Camille

Camille #1

by Tess Oliver

At a time when society conforms to the strictest rules and most proper etiquette, sixteen-year-old Camille Kennecott and her guardian, Dr. Bennett, live a most unconventional life. They hunt werewolves. When unwitting victim, Nathaniel Strider, wanders into one of their full moon pursuits, Camille and Dr. Bennett believe they have found a specimen for their study.

Finding a scientific key to unlocking the mystery of lycanthropy would end their late night excursions. Yet beneath the irresistible exterior, Nathaniel is transforming into a flesh-tearing monster, and as each experiment fails, Camille loses another inch of her soul to him. In a month’s time, she must face the prospect of destroying the boy who has stolen her heart.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Werewolves, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2010

About the author

Tess Oliver is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Custom Culture series and a large collection of other romances. She is well known for her relatable characters who "become your friends" as you journey with them and for intriguing stories that will have you "devouring her books in just one day". Tess has been featured on USA Today's 'Happy Ever After' site, and in publications including Glamour UK and Elle UK magazines.

Reviews

[Jillian -always aspiring- · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to start off this review with an apology: I misjudged this book harshly even before I had read it since (a) the excerpt I read reminded me of too many paranormal YA novels with flat heroines and domineering love interests, (b) it is a book about werewolves, who are almost as overused as vampires by now, and (c) it is an indie book (and I have a love/hate relationship with indie books since they fall into one of three categories -- brilliant, predictable, or just plain awful). I would have ridden off this book because of my preconceived notions, and I would have been very sorry indeed for missing out on it. Basically -- I AM SO GLAD I SPENT 99 CENTS ON IT, AND NOW I WANT A PAPERBACK COPY TO HUG AND SQUEAL OVER. (What a turnaround, eh?)

Here's the story set-up (since reading the excerpt will probably give YOU preconceived notions about this book too): Camille is the would-be assistant to John Bennet, a man who is trying to find a cure for lycanthropy after a devastating turn of events years earlier that has something to do with Camille's past and why her sister lives in an asylum now. This search for a cure includes also hunting and finding werewolves as specimens before killing them off with silver bullets. Everything is going as planned until one night things get out of Camille's and Dr. Bennet's hands. . .and they must help the werewolf victim survive.

I have to give Camille a lot of applause as a heroine. I didn't find her annoying at all (strange, really, since I find most YA heroines at least a *twinge* annoying); actually, I was rather impressed by her. She has a good head on her shoulders, she's not a typical 19th century girl, and she seems to be thinking about more than marriage and babies in her future. In many ways, survival is her main goal, and thus she's rather level-headed. . .until a boy, quite different personality-wise from her, crashes into her life and leaves her a bit topsy-turvy.

Ah, the boy. I was so ready to ride off Nathaniel Strider as a cad with no substance right from the start -- but I'm so glad that, like Camille, I decided to give him a chance even despite his first appearances, all of which involved rather disreputable acts. (There we go again with the preconceived notions!) Yes, he's a bit of a cad and an insufferable flirt -- but he DOES have substance. It's easy to see why Camille becomes taken with him. The two of them have a nice banter between them, wit and sarcasm and chemistry clashing in one tidal wave of emotion. I just loved them together, and every single scene with them had me either smiling or laughing.

No, I'm not here to say that you should read this book because it is EPIC or BRAIN-BENDING. It's just a really nice read that's atmospheric, witty, and a little angsty. (This book even made feel miserable a few times -- but that may be just me, getting swept up in Camille's thoughts and emotions.) What could have made this book better? I think a run-in with another werewolf would have done Strider and Camille some good. That would have added some more action and suspense -- even though for much of the book I waffled between 'Will she kill him? Or won't she?' (It was the same quandary I, quite idiotically, had with Twilight. Even as I approached book four in the series, a part of me was hoping for a darker twist where Edward lost it and actually DID try to kill Bella! I was so ready for the fairy tale to be shattered by one psychopath twist -- but, alas, it did not occur. It did not stop me from speculating and wondering, though!) In the end, with the way things transpired, I was satisfied, and the last few pages even made me smile wistfully.

HOWEVER. . .I want to put out a personal appeal to Tess Oliver: this NEEDS a sequel! It can't just end that way! Give me something more! PLEASE!!! There MUST be a sequel!

Now, tell me: how many books can make someone sound like such a begging, gushing fool in a review? Not many, I would reckon -- so I hope interested readers will track this one down, dole out the 99 cents, and read it. For the right kind of reader, I would hedge my bets and say it would be worth the investment.

(Note: If you read the book yourself and wonder, 'How come this chick gave the book five stars? It's not THAT great,' well, I have this to say: my rating had less to do with innovative writing or blow-your-mind storytelling and more to do with my emotions while reading the book and the attachments I developed to the main characters. I will never give five stars to books where I don't love the characters in some way, so that's why this book earned five stars from me.)

[Elle Beauregard · Rating 2 out of 5]

**Note: I've edited this review since it was first written because I didn't like my snarky tone. :) It wasn't meant to be snarky, more comical/exasperated.**

Camille finds herself in a unfortunate situation when she falls in love with a boy who is about to turn into a werewolf.

I was very much looking forward to this book. Victorian Era England + Werewolves + strong, ass-kicking heroine = awesome. And the story did deliver on all of those facets, which was entertaining and a fun new take on a tried-and-true genre.

The story arc was very fast, however, lending itself to characters in want of substance. Camille's intentions and motivations were told to the reader, more than shown. This gave the feeling that every plot device was happening to the character, but that she wasn't actively participating within it, or working to shape her world, the story, or the readers experience of her as a character. As a result, her relationship with Strider was hard to believe because there simply wasn't enough meat to their interactions. (Though I will say that he had all the makings of a very delicious and likeable flawed hero--yum!)

Much of the characters' interactions, experiences and behavior were wildly outside of acceptable or expected codes of conduct within Victorian Era England, when/where this story was placed. On the one hand, this is okay, because this historical England is obviously an alternate one. On the other, for someone who loves the Victorian Era, it was a bit distracting. By no means did it ruin the reading experience, and the issue certainly didn't make me put the book down (I finished it very quickly, in fact--a testiment to a good story, overall,) so perhaps this wouldn't bother other readers.

The ending tied up too quickly, too neatly, and without the conflict (both internal and external) that I would have expected. It left this reader feeling rushed through to the end. Camille seemed to go to sleep in places that were very inconvenient for the reader. Will we ever know what Nathaniel's quasi-transformation was like? No, because Camille fell asleep on the freezing, stone ground of a mausoleum at the very moment Nathaniel began to transform. I would have liked to know more about his transformation, and had the opportunity to see the way the characters interacted through it.

An easy-to-digest read that kept me turning pages but left me, ultimately, dis-satisfied. Just when I was ready to really fall in love with the characters (who all had very good potential and likeability) the story came to an end.

[Steph Sinclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had to describe this book in one word it would simply be: sweet. I was a little skeptical that this book could draw me in and keep me there in such few pages. But I am happy I gave it a chance.

Camille is the story of a young girl living in England who hunts werewolves alongside Dr. Bennett, her guardian. Together they hunt beasts by night, but desperately continue to search for a cure by day. This endeavor becomes even more important when Camille and Dr. Bennett encounter Nathaniel Strider, whom Camille falls deeply in love with.

I really love Camille. She is a very strong heroine who is not afraid to speak her mind or go after what she wants, despite momentary lapses in courage. She, at first, is hesitant to attempt to bring Strider into their home as a test subject to further their cause. She knows in the end they would have to destroy him with a silver bullet and knowing their prey personally would only fully complicate matters. However, she agrees. But what she did not expect to find was not only a fragile friendships, but also a love story, inching it's way to a tragic end as it creeps closer to a full moon. Don't be fooled by the length of the story. It is a tale of self discovery and fighting for love even though you know in the end all that will remain is a broken heart. I was pleased with the ending and it left me with a satisfied smile.

I chose to give Camille 3 stars because I do wish it could have been longer. Perhaps the YA world has me accustomed to longer novels. But I find, the longer I am in the character's world, the easier it is for me to connect with them.

All-in-all, it was a very satisfying, enjoyable read. :)

More reviews and more at Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.

[oliviasbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

“I quieted my trembling hands, swallowed to wet my dry throat, and cursed myself for becoming so ridiculously agitated at the sight of him. Perhaps Dr. Bennett would be better for this task.“ How right you are, you insufferable wench. For Dr. Bennett would not inform us on each and every page how aroused he became while watching the recently infected "specimen", homeless Whitechapel grave robber Nathaniel Strider, who would turn into a people-eating, brainless werewolf within a month and who would have to be shot down, if a cure was not discovered before the expected transformation. He would not make unseemly squeaky noises from his hidey hole, because he was jealous of all the kissing and shoulder-freeing and into-lap-pulling and groping, which the young rakish lad he was sent to lure into the scientific lab, was applying to giggling, rose-cheeked girls and buxom matrons in dark alleys, ale houses, doorways and behhind market stalls. And certainly he would not have come to the conclusion that the reason for Nathaniel being such a magnet to the „bevy of enthusiastic girls he had waiting for him around every corner“ is not to be found in his lazy smile, his brown eyes, his shiny, black hair or his shirt-stainingly broad torso, but in his kindness towards those even less fortunate than him: Our heroine, Camille, is overcome by an apple-sized lump in her throat when she witnesses her werewolf to be press a freshly stolen apple into the gnarly hands of a misable, old beggar, who promptly „lifted her bloodshot eyes in a silent thank you“.

Seriously. The first 25%, which is all I managed to consume of this low-priced, self-published paranormal histo-romance for young adults, do not offer much more than the heroine, whose father turned werewolf, too, and had to be taken down by his best friend – now Camille’s guardian –, the renowned scientist Dr. John Bennett, „who had read every science book written and even wrote a few himself“ (definitely not possible even 150 years ago), shadowing her prey in a boy’s disguise while drooling all over herself and breaking the „rule“ of not forming an attachment to one of the „specimen“.

What annoyed me on the side was that the author is so sloppy in her choice of vocabulary. For instance, it is never said when Camille is supposed to take place, but the descriptions of every day life in the novel’s version of London strongly suggest some time during the rather long Victorian era. And the combination of gruesome deaths with the Whitechapel setting wave the Jack-the-Ripper-flag at the reader with ferocity. But it is clear that the story takes place before Britain entered the EU and that means usering „meters“ to describe a distance is simply a big no-no.

As you surely already can guess I do not recommend picking up Camille, but I can point out alternatives if you are still reluctant to let go of the idea to read it:
- If you do enjoy virgin turn-of-the-century girls spying on a how a womanizer ravishes a couple of ladies from behind a curtain or through a keyhole or whatever barely keeping herself from tuning into their harmonized moans, I recommend trying the Francesca Cahill series by B.D. Joyce. Although slightly silly at times, too, High Society sleutheress Francesca at least has a motive for peeping excessively.
- If it is the gory graveyard feel of Victorian monster hunter stories you are after, you might be better off with chosing The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey. The scientist-orphan-team of that one knows how to turn your stomach inside out without having someone writhe in their panties.
- And if you are into Jack the Ripper retellings with a supernatural twist, I believe that Maureen Johnson’s The Name of the Star is quite popular among the paranormal YA crowd.

If you still are convinced you must experience Camille yourself, I cannot keep you from doing it and I do not feel entitled to use brute force to try, for I have only read a quarter of the book after all and miraclous turns around the 50% mark are not unheard of.

[Kogiopsis · Rating 3 out of 5]

In short: a resounding 'meh'.

This book came highly recommended by other GR reviewers, including Jillian, but I'm afraid between the time I bought it (several years ago) and the time I read it (last month) my tastes have changed, and what sounded appealing to me then did not appeal to me now. I blame college.

In short: this is a young adult paranormal romance whose brooding love interest is a soon-to-be murderous werewolf. The concept is interesting, yes, and the idea of a crossdressing werewolf-hunting girl in the Victorian era adds a certain flavor but it just... never quite caught me. One of its major weaknesses is that while Camille may spend her evenings in trousers staking out graveyards, she has a continuous anxiety about femininity and not being sufficiently feminine that grated on my nerves. It's an understandable conflict for someone in her society and position, but since she and her institutionalized sister are the only major female characters in the book, it reads as if only conventional femininity can confer value.

There's a great deal of Idiot Ball - or at least 'Not Very Bright Ball' - going around in the plot. The book's big twist was obvious to me from about halfway through, for one thing, and these characters have had years to puzzle at the same problem, with much the same evidence. A lot of the decisions Camille made regarding Nathaniel were, quite frankly, moronic - and I know that you kind of expect these things from teenage girls in a romance plot, but it's annoying. Where are my heroines who keep their wits in the face of hormones? Not here, clearly.

As other reviewers have commented, the ending wraps up extremely quickly and doesn't really feel satisfying, which is always an issue as that is, well, the most lasting impression of the book. Overall, my takeaway was: a solid YAPNR, but... still a YAPNR, and nothing that really stands out from the crowd.

[♥ Rebecca ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was wonderful! Camille and her guardian, Dr. Bennett, hunt and study werewolves. It is an interest that was shared by her father until it killed him 6 years earlier. One night, while Camille and Dr. Bennett are out hunting a particular werewolf, they witness a young man is bit on the leg before they manage to take it down. Dr. Bennett sends Camille to follow the young man, Nathaniel, and see if he is being affected by the bite. It doesnt take long for Camille to see that all the women of the East End are throwing themselves at him, and she has to admit, she can see why. One day when she is following him she peaks around a corner and catches him with a woman in an alley. She gasps, which catches his attention, and he stares at her while he continues to kiss the other girl's neck. She continues to stare right back and she is completely captured by his gaze and she cant look away, while he makes out with another woman. OMG that scene was so hot! Haha, that is when I fell in love with him. He is so arrogant and sure of himself that he seduces two women at once! :P And the cover of the sequel, Heart of the Huntress, features Pepe Toth, the same guy from the covers of Obsidian and Existence. So just picture Daemon in Victorian London. Yeah, hot!

Camille eventually convinces him to come home with her and help them find a cure. Most of the book focuses on them getting to know each other and spending time together while Dr. Bennett looks for a cure, cherishing what little time they have. They are incredibly sweet together and I love the intensity and urgency of their relationship since they know what is coming. Camille is willing to do anything to save him, even defy Dr. Bennett, who of course will kill Nathaniel if the cure isnt found before the next full moon. Nathaniel would rather kill himself than risk Camille's safety, but when the time comes Camille does whatever is necessary to save Nathaniel from himself and Dr. Bennett.

[Erica (storybookend) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camille. Ah yes, Camille, the boy dresser, werewolf hunter, beautiful determined sprite of a girl. Assistant to Dr. Bennett, who raised her as his own when her father died years ago, where she aids him in his search for a cure for humans turning into werewolves. She soon finds herself desperately searching with new determination for a cure because now it’s the life a young boy that she has fallen in love with that is threatened. Enter Nathaniel Strider. Unscrupulous rogue, ladies man to the core, thief, homeless with a horrible past. Uh-huh. One order of swoon worthy, endearing, hard-outside-soft-inside male coming up! He charms Camille immediately, despite his rudeness and woman always falling over him. And soon, he finds that he loves her.

Ah, the romance, it was so sweet. Here’s a girl unlike other girls, a girl who experiments with science and gallivants through the streets dressed as a boy; and then there’s a boy who couldn’t possibly single out any one woman from his many many admirers and fall in love with her because of the scoundrel he is. Yet he does. He finds Camille beautiful, intriguing, and strange. Camille of course finds him handsome and charming, but also finds he has a soft side.

I really liked the story and plot. It was intriguing and engrossing, (of course the romantic aspect of it helped immensely ;). There was a mystery interwoven here, about Camille’s father who had turned into a werewolf, and had died leaving his two daughter’s alone. Camille’s sister, twin sister, Emily was endearing. She had a hard time dealing with her father’s death, (won’t say more on that matter as it would be a spoiler), and as a result had to live in an asylum. But the bond between these twins was so strong, that nothing could ever break it, not even hidden, harsh secrets that eventually came to Camille’s attention.

This book isn’t the best developed or executed, but I still very much enjoyed reading it. It’s lush and intriguing with it‘s paranormal allure and sweet romance. All in all, a good read, well done characters, could have been better, but I still loved it.

[Artemis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so i love this book the ending was a tad predictable but it was a great book!!! the people were so real and historically accurate!! Strider is soo sweet and cocky i just love him!!

the plot

Camille and her for all intents and purposes Uncle are werewolf hunters in the late 1800's early 1900's. The story starts in a graveyard with grave robbers and one nasty werewolf who before Dr. Bennet (Camille's uncle) can shoot and kill the beast with a silver tipped bullet he bites the leg of Strider giving him the curse of the Beast! Camille is sent to retrieve the poor newly bitten boy she finds her heart a flutter when she is near the handsome cocky Strider. Can Camille find a cure to save her love or will they both fall victim to the Beast...

[Megan]

I enjoyed the premise and the set-up for this book. Plucky, teenage Camille and her scholarly guardian are werewolf hunters in Victorian-era London. There's some family intrigue going on: since the death of their father, Camille's twin sister hides away in a mental asylum despite the fact she's more or less sane. The story starts when Camille and her guardian witness Strider, a grave-robbing boy from the streets, being bitten by a werewolf. They now have one month to try to save him by finally succeeding on their search for a cure for lycanthrophy. If they can't figure out a cure by the next full moon, they'd be forced to kill him to protect him from killing innocent people. And of course, matters get complicated when Camille falls in love with Strider...

Oh, if only this book actually followed up on the possible consequences inherent in this premise! If it had, it might have been really good.

I was in the mood for a historical-paranormal story, and I was interested enough in the premise to buy this self-published book at the 99-cents price point. While I at first loved the set-up and was enjoying the book well enough for what it was (straightforward paranormal YA), things started going horribly wrong when I was gobsmacked by a very soap opera twist midway through the book. The book took a downward turn from there, and characters basically went through the motions of a stereotypical YA paranormal story, and there were no consequences for characters' actions or decisions.

I was most disappointed by the flimsy, selfish, and unintelligent main character, Camille. I was already tired of her lovesick and lack of consistent character traits, but the tipping point was when she does something suicidal for the SOLE purpose of getting her love interest to prove his love for her and ~rescue~ her. Um. Um. I know this is a review and all, but there really aren't words for the levels of awfulness of that.

Also jaw-droppingly awful was her complete disregard for the safety and well-being of other people as she prepared for Strider's transformation into a werewolf. Her plan was to knock out her guardian (the only person who could conceivably help her if her paper-thin plan went wrong), lock her lover up in a crypt, hope it was effective at keeping his superstrength werewolf-self secure, and then just catch a ride home and wait for morning. WTF, Camille? She doesn't have the decency to consider putting the safety of others before her lovesickness, which made her a wholly unsympathetic protagonist. I wanted to like Camille. I mean, she cross dresses! And Strider kisses her while she cross dresses! That's just awesome! But even excusing her sixteen-year-old selfishness, there was nothing vaguely heroic to recommend her. She barely made any decisions of consequence, as her plot moved forward by virtue of accidents and mishaps, and when she did make stupid decisions, she rarely faced ill consequences. For an example of that, witness the inane ending of the book.

I did like Strider and found him complicated in good ways, and I often enjoyed his and Camille's interactions (like when she made fun of him for hurting himself on the microscope), but uncritical, lovesick protagonists aren't my bag, and unfortunately, that was exactly what Camille was.

Also, authors, hi, can we can just STOP using a character's clumsiness as a character trait or as a way to incite plot? It was already old and ineffective when it was Bella in Twilight, and it's even worse to encounter the trope now. It's lazy writing and annoying to read. I assumed popular culture has already mocked this well enough to warn authors away, but apparently not.

The prose was fine and even excellent at points, but this book is good evidence of why an editor is needed, even if an author has a good handle on how to write. An editor could have helped structure the story so that there was an actually climax (this book has, quite possibly, the most anticlimactic "climax" I've ever read), so that there were actual consequences for Camille's actions, and so that Camille actually had to make decisions instead of being passively pushed around by circumstances.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sort of a sucker for a good period piece and for a strong female character and this book started out with both. It faltered, it wasn't perfect, but overall this book was strong enough that I enjoyed having read it.

Camille does not lead a typical life for a young woman living in London in the 1800s. She dresses in trousers as a boy and spends her nights hunting werewolves with her guardian (which makes the cover a little confusing since she so rarely wears dresses). That is how she meets Nathaniel Strider, the newest victim of a werewolf bite, who Dr. Bennett and Camille have one month to study and find a cure for before he transforms.

Where this book falters for me is when it gets caught up in the romance. The language becomes unbearable (Strider actually affectionately calls her a "sopping kitten" at one point); Camille herself becomes unbearable (she finds her bottom lip quivering in his presence and she also becomes a lovesick fool). But, I enjoyed the science in this book, I enjoyed that werewolves are still monsters and not romantic creatures. I also enjoyed some of the twists (although I definitely guessed the cure well before Dr. Bennett and Camille did).

Slight sort of spoiler that doesn't ruin any plot: My absolute favorite part of this book, that showed wit and actually made me laugh out loud, is when Nathaniel and Camille kiss in public and when they notice everyone staring at them, he says "I suppose I should have waited to kiss you when you weren't dress in trousers."

Spoiler
The ending ties up a little too neatly a little too quickly (Oh, surprise, we're heading to Transylvania and we've surprisingly worked out a way for Strider to come too! Hope that one-month courtship is long lasting and not just a fling born of desperation and danger!)

[brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I really enjoyed this book! From the start until the very end the story captivated me and it has great characters too!

Camille and her guardian, Dr Bennett, are werewolf hunters. The story begins in a graveyard where the two are hunting a werewolf where they catch a bunch of thieves stealing from a grave. One of the thieves, a boy named Nathaniel Strider, gets bitten by the werewolf before Dr Bennett shoots it with a silver bullet. Camille is then sent to find this boy as Dr Bennett wants to use him as a specimen in finding a cure for lycanthropy. As Camille spends more time with Strider she finds herself falling for him and desperately wants to find a cure before its too late.

I really liked the characters Camille and Strider in this book. Camille was different from other YA heroines (quite a few annoy me <.<). She was interesting and a strong/brave character, IMO. I also liked her attitude and 'mouth of a sailor!'. And then there is Nathaniel Strider. Hes cocky and a flirt but there is more to him than that! He was just a great character - they both were!

Overall this was an entertaining read! It was fast paced and very enjoyable. 4 - 4.5 stars.

[Cody Smith-Candelaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Tess Oliver andher writing style. I was really happy to discover that this one is so totally different from her other stories and styles. This is a paranormal book but it is not entirely what you expect. The characters have great depth and grow as the story progresses. There is a beautiful balance between vulnerability and strength, between self-confidence and self-doubt, between love and desire. Each character is fully-formed, including those background players that are so essential and often treated as an after thought. There are twists and turns. It's great and I can't wait to see how book two wraps things up.

[Sarah Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

review originally posted at http://thatbookishgirl.blogspot.com/2...

I stumbled across Camille while perusing the young adult paranormal romance NookBook section on Barnes and Noble. I’ll admit, this is pretty much a daily activity. I had not heard anything about the book before, but it sounded rather intriguing. So, with my trusty nook in hand I “previewed” the first few pages of the book. The preview was to my liking, so I went ahead and purchased it.

Now, I am going to have to be honest with you – I put off reading this book for a LONG time. Other books kept jumping into my hands (they have a tendency to do that, you know) and Camille was getting lost in the shuffle.

Thankfully, one day I had a surprise break between classes and because I am such a complete nerd, I had my nook with me. Finally, I started Camille. I finished it that day.

This book was incredibly surprising, in a wonderful way. I instantly took to the heroine, the ever witty, Camille. This sixteen year old was such a brilliant character - in a number of ways. First of all, she is incredibly strong. Cami has overcome a number of difficult obstacles in her life and it has left her somewhat emotionally closed off. She only really interacts with two people – her legal guardian, Dr. John Bennett and her twin sister, Emily. Camille certainly has a curious existence; she assists John in hunting werewolves. The two of them track and kill dangerous wolves in Victorian London, which desperately searching for a cure.

Unsurprisingly, Camille’s day job contributes to her withdrawn attitude. She has learned to analyze her actions and thoughts, instead of forming an emotional attachment to things. She is remarkably intelligent and incredibly different from the other females of her time. Camille prefers to discuss scientific findings to engaging in local gossip and she feels much more comfortable in trousers than in a frilly dress. She is a determined girl, who does not take kindly to being pushed around and always stands on her own two feet.

Camille’s world turns upside down when she and John witness a werewolf attack a teenage boy. The boy, Nathaniel Strider manages to escape, but he is bitten in the process. Dr. Bennett decides that he simply must study Strider – that Nathaniel is the best hope of finding a cure. He soon sends Camille to fetch the “young lad”.

Now, when I was first introduced to the character of Strider I did not like him in the least. The first time we meet him, he is grave robbing. Then, the next few times Camille tracks him down, he is with a different girl. At this point, both Camille and I came to the same conclusion – Nathaniel Strider is a manwhore. However, soon enough I had to eat my words, because like with any great character, Nathaniel was full of surprises. I am not going to spoil anything for you, but believe me, he quickly grows on you. He is incredibly well-rounded and unexpectedly vulnerable underneath. He isn’t used to opening up to anyone either, so it takes a lot for him to let his guard down around Camille.

Not surprisingly, despite her early hatred for Nathaniel, much to her dismay, Camille falls for him. This terrifies her for a number of reasons – the largest being the fact that he is turning into a werewolf. This sets up a great dynamic for the book; the race against time to find a cure for Strider. If he turns into a werewolf, he will be a deadly one, and Camille will be faced with the task of killing him.

The plotline is laid out beautifully. Right from the beginning, you are swept up in Camille’s rather exciting and unconventional world. The pacing remains quick throughout the story, with contributes to the “race against time” storyline I was telling you about earlier.

The only qualm I had with this book was the ending. It felt like things were settled too easily. There was so much buildup to the conflict that the resolution seemed to fall a bit short. I am always a fan of a happy ending, but this one was a little too rushed. I cannot believe I am saying this, but I wish it would have been dragged out a bit more.

I am not sure when the next book is coming out, but I can tell you that I will be reading it. Camille exceeded my expectations in nearly every way. Oliver did a remarkable job creating the central characters; both Camille and Nathaniel are dynamic and likable. If you are looking for an exciting ebook read, I would certainly try Camille.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixteen-year-old Camille Kennecott and her guardian, Dr. Bennett, live a most unconventional life in London. They hunt werewolves.When unwitting victim, Nathaniel Strider, wanders into one of their full moon pursuits, Camille and Dr. Bennett believe they have found a specimen for their study.

At first when I saw this book my kindle recommended it to me. (I worship that thing so how could I disobey what it wishes me to read.) The topic seemed almost completely cliche to me. Werewolves. What sparked my interest was the fact that it wasn't centered around two boys having undying love for a flimsy human girl. (I mean seriously how much love can you have for a teenage girl who's only train of thought is "I wish he were here! Oh which one do I pick? His gaze is sooooo dreamy!") It was actually about the study of lycanthropy, and so my reading began.

The Style

I loved the writing style. I'm a sucker for first-person especially when it makes the characters sound sensible and devious at the same time. Oliver's writing seems to flow effortlessly throughout the story making it a lot easier to read thank god. I hate it when my English-teacher mind picks up a wrong word or fragment.

The Plotline

The computer just tried to correct me when I put plot and line together...

Anyway the plot-line was interesting different suspenseful. You can go from kinda falling asleep to choking on spit in disbelief in one page! In a way it's like the other books, she loves him he loves her, he's trying to fight the wolf inside of him. But in other ways it's way different. The love is actually INNOCENT (We've all read the books where the romance goes a little too far) while Nathaniel is now an almighty wolf, he struggles to comprehend the big picture and is in numerous self-conflicts through-out the story, Camille also struggles against her feelings harvesting them as more incentive to help him. Even though some spots may be a little slow the overall plot is enthralling.

The Characters

Are excellently defined. Oliver has succeeded in giving them depth and highlighting each part about them. Their reactions don't seem strained either which is awesome considering a book is about two-thirds talking. Well done Oliver!!

I did think the ending could use a little more pzazz but that may just be the romantic melodramatic side of me coming out. I don't know about you but my favorite character was her sister Emily. And NO it has nothing to do with the fact that Emily is my name...

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who's got a couple of hours to kill. A easy quick read for weekend or whatever day you want to read. (I like pancake days) Camille was an awesome book, definitely the best out of her books.

My Rating: four stars

[Chelsea Booker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bleh, another disappointing read, which sucks because it was the first book I bought on my new kindle and I was all excited to read it. But oh well. I think my expectations were just too high. After all, it was only 99 cents.

I thought the first three chapters or so set this book up to be a very enjoyable read. It starts off with Camille and Dr. Bennett out hunting for a werewolf when they witness a grave-robbery gone wrong. One the grave-robbers is bitten by the werewolf, and, as in most werewolf lore, this means that said bitten boy is going to be howling at the moon in no time. Instead of waiting out his transformation just to track and kill him later, Camille and Dr. Bennett decide this could be the perfect opportunity to develop and test a cure for this werewolf problem. It's at this point that the story begins to go downhill.

I think the biggest problem is that the premise for this book is very interesting, but it's executed in a very boring way. For a story with werewolves and werewolf hunters, there weren't many werewolves or much werewolf hunting. It pretty much consists of Dr. Bennett spending all his days in the lab trying to find a cure while Camille convinces Nathaniel (said bitten boy) to go along with their experimentation, and flits between arguing with him, smooching him up and generally being annoying. Character development doesn't really exist in this. Camille somehow goes from being a potentially likable character, to bratty and Nathaniel-obsessed the part where she puts her life in danger just to get his attention? Yeah, not cool, Camille. One quotation sums this up perfectly.

"I sucked in a deep breath, held it, and marveled at my own transformation into a ridiculous ninny."

So did I, Camille, so did I.

The plot was also rather disorganized, and some parts felt like they were purely inserted to add (unnecessary) drama and further made a mess of thingsThe bit about Dr. Bennett being her sister's real father? Perhaps I've just forgotten, but I'm not sure how that served any real point in the story.. The ending came much too fast after an anti-climatic climax and it left me feeling unsatisfied and cheated.

Overall, I probably wouldn't recommend this, but I won't completely write off Tess Oliver as an author and may even pick up another one of her books (apparently, Camille now has a sequel. Hmm). One thing I will say is that she's got a lot of potential and isn't a horrible writer, though she could certainly benefit from an editor to really make her work shine.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was much, much better than I expected when I spent all of $.99 on it.

The story starts with Camille and her guardian Dr. Bennett hunting down a werewolf on a full moon, but before they can kill it, Nathaniel Strider gets bitten. Dr. Bennett and Camille have been looking for a cure for werewolves and decide Nathaniel would be of good use to finding a cure. As Camille get's closer to Strider, it becomes more and more crucial to cure him before the next full moon.

The story doesn't pay much note to the 'werewolf' aspect, it looked at it like a disease and there wasn't much fantasy to the story, yet that didn't turn me off from it one bit. The characters are so extremely well written it's so hard to believe they're made up. I could go on and on about the characters, they're so good. They aren't written too extreme, but they aren't too bland like blobs either. It's the subtle things that give people their personalities, I think, and Tess Oliver found a perfect way to let me know who Camille, Strider and Dr. Bennett are without slamming me with it.

It was impossible not to fall in love with Strider. Enough said there. Read it, and you'll know what I mean.

I'm definitely going to be reading more from Tess Oliver and anyone who has a dollar to spare should go online and get this! I'm pretty sure it's not available in hard copy, just ebook and kindle, (a complete shame!) but kindle (idk about nook or any other ereaders) is available for download for computers and ipad and ieverthing basically for free, and this book so worth it!

[Isamlq · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting just a little bit more.

As is, my feelings for Camille and Strider run along the lines of lukewarm. Where Strider’s story involves a love found and a love that-might-be-lost all because of his looming transformation, it is Camille’s contribution that is more specific, with a Doctor, a sister in an asylum and her wolf hunting. She’s another one of more independent, more intelligent and more kick ass girls… but not all the time because whenever Strider was in the picture she’s be reduced to a love struck girl. The last was not so terribly annoying to have me rolling my eyes, so thank gosh! But beyond those things, there’s not much to be said about CAMILLE other than it’s an interesting take on werewolf (hunting) lore.

Really though, I’ve got nothing to complain about on the end of the two main characters. I knew who they are and what had them acting the way they did. Even the why’s of Dr. Bennett were clear to me. The only person who had me paying a little more attention, got a little more interested was Emily. I would have like a little more of the sisters together, their bond was an interesting one. Their difference quite striking, but with the reason unveiled… well, there I was again with feeling that feeling of “OK and now…?”

2.5/5

[Amy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camille and scientist Dr. Bennett are trying to find a cure for people who are attacked by werewolves. They must be treated before the next full moon or they will mutate into the monster that infected them. During one of their 'stake' outs, Camille and Dr. Bennett witness a group of grave diggers attacked by the beast they are stalking to kill. All of the grave diggers are killed except for one, Nathaniel Strider, who has been infected by the beast. Camille and the Dr. follow and eventually invite Strider to stay with them in hopes that he will prove a worthy experiment to bring them closer to their cure. In time Camille begins to develop feelings for Nathaniel and her quest for a cure becomes even more personal.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I would describe it as a paranormal, forensics romance. Tess is brilliant at describing the cold factual biology behind the Dr.'s work and the contrasting emotional pull Camille feels toward Nathaniel. If you enjoyed The Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink you will love Camille.

Amy Jones, author of Soul Quest

[Melynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, clean read. The 16 year old didn't read like a 16 year old. I often thought she was much older because of her knowledge and self awareness. Not many characters though but the writing and word usage was beautiful and interesting. Only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle and 250 pages. A few times I kept reading into the middle of the night. I also liked the use of cellular biology - made me feel smart to understand what the Dr. was talking about. Not a deep book, but a fun book. All the characters had flaws - which made them more relatable. I liked the book - and Nathanial Strider - can't help but enjoy his character, charming.

[Varsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. the setting, the characters and the plot, everything was captivating. An the cover too is just gorgeous. Thats what first tempted me to read it.
I loved the characters, specially Camille. She's brave, beautiful and when most girls her age think about dresses and parties, she's more concerned about hunting down werewolves. I also love her determination. thats pretty inspiring.
Then there's Nathanial Strider. WOW! he's tough, passionate and lovable!
also, i loved the setting of this book. London in the 19th century!! i love history so i was totally engrossed in this book :)
I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book; Heart of the Huntress!!!

[Tiffney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story jumps right into the werewolf hunting and slowly brings in Camille's past as the book progresses. I easily finished it in a day, not wanting to put it down. Camille is engaging and very likable. Strider sounds extremely handsome, warm with a hint of rakishness that is always appealing in a man.

I would recommend this to anyone that wants to read a light and happy love story. I was surprised how much I liked this book. Tess Oliver created an enchanting cast of characters that had depth and honesty.

[Gwenn Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth so much more than the 99 cents I paid for it. Wow. In the beginning, it seemed this story and I would not be friends. The language seemed a little forced and then...enter Nathaniel Strider and I don't know, I guess his charming smile and roguish manner blinded me as well. Love, love the romantic tension and the depth of character and the strong sense of place. Tess Oliver really took me there and didn't need wordy prose to accomplish the task. Yea, I had some qualms but they were minor in comparison to the sexy fun of the story as a whole.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little story that I totally enjoyed! The story flowed well. The characters were great, especially Nathaniel he was to swoon for! If you like werewolf stories don't miss this one! It's a .99 download on Amazon.
some mild language, lord name in vain
clean romance- there were to instances early on that made me wonder if it was going to stay clean, but it was very minor and no detail.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a surprise. I loved this book, in fact it just might be one of my most favorite books I have read this year. Great new Indie author.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the plot but the story moved too fast and the end was anticlimactic. Camille seemed older than her 16 years. But overall a cute YA novel.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
that's all i can say.

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a love story that I really enjoyed reading. Set in London this good girl meets bad boy but with a wild twist!!! Thank you Tess for writing a great book!!!

[Isabelle | Nine Tale Vixen]

Recommended by Haley @ The Caffeinated Reader.

[Jill Bridgeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a young gal, her scientist Dr. Bennett, and the young Nathaniel Strider. Learning new tales of the infamous Warewolf, studies of how to stop the transformation once one has been bitten, and finding love along the way. Camille and Nathaniel do share a bond and one that seems to be unbreakable. I look forward to reading more of their story.

[Sunny B · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, t'was a light read. I can tell it's something I picked up a while ago when it was a freebie, it's about werewolves and I'm not a fan of werewolf stories 😝 . Starting #2 anyways, will give it a try, i'm curious to see where it's going