Book Review: Claire de Lune

Title: Claire de Lune
Author: Christine Johnson
Published: 2010

Torn between two destinies?
Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf.

As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?

My Thoughts:
Claire de Lune was a fast and easy read with a fresh take on the werewolf mythology.

I did like the idea of all werewolves being female, and that you inherited the gene from your mother. While the werewolves weren't a secret from the society, they were far from liked. When people turned up dead, the blame was soon put on the werewolves, and the hex hunt began...

So when Claire first learns that she is becoming a werewolf, she is less than thrilled! And her stiff relationship with her mother is not helping matters at all. At least she has Matthew. Too bad his dad is the leader of the werewolf hunters! Can you say forbidden romance?

This was a decent story, and I liked how Claire and her mother's relationship developed over time. But the characters felt a bit too plain and undeveloped to me, and I wished they would have been more three-dimensional.

Rating: 3.5 of 5

Book Review: The Lost Saint

Title: The Lost Saint
Series: The Dark Divine #2
Author: Bree Despain
Published: December 2010

* Spoiler alert if you haven't read The Dark Divine!*

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved mother. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven. Desparate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot - a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities - not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung. Readers, raveous for more Grace and Daniel, will be itching to sink their teeth into The Lost Saint.

My Thoughts:

The Lost Saint may be even more dramatic than it's predecessor! Mystery, murder and werewolves are mixed with drama, romance and doubt, into a fast-paced novel with non-stop action.

Grace and Daniel's roles as human and werewolf have been switched in this novel, which obviously caused both jealousy, desperation, problems and huge fights between those two.

As the wolf inside Grace grows, she slowly learns how to use her new abilities; like speed, strength and great hearing. But along with Grace's new super powers comes the voice of the wolf inside her head. A wolf who is encouraging her to fight, murder, take revenge and make bad decisions...

I didn't like The Lost Saint as much as I loved The Dark Divine, mostly because of the way Grace's personality changed under the influence of the wolf. I was mad at her for making such bad decisions and being so mean and suspicious of the people around her!

Rating: 4 of 5

Previous books in this series:

1. The Dark Divine

Book Review: Nightshade

Title: Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer
Series: Nightshade #1
Published: 2010

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers.

But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My Thoughts:

Nightshade is a 2010 debut novel that I have heard lots of great things about, so needless to say I was really excited to read it! (Or actually listen to it, since I borrowed is as an audio book). While the story didn't blow my mind, I rather enjoyed it.

Calla is a guardian - half human and half wolf - destined to protect sacred sites from Searchers (the enemy). Calla and the other werewolves are watched over by Watchers, humans who make sure the wolves are doing their job.

Calla had never thought about her lack of freedom or free will, not until she met the human Shay, who made her question everything she had been told since childhood.

Torn between the things Shay tell her, and the things she has known since childhood, and mostly torn between Shay - the human, and Ren - the alpha male she is destined to mate, Calla is more confused than ever. But know is not the time to be confused, not when her mating with Ren is only weeks away...

I thought the wolf aspects of the book was alright, and Cremer was brave not to make the guardians too human. There are in fact several scenes when Calla is in true wolf form and hunts down animals, only to devour their still warm blood and flesh afterwards.

The love triangle between Calla, Shay and Ren felt realistic as well. Calla instantly connected with Shay, and mostly saw Ren as a to-be mate - she didn't love him but she accepted him.

Yet, Calla defended Ren with hands and teeth when she talked with Shay, and when she talked with Ren she defended Shay, she just couldn't seem to make up her mind! I found it quite irritating, to tell you the truth. Calla wasn't my favorite character in the book.

I actually didn't like Shay very much either, he was too stubborn and selfish, and didn't think about how his actions would affect not only Calla, but her whole community.

Ren, on the other hand, was interesting! He was funny, kind and had great alpha qualities. While he sometimes came across as brutal, you could tell that he really cared about Calla. So definitely Team Ren here!

Another favorite character of mine was Calla's younger brother, Ansel. He was so funny and loved to tease Calla, and I found it so sweet when he got together with another pack member!

Overall, an enjoyable read. But the inside of the book isn't as beautiful as its cover!

Rating: 3.75 of 5