Since yesterday I posted up a chapter of my werewolf book, I figured I take a little bit of today talking about my all time favorite werewolf novels. My obsession with werewolves started a long time ago…way before Buffy. I was always I little peeved that Oz totally lost his own personality when he became the wolf. What’s the fun in being a wolf if you lose your identity to it? So, keep that in mind as you go through my list. Each these authors write about werewolves (and other types of were-creatures) as though they keep whatever humanity they had when they shift. At least to a degree.
1. I have to say, I love a healthy does of romance with my werewolves. That’s why Patricia Briggs is at the top of my list with both her Mercy Thompson Series (which starts with Moon Called) and her spin off Alpha and Omega (which starts with a short story of the same title in the On the Prowl anthology). Her writing is fast paced, and her girls kick some major butt. If you want more to read more butt kicking, then go for Mercy Thompson. And if you’re craving a bit more romance, go Alpha and Omega. Either way, you can’t go wrong. (Side note: Mercy is actually a skinwalker. Her other form is a coyote (not werewolf), but she lives next door to Adam, the alpha of the local werewolf pack. He is HAWT!)
2. Bitten by Kelly Armstrong was one of the first urban fantasy books I read…and I’ve been addicted ever since. The Otherworld series jumps protagonists every few books, but the ones with Elena Michaels as the POV character are my favorite. In Bitten, she really comes into her own, and comes to terms with living as a werewolf. She never looks for the easy way out, and I really admire that about her.
3. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. This is the oldest one on the list (published in 1997), and the only down side to this book is that there is no book two! (WTF!) They made this into a really awful movie that seemed nothing like the book. So if you happened to see that, do not be deterred. This is one of my YA werewolf picks, so it’s got loads of that awesome teen angst going on in it. Also, the inner workings of the pack really interesting. Also, the romance. Because, you know me. I looove me some romance. 😉 I just wish there were more of it!
4. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. I picked this one, even though it goes against what I said earlier about really loving werewolf books were the characters retain their identity while furry, but I had to include it. She’s so damned original with her take on the werewolf story. In it, the werewolfism is a virus. Shifting occurs during the winter months, and the person doesn’t shift back until it’s consistently warmer…although the in between seasons is really difficult for Stiefvater’s wolves, as they are going back and forth between forms a little uncontrollably. It’s always nice to see a new take on the classic tale. Especially one as well written as Shiver.
5. Stray by Rachel Vincent. Okay, so I know what you’re thinking. This isn’t a book about werewolves. You’re right. It’s not. My last pick is a werecat book. But y’all, it’s awesome. As in, I couldn’t put it down. I brought it with me on a trip home to Texas, intending to read it only on the airplane. But I got home and didn’t relate to my family at all. My nose was firmly planted in this book. The next morning, I made my mother take me straight to Barnes and Nobel to pick up the rest in the series that had been published. It’s a full series now. All six books are out. And let me tell you, Faythe is one tough werecat. When shit goes down in her pride, she digs in and does what needs to be done.
So those are my top picks. Anyone have any others they’d like to add? Am I missing a really awesome book? Let me know in the comments below!
Until tomorrow, ladies and gents!
xoxo A
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