi, it's a whole other ballgame now :D
Worldbuilding:
As I've just said, we're back in the Jezebel world, which is pretty much the same world we're living in now, except there are people (Nefesh) that have magic. However, it has a distinct 'new' feel to it, as Raisa runs in a totally different circle of people than Ash and Levi did. So same world, totally different setting, got it!
As we've come to expect from the author, worldbuilding is pretty damn good, the scenes and environments are clear and well-detailed, and it was a pleasure to immerse myself in the story.
Character development:
Our main heroine is Raisa, Levi's cousin, and she's a kickass magic scientist! On the verge of a significant breakthrough in her work to help burn victims, it all comes crashing down when during a police raid, her lab and all her work get destroyed. Except for one sample of her untried formula, which may or may not have caused a certain police inspector to get turned into the first-ever wolf shifter... yeah, not a typical day at the lab, let me tell you that.
For Raisa, getting her life's work back is her number one and only priority. She is very intelligent, and her brain is pretty much going on about things 24/7 (it took me a while to get used to, haha).
Gideon Stern has poured a lot of time and work into the case of the money laundering lab owner, Dr Woodsman. Getting turned into a wolf shifter was not part of his plan, but not even that will come in between his mission to bring Woody to justice. It just got a whole lot more personal.
Having Raisa and Gideon work together was pretty much fire and water, with a hint of steam now and then ;) They feel the other is more in the way than anything else, but when they're forced to work together, it allows them to learn about their partner on another level and bring more insight into why they are... well, as they are.
I could relate to Raisa on many levels; weirdly enough, it gave me some insights into how I live my life and the things I want to change (go Raisa!).
All characters, main or side, old or new, felt real and believable. They were well fleshed out and had enough backstory. Gideon is still a mystery, so I'm looking forward to learning more about him in the following instalments.
Pacing and flow:
Well, the book starts with a bang, I can't argue with that :D
It had a good flow, bearing in mind that this was the first book and the stage needed to be set again.
A few parts here and there that I felt were a bit too slow, but overall, pretty good pacing. Good balance between all the conversation and the action.
The book:
The book itself was well written with no (noticeable) errors.
I can't find how many pages there are in the book, but it has 32 chapters and is told from Raisa's point of view.
Final thoughts:
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, and I'm so happy to be back in this world (even though it feels totally different)! The characters feel exciting and have enough layers, and the story is doing a great job of keeping you in the dark for as long as possible :D Looking forward to the next book!
Worldbuilding:
As I've just said, we're back in the Jezebel world, which is pretty much the same world we're living in now, except there are people (Nefesh) that have magic. However, it has a distinct 'new' feel to it, as Raisa runs in a totally different circle of people than Ash and Levi did. So same world, totally different setting, got it!
As we've come to expect from the author, worldbuilding is pretty damn good, the scenes and environments are clear and well-detailed, and it was a pleasure to immerse myself in the story.
Character development:
Our main heroine is Raisa, Levi's cousin, and she's a kickass magic scientist! On the verge of a significant breakthrough in her work to help burn victims, it all comes crashing down when during a police raid, her lab and all her work get destroyed. Except for one sample of her untried formula, which may or may not have caused a certain police inspector to get turned into the first-ever wolf shifter... yeah, not a typical day at the lab, let me tell you that.
For Raisa, getting her life's work back is her number one and only priority. She is very intelligent, and her brain is pretty much going on about things 24/7 (it took me a while to get used to, haha).
Gideon Stern has poured a lot of time and work into the case of the money laundering lab owner, Dr Woodsman. Getting turned into a wolf shifter was not part of his plan, but not even that will come in between his mission to bring Woody to justice. It just got a whole lot more personal.
Having Raisa and Gideon work together was pretty much fire and water, with a hint of steam now and then ;) They feel the other is more in the way than anything else, but when they're forced to work together, it allows them to learn about their partner on another level and bring more insight into why they are... well, as they are.
I could relate to Raisa on many levels; weirdly enough, it gave me some insights into how I live my life and the things I want to change (go Raisa!).
All characters, main or side, old or new, felt real and believable. They were well fleshed out and had enough backstory. Gideon is still a mystery, so I'm looking forward to learning more about him in the following instalments.
Pacing and flow:
Well, the book starts with a bang, I can't argue with that :D
It had a good flow, bearing in mind that this was the first book and the stage needed to be set again.
A few parts here and there that I felt were a bit too slow, but overall, pretty good pacing. Good balance between all the conversation and the action.
The book:
The book itself was well written with no (noticeable) errors.
I can't find how many pages there are in the book, but it has 32 chapters and is told from Raisa's point of view.
Final thoughts:
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, and I'm so happy to be back in this world (even though it feels totally different)! The characters feel exciting and have enough layers, and the story is doing a great job of keeping you in the dark for as long as possible :D Looking forward to the next book!
Read
July 25, 2024I'm sorry, but what? I'm not even past the first 2% of the book, and I find everything annoying.
We start with her going to the coffee shop. Cool, whatever. Then she starts to describe everything about her beverage choice, the types of magic that exist, and where she works. Once we are at her work, she info-dumps us with information about her colleagues, what they mean to her, and some stories together, which again, I don't care about.
When she finally goes to her lab, it's my last straw. The amount of references to pop culture moments is insane. In just three paragraphs, she mentions about ten pop culture things that she has or has named after, and it's just so annoying that I couldn't continue reading.
I don't know, maybe it was the wrong time for this book, or maybe I just don't vibe with the author's writing. Either way, I don't think I will be reading more of her books.
We start with her going to the coffee shop. Cool, whatever. Then she starts to describe everything about her beverage choice, the types of magic that exist, and where she works. Once we are at her work, she info-dumps us with information about her colleagues, what they mean to her, and some stories together, which again, I don't care about.
When she finally goes to her lab, it's my last straw. The amount of references to pop culture moments is insane. In just three paragraphs, she mentions about ten pop culture things that she has or has named after, and it's just so annoying that I couldn't continue reading.
I don't know, maybe it was the wrong time for this book, or maybe I just don't vibe with the author's writing. Either way, I don't think I will be reading more of her books.
February 5, 2023
I just want to Howl at the Moon cause there are more Jezebel Files!! Deborah Wilde has brought back Jezebel with a new Montefiore! Of course, we get to check on Levi, Ash, and the Queen of Hedon! Filled with all the snark, wit, and mystery that I can’t get enough of. I can’t wait for more!
February 25, 2023
Quite a disappointment..
September 17, 2025
https://my-bo0ks.over-blog.com/2025/0...
Je ne connaissais pas encore la plume de Deborah Wilde, mais j'étais vraiment curieuse de la découvrir. Il faut dire que les mots-clés en quatrième et le résumé avaient de quoi donner envie. Slow-burn, loup-garou et héroine scientifique, je dis oui. A noter que cette série est un spin-off. On y suit la cousine du héros de l'autre série. L'univers est donc le même. Personnellement, je n'avais pas lu l'autre série.
Raisa est une scientifique. Depuis des années, elle mène des recherches et des expériences pour sauver des vies et tout changer. Seulement son projet se retrouve réduit à néant -ou presque- lorsqu'une descente de flics venus tout saisir ET tout le bâtiment dans lequel elle travaillait subit alors une attaque. En plus de ça, son mentor est accusé de blanchiment a disparu. Et comme si cela ne suffisait pas, le lieutenant en charge de l'affaire (qui l'horripile) se retrouve en fâcheuse posture. En voulant le sauver, elle le transforme en loup-garou.
Voilà un premier tome qui nous plonge dans un univers assez complexe mêlant sciences et surnaturel. Il y a un bon potentiel, notamment sur la fin. Et comme vous l'aurez compris, les loups-garous n'existaient pas. Jusqu'à ce que Raisa n'en transforme un avec ses essais et sa propre magie en voulant sauver ce fameux flic. Je l'avoue, j'ai trouvé l'ensemble parfois assez brouillon. Est-ce que cela vient de la plume ? De la traduction ? Ou du fait que je n'ai pas lu l'autre série, je ne saurais pas dire. En tout cas, je n'ai pas tout saisi de ma lecture. En revanche, j'aime assez l'idée d'avoir une héroine scientifique, qui planche depuis des années sur son projet, pour des raisons personnelles. Mais j'attendais plus en termes de profondeur et d'attachement aux personnages.
Côté romance, on est sur un slow-burn. Entre Raisa et notre fameux flic devenu loup-garou, c'est loin d'être la bonne entente. En même temps, se faire transformer du jour au lendemain, n'est pas si aisé. Je misais beaucoup sur la relation entre eux et ça partait plutôt bien avec l'annonce d'un faux couple pour qu'ils mènent l'enquête. Tout de suite je misais sur une tension, un rapprochement et j'en ressors frustrée. Ils n'ont d'un couple, que le fait d'être ensemble et de se balancer des surnoms. En dehors de ça, pas d'alchimie, pas de tension... Résultat je ressors un peu mitigé. Il y avait matière à faire un vrai faux-couple avec des personnages jouant le jeu, ici, Raisa a trop jouer la carte de l'humour n'a pas su me convaincre.
Globalement, ce n'est pas une mauvaise lecture. C'est assez sympa, et il y a le potentiel. Mais je pense que j'aurais voulu quelque chose de plus entrainant, plus dynamique. J'ai senti des longueurs tout au long de ma lecture et ça s'est ressenti sur mon avis global de ce premier tome. Je ne pense pas poursuivre l'aventure malheureusement.
Je ne connaissais pas encore la plume de Deborah Wilde, mais j'étais vraiment curieuse de la découvrir. Il faut dire que les mots-clés en quatrième et le résumé avaient de quoi donner envie. Slow-burn, loup-garou et héroine scientifique, je dis oui. A noter que cette série est un spin-off. On y suit la cousine du héros de l'autre série. L'univers est donc le même. Personnellement, je n'avais pas lu l'autre série.
Raisa est une scientifique. Depuis des années, elle mène des recherches et des expériences pour sauver des vies et tout changer. Seulement son projet se retrouve réduit à néant -ou presque- lorsqu'une descente de flics venus tout saisir ET tout le bâtiment dans lequel elle travaillait subit alors une attaque. En plus de ça, son mentor est accusé de blanchiment a disparu. Et comme si cela ne suffisait pas, le lieutenant en charge de l'affaire (qui l'horripile) se retrouve en fâcheuse posture. En voulant le sauver, elle le transforme en loup-garou.
Voilà un premier tome qui nous plonge dans un univers assez complexe mêlant sciences et surnaturel. Il y a un bon potentiel, notamment sur la fin. Et comme vous l'aurez compris, les loups-garous n'existaient pas. Jusqu'à ce que Raisa n'en transforme un avec ses essais et sa propre magie en voulant sauver ce fameux flic. Je l'avoue, j'ai trouvé l'ensemble parfois assez brouillon. Est-ce que cela vient de la plume ? De la traduction ? Ou du fait que je n'ai pas lu l'autre série, je ne saurais pas dire. En tout cas, je n'ai pas tout saisi de ma lecture. En revanche, j'aime assez l'idée d'avoir une héroine scientifique, qui planche depuis des années sur son projet, pour des raisons personnelles. Mais j'attendais plus en termes de profondeur et d'attachement aux personnages.
Côté romance, on est sur un slow-burn. Entre Raisa et notre fameux flic devenu loup-garou, c'est loin d'être la bonne entente. En même temps, se faire transformer du jour au lendemain, n'est pas si aisé. Je misais beaucoup sur la relation entre eux et ça partait plutôt bien avec l'annonce d'un faux couple pour qu'ils mènent l'enquête. Tout de suite je misais sur une tension, un rapprochement et j'en ressors frustrée. Ils n'ont d'un couple, que le fait d'être ensemble et de se balancer des surnoms. En dehors de ça, pas d'alchimie, pas de tension... Résultat je ressors un peu mitigé. Il y avait matière à faire un vrai faux-couple avec des personnages jouant le jeu, ici, Raisa a trop jouer la carte de l'humour n'a pas su me convaincre.
Globalement, ce n'est pas une mauvaise lecture. C'est assez sympa, et il y a le potentiel. Mais je pense que j'aurais voulu quelque chose de plus entrainant, plus dynamique. J'ai senti des longueurs tout au long de ma lecture et ça s'est ressenti sur mon avis global de ce premier tome. Je ne pense pas poursuivre l'aventure malheureusement.
December 18, 2023
A little disappointing
This is a tricky review to write. I adored the first 4 books with Ash, Levi and the gang, so I was keen to read this. Part of my mistake, I think, was re-reading those immediately before this.
What you get is watered down version of Ash and Levi. Raisa is a very gifted scientist with a strong motive to find a cure for burn victims. That part of her character is well done and researched. She is stubborn, sarcastic and witty and for the most part, shows no fear. I just didn't warm to her like Ash, or Priya for that matter.
Gideon just doesnt jump off the page at all. He's meant to be a "by the book cop", with clear emotional issues but a soft spot for certain types of women. After his accidental transformation to a shifter, the only change is his - albeit justified - anger toward all science. Again, a very much weaker version of Levi but less charisma.
It feels like the author thought of the plot, which is really interesting but then got a little lazy with the characters. While we get to see Ash, Levi, Moran and the queen, it's still misding something. I just don't think the two main characters click. I don't just mean in the romance department because whilst there has been hints, again, it doesn't sit well. The whole relationship seems very forced, in terms of the writing, not the story.
Part of what worked in the other books was the friendship dynamics and we don't get that here. Yes, Raisa has lost family and has a dark family secret, but that was also the case previously. With all the similarities, it is really hard not to over compare them. With such an interesting plot, I expected more. It looks like there is only one other book with Raisa and I think I will read it as I don't like leaving series ( this has resulted in a lot of books being slammed down somewhere 😆)
One thing I would say is that there's clearly a lot happened with Ash and Levi in the time between the stories, so I hope there may be a book for that. That said, if there is a risk that it drops in quality like this one, I fill in the gaps myself....!
This is a tricky review to write. I adored the first 4 books with Ash, Levi and the gang, so I was keen to read this. Part of my mistake, I think, was re-reading those immediately before this.
What you get is watered down version of Ash and Levi. Raisa is a very gifted scientist with a strong motive to find a cure for burn victims. That part of her character is well done and researched. She is stubborn, sarcastic and witty and for the most part, shows no fear. I just didn't warm to her like Ash, or Priya for that matter.
Gideon just doesnt jump off the page at all. He's meant to be a "by the book cop", with clear emotional issues but a soft spot for certain types of women. After his accidental transformation to a shifter, the only change is his - albeit justified - anger toward all science. Again, a very much weaker version of Levi but less charisma.
It feels like the author thought of the plot, which is really interesting but then got a little lazy with the characters. While we get to see Ash, Levi, Moran and the queen, it's still misding something. I just don't think the two main characters click. I don't just mean in the romance department because whilst there has been hints, again, it doesn't sit well. The whole relationship seems very forced, in terms of the writing, not the story.
Part of what worked in the other books was the friendship dynamics and we don't get that here. Yes, Raisa has lost family and has a dark family secret, but that was also the case previously. With all the similarities, it is really hard not to over compare them. With such an interesting plot, I expected more. It looks like there is only one other book with Raisa and I think I will read it as I don't like leaving series ( this has resulted in a lot of books being slammed down somewhere 😆)
One thing I would say is that there's clearly a lot happened with Ash and Levi in the time between the stories, so I hope there may be a book for that. That said, if there is a risk that it drops in quality like this one, I fill in the gaps myself....!
October 21, 2025
Raisa, also called Red, is a scientist working on a serum that can heal severe burns quickly and completely. When she injects her untested formula into a police officer named Gabriel to save his life after a fire, he transforms into a werewolf before her eyes. As the two of them search for whoever tampered with the serum, they have to overcome their differences and work together.
There are two things to know about this book (only concerning the German edition):
The subtitle “Red and the Wolf” may sound like a Little Red Riding Hood retelling, but it isn’t.
And although the cover suggests it’s the first in a new series, it’s actually the fifth instalment of Deborah Wilde’s Jezebel series. If, like me, you haven’t read the previous books, you’ll
find yourself thrown into a world full of unexplained oddities and references. I never really managed to find my footing.
The story is told in Raisa’s snarky, informal voice. From their very first encounter, Raisa and Gabriel are constantly bickering — and while they do grow somewhat closer, there’s never a real sense of trust or connection between them. Their exchanges are probably meant to be witty and sparkling, but I often found them forced and over the top. Some of the cultural references went right over my head — maybe because I’m too old, maybe because they got lost in translation.
I couldn’t connect with the main characters; their behaviour felt erratic and inconsistent, and the investigation itself didn’t hold my interest. The most likeable figures for me were Ash and Levi, the protagonists of the earlier books, who only appear in supporting roles here.
Perhaps the author will build more on Raisa’s backstory in the next volume — there’s certainly potential. But for me, this one didn’t work: Wilde’s style isn’t my cup of tea, and I’m not a fan of over-the-top “tough girl” heroines.
Conclusion: A story with an intriguing premise that fails to deliver due to exaggerated dialogue and a lack of emotional depth. Fans of the Jezebel series may get more out of it, but
it’s not the best entry point for newcomers.
There are two things to know about this book (only concerning the German edition):
The subtitle “Red and the Wolf” may sound like a Little Red Riding Hood retelling, but it isn’t.
And although the cover suggests it’s the first in a new series, it’s actually the fifth instalment of Deborah Wilde’s Jezebel series. If, like me, you haven’t read the previous books, you’ll
find yourself thrown into a world full of unexplained oddities and references. I never really managed to find my footing.
The story is told in Raisa’s snarky, informal voice. From their very first encounter, Raisa and Gabriel are constantly bickering — and while they do grow somewhat closer, there’s never a real sense of trust or connection between them. Their exchanges are probably meant to be witty and sparkling, but I often found them forced and over the top. Some of the cultural references went right over my head — maybe because I’m too old, maybe because they got lost in translation.
I couldn’t connect with the main characters; their behaviour felt erratic and inconsistent, and the investigation itself didn’t hold my interest. The most likeable figures for me were Ash and Levi, the protagonists of the earlier books, who only appear in supporting roles here.
Perhaps the author will build more on Raisa’s backstory in the next volume — there’s certainly potential. But for me, this one didn’t work: Wilde’s style isn’t my cup of tea, and I’m not a fan of over-the-top “tough girl” heroines.
Conclusion: A story with an intriguing premise that fails to deliver due to exaggerated dialogue and a lack of emotional depth. Fans of the Jezebel series may get more out of it, but
it’s not the best entry point for newcomers.
July 30, 2025
Observation n°1 : Les loups-garous n’existent pas.
Observation n°2 : Il se pourrait que notre héroïne en ait accidentellement créé un.
Observation n°3 : Oups ?
Je suis un peu partagée sur cette lecture.
Dès les premières pages, on est assailli par un foisonnement d’informations. Pour les lecteurs qui, comme moi, découvrent cet univers sans avoir lu la série précédente, l’immersion est difficile.
Certains développements sont tellement rapides que j’ai dû revenir plusieurs fois en arrière, de peur d’avoir sauté un élément essentiel. Cela donne l'impression que l'intrigue est précipitée, et dépend d’un contexte préexistant que le récit ne prend pas le temps de rappeler. Là encore, les "nouveaux" lecteurs risquent de se sentir exclus, ce qui est frustrant.
Heureusement, le récit a d'autres points forts.
Raisa, l’héroïne, est une vraie réussite : une héroïne comme on les aime.
Malheureusement, les autres personnages sont très peu développés. Gideon, par exemple, est réduit au rôle du flic rigide. OK, mais quoi d'autre ?
J’ai également apprécié la manière dont l’autrice marie science et magie, les rendant complémentaires.
Ce qui m’a dérangée en revanche, c’est la traduction.
L’humour cinglant de Raisa, très ancré dans des références anglo-saxonnes, perd de son mordant en français. Les échanges de piques entre les deux héros tombent souvent à plat ce qui affaiblit la tension que l'on attend d’un vrai "slow burn".
Une traduction plus libre, mieux adaptée à la culture francophone, aurait mieux restitué le ton de l’original. Ce n’est pas pour dire que la VO (que j'ai feuilletée par curiosité) est un chef-d’œuvre, mais elle passe mieux, justement parce qu’elle colle à son propre registre.
Enfin, la fin abrupte laisse une impression d’inachevé. On ne peut même pas parler de cliffhanger, il n'y a rien à quoi s’accrocher.
Quant à la "réécriture" du Petit Chaperon rouge, il faut vraiment faire un effort d’imagination pour en retrouver les traces.
TL;DR : Bien, mais pas top.
Je lirai la suite… mais en VO.
Observation n°2 : Il se pourrait que notre héroïne en ait accidentellement créé un.
Observation n°3 : Oups ?
Je suis un peu partagée sur cette lecture.
Dès les premières pages, on est assailli par un foisonnement d’informations. Pour les lecteurs qui, comme moi, découvrent cet univers sans avoir lu la série précédente, l’immersion est difficile.
Certains développements sont tellement rapides que j’ai dû revenir plusieurs fois en arrière, de peur d’avoir sauté un élément essentiel. Cela donne l'impression que l'intrigue est précipitée, et dépend d’un contexte préexistant que le récit ne prend pas le temps de rappeler. Là encore, les "nouveaux" lecteurs risquent de se sentir exclus, ce qui est frustrant.
Heureusement, le récit a d'autres points forts.
Raisa, l’héroïne, est une vraie réussite : une héroïne comme on les aime.
Malheureusement, les autres personnages sont très peu développés. Gideon, par exemple, est réduit au rôle du flic rigide. OK, mais quoi d'autre ?
J’ai également apprécié la manière dont l’autrice marie science et magie, les rendant complémentaires.
Ce qui m’a dérangée en revanche, c’est la traduction.
L’humour cinglant de Raisa, très ancré dans des références anglo-saxonnes, perd de son mordant en français. Les échanges de piques entre les deux héros tombent souvent à plat ce qui affaiblit la tension que l'on attend d’un vrai "slow burn".
Une traduction plus libre, mieux adaptée à la culture francophone, aurait mieux restitué le ton de l’original. Ce n’est pas pour dire que la VO (que j'ai feuilletée par curiosité) est un chef-d’œuvre, mais elle passe mieux, justement parce qu’elle colle à son propre registre.
Enfin, la fin abrupte laisse une impression d’inachevé. On ne peut même pas parler de cliffhanger, il n'y a rien à quoi s’accrocher.
Quant à la "réécriture" du Petit Chaperon rouge, il faut vraiment faire un effort d’imagination pour en retrouver les traces.
TL;DR : Bien, mais pas top.
Je lirai la suite… mais en VO.
March 17, 2023
I rate this book 3.5 stars. It wasn't something that I would have normally finished but this was an ARC and I wanted to give it a chance.
This book is about Raisa, she is a mage and using her magic with her experiment Red Carpet (to save those with burns). During an explosion Inspector Stern gets burned and Raisa uses her This was one of my books I got for my birthday presents.
This book is about Komi and how she has a "communication disorder" (the author's words). She wants to talk to her peers and be like them but she can't do that. She tries but it something that just doesn't work. After she meets Tadano he makes it his mission to help her with making 100 friends.
This was a great Manga and I am glad that I picked it up. I can't wait to read more of this. sample of Red Carpet to save him.
The problem is that it just doesn't save Inspector Stern but also changes him to a werewolf.
This is their story and how to see who framed Raisa and ruined her work. I will let you know that this is not ending since this is part of a series.
They are on a mission to prove Woody innocent (Raisa anyway), find out who changed her serum and how to save Inspector Stern.
This book is about Raisa, she is a mage and using her magic with her experiment Red Carpet (to save those with burns). During an explosion Inspector Stern gets burned and Raisa uses her This was one of my books I got for my birthday presents.
This book is about Komi and how she has a "communication disorder" (the author's words). She wants to talk to her peers and be like them but she can't do that. She tries but it something that just doesn't work. After she meets Tadano he makes it his mission to help her with making 100 friends.
This was a great Manga and I am glad that I picked it up. I can't wait to read more of this. sample of Red Carpet to save him.
The problem is that it just doesn't save Inspector Stern but also changes him to a werewolf.
This is their story and how to see who framed Raisa and ruined her work. I will let you know that this is not ending since this is part of a series.
They are on a mission to prove Woody innocent (Raisa anyway), find out who changed her serum and how to save Inspector Stern.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2023
Ahh, what a delight to be back in the Jezebel Files world! And what an extra delight to have Ash and Levi feature in this book too 😊 although you don’t need to have read the Jezebel Files to enjoy this first instalment in the new series, as it’s a different angle and storyline, with different lead characters (obvs!) . . . But I would recommend doing so 😄
Raisa and Gideon meet under stressful circumstances (understatement!) and the stress just keeps on building, with twists, turns, Intrigue and mystery added on. As the story progresses we learn more about Raisa, as traumas from her past and uncertainties in her present collide and intertwine. The romance is slow burn, to which there’s a certain irony there, considering their initial encounter - you’ll understand when you read the book! - with more downs than ups at this stage. Some answers to the mysteries are revealed by the end of this instalment, but the potential relationship between Raisa and Gideon takes a(nother) down turn and we’re left with a hook that leaves me sooo wanting the next book!
Raisa and Gideon meet under stressful circumstances (understatement!) and the stress just keeps on building, with twists, turns, Intrigue and mystery added on. As the story progresses we learn more about Raisa, as traumas from her past and uncertainties in her present collide and intertwine. The romance is slow burn, to which there’s a certain irony there, considering their initial encounter - you’ll understand when you read the book! - with more downs than ups at this stage. Some answers to the mysteries are revealed by the end of this instalment, but the potential relationship between Raisa and Gideon takes a(nother) down turn and we’re left with a hook that leaves me sooo wanting the next book!
December 16, 2023
I haven't read any fantasy books that had to deal with magic, so I'm not sure if it's a general thing in magic books or specifically just this author, but there were some terms and events happening that had me confused. Besides that, this book was a great retelling of Little Red Riding hood, with enemies to lovers, super slow burn (found out almost at the end that this is just book one of the series), forced proximity, and shifter romance.
FMC Raisa is a scientist who is working on a serum to help healing from burns after the tragic death of her sister. MMC Gideon is going after a lead about how Raisa's lab is being funded by money laundering. This results in Gideon getting burned and Raisa using her only actual serum and injects it in him. This turns Gideon into a wolf. Raisa is confused because her serum isn't supposed to have anything linked to wolves. Gideon and Raisa have to force themselves to work together in order to find Raisa's mentor, Woody, and get Raisa's research back along with 'curing' Gideon.
FMC Raisa is a scientist who is working on a serum to help healing from burns after the tragic death of her sister. MMC Gideon is going after a lead about how Raisa's lab is being funded by money laundering. This results in Gideon getting burned and Raisa using her only actual serum and injects it in him. This turns Gideon into a wolf. Raisa is confused because her serum isn't supposed to have anything linked to wolves. Gideon and Raisa have to force themselves to work together in order to find Raisa's mentor, Woody, and get Raisa's research back along with 'curing' Gideon.
March 9, 2023
This is a fast paced crossover from the Jezebel Files world. It can be read as a standalone, but reading the other books in the main series could be helpful to explain parts of this world.
Raisa is a scientist trying to find a treatment for burns. She is so close! However, when the lab she works in is searched by police in response to a money laundering investigation, things take a turn.
Gideon is the inspector in charge. While searching the lab, there is an explosion and Gideon is burned extensively. Lucky for him, Raisa had grabbed her vial of Red Carpet (the burn treatment) and administers it to Gideon. Unlucky for him, even though his skin healed (and he is most ungracious about it!), he turns into a wolf. Raisa is quite surprised by this side effect..
Reluctantly, Gideon and Raisa team up to look for Raisa's boss, Woody and were not expecting what they find...
Raisa is a scientist trying to find a treatment for burns. She is so close! However, when the lab she works in is searched by police in response to a money laundering investigation, things take a turn.
Gideon is the inspector in charge. While searching the lab, there is an explosion and Gideon is burned extensively. Lucky for him, Raisa had grabbed her vial of Red Carpet (the burn treatment) and administers it to Gideon. Unlucky for him, even though his skin healed (and he is most ungracious about it!), he turns into a wolf. Raisa is quite surprised by this side effect..
Reluctantly, Gideon and Raisa team up to look for Raisa's boss, Woody and were not expecting what they find...
February 7, 2023
Oh I loved this! This well paced, exciting story shows us Raisa who is such a fantastic character. A strong and kick ass lady who’s also a magical scientist trying to heal the world one case at a time and by mistake creates the worlds first wolf shifter! Whoops! Gideon our newly trained wolf shifter is bossy and hot and sparks between him and Raisa definitely fly as they find themselves having to work together to get to the bottom of things. World building is incredible and pulls you in and the storyline is shrouded in mystery, excitement, magic, science and twists and turns and a few shocking surprises. I also loved the sass and snark and saying hi to some old friends as well as making new ones. I am so excited for the next book.
March 7, 2023
Raisa Montefiore has based her life on science, but at the moment, only three facts are relevant: A) werewolves don’t exist, B) she may have created the one standing in front of her, C) revisit fact A. She’s a magic scientist, but when her passion project is twisted to create the world’s first wolf shifter and her entire life comes crashing down, she’s thrown from the lab and onto a path filled with changing—and dangerous—unknowns. Looking for answers, she’s forced to work with the wolf, an infuriating man who was bossy enough before he went furry. They’ll have to survive deadly pursuers and the urge to throw their teammate in a vat of strong acid, leaving no trace of their remains.
This Red Riding Hood retelling features an enemies-to-lovers slow burn shifter romance, a smart, funny heroine, and a thrilling adventure.
This is a delightful adventure filled with fun banter, a smart BAMF female lead and fun hijinks! I loved the play between Raisa and Gideon. Their interactions and snark was seriously top notch!
I also loved the awesome Jewish rep in this book! Not only just that the characters were Jewish but that that influenced and guided some of their thoughts and actions. Always awesome to see!
This Red Riding Hood retelling features an enemies-to-lovers slow burn shifter romance, a smart, funny heroine, and a thrilling adventure.
This is a delightful adventure filled with fun banter, a smart BAMF female lead and fun hijinks! I loved the play between Raisa and Gideon. Their interactions and snark was seriously top notch!
I also loved the awesome Jewish rep in this book! Not only just that the characters were Jewish but that that influenced and guided some of their thoughts and actions. Always awesome to see!
Read
January 23, 2024Having read the Jezebel files I was looking forward to this book. There was surprising overlap in this book and Jezebel files so I would recommend reading those first for sure. The Queen of Hearts, Levi, Ash were all here in supporting roles. There was a lot of insinuation of abuse and childhood trauma that was not dealt with. A lot of grief is mentioned in the book, that is not really dealt. with. Overall the book definitely had a darker tone to it. I am not sure where it will go from here, but it did end on a bit of a cliffhanger so the "quest" is unresolved and while one question was answered, many remain unanswered.
January 31, 2023
Raisa is amazing. This story started with a literal bang. This is Levi's cousin, and Ash plays a great role in it! Gideon, I hope will eventually be with Raisa, I think that they have good chemistry and would make a great pair! Raisa and Gideon have to team up, to find Woody, and the adventure is fun and crazy. I do no Spoilers, but this is an Outstanding Read! I Loved It!!!
I received an ARC from the Author and I am Leaving this Totally Honest Review Because I Choose to, and Think that this book is Outstanding!!!
I received an ARC from the Author and I am Leaving this Totally Honest Review Because I Choose to, and Think that this book is Outstanding!!!
February 6, 2023
This fantastic read was entertaining from beginning to end. I enjoyed the characters and the humorous snarky attitudes. This magical dangerous adventure that Raisa and Gideon find themselves on during their hunt will have you on the edge of your seat. I love reading about old characters and the author has done an amazing job incorporating old with new. I loved everything about this story it is shaping up to be another great series in the Jezebel universe and I look forward to the next installment. You should definitely read this book you won’t regret it.
January 10, 2023
The perfect start to a brand new series!
Deborah Wilde does not disappoint with Howl At The Moon! This brand new series set in the Jezebel Files world is brimming with intrigue, wit, mystery, and hints from the past that tease like nobody’s business. And the energy between Raisa and Gideon is simply 🔥. Take from that what you will, because I don’t want to spoil anything. Enjoy this perfect beginning with new friends and old, you won’t regret a moment of it.
January 16, 2023
The engrossing storyline takes us to Raisa, who is researching a magic based fast cure for burn victims. The search for the possible existence of a copy of the research has her working with an unlikely ally. Stunning realizations, deep seeded mystery, and magic surround Raisa. I liked the inclusion of characters from other series integrated into this book, and the snarky dialog that peppers the story. Good book.
February 2, 2023
A fantastic start to a new spin-off series!
Howl At The Moon is set in the Jezebel Files world, it is a fabulously fun and gripping story, there is plenty of intrigue and mystery. The lead characters Raisa and Gideon are great, with an abundance of angst and chemistry. The engrossing storyline is full of action, magic and the snarky dialog, I can’t wait for the next instalment.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Howl At The Moon is set in the Jezebel Files world, it is a fabulously fun and gripping story, there is plenty of intrigue and mystery. The lead characters Raisa and Gideon are great, with an abundance of angst and chemistry. The engrossing storyline is full of action, magic and the snarky dialog, I can’t wait for the next instalment.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
February 5, 2023
I am so happy to have more of the Jezebel Files in this crossover series. This storyline has action, adventure, mystery, secrets, drama, and chemistry. The MCs are defined, likable, relatable to an extent, and are at odds with one another at first. This is a fast-paced, well-written book that I found entertaining, engaging, and enjoyable. I look forward to more in this series. I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.
February 13, 2023
I love me some Debroah Wilde's words - see what I've said about her other books. This one totally ticks all the boxes for me, but there was no instant moment of love. And I've been spoilt with Deborah's previous work. I enjoyed the read, it just wasn't my fav from a fav. The lack of click for me showed it's self when I got very excited to see some other characters instead of Raisa and Gideon going on their adventure.
June 17, 2023
This is a fantastic story from start to finish. Raisa has dedicated her life to science to honour her sisters memory. When Gideon barges into her work things go up in smoke, her lab and research. Gideon is injured Raisa saves him but there are some very hairy side affects. The banter between Raisa and Gidoen sparkles. They need to work together to find answers and a cure.
I love this story the characters and the plot are gripping, I cant wait for the next book,
I love this story the characters and the plot are gripping, I cant wait for the next book,
August 21, 2023
I enjoyed this one and will be looking for the earlier books in the series, also preordered the next one. I enjoyed the slow development of the two main characters. Liked watching Raisa develop her trust in Gideon but was fearful about the potential for that trope where the MCs don’t share relevant info or “I don’t need anyone ever”, that gets so old!
Good job and I look forward to exploring this series!
Good job and I look forward to exploring this series!
August 5, 2024
DNF. The premise sounds interesting, but it's very boring. I found myself skipping through the first two chapters, full of science that in the end doesn't matter. And then the werewolf part happens, and it's underwhelming. I felt no chemistry between the MCs, and I find it hard to believe any romance with them. Since this is part of a series featuring the same uninteresting couple, I'm not gonna invest any more of my time on it
February 10, 2023
It is wonderful to visit the world of the Nefesh, Hedon and my beloved Ash and Levi. This is some of my favorite world building, so it's fantastic to have a new series here! We have an intelligent new MC who has intense and compelling challenges to deal with. A very complex and clever plot. I'm very much looking forward to see how this saga evolves!
December 7, 2024
Ends in a cliffhanger, with key open questions unresolved. There's no HEA; don't think you can even call the ending optimistic. Story is told from a single perspective of the heroine. Giving this 2 stars because I listened until the end; however, I was not engaged enough to want to listen to the 2nd entry in the series.
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