FERAL

In the small town of Pine Hollow, stubborn 17-year-old Chloe Graham navigates werewolf pack politics and a budding connection with a mysterious wolf.

Chloe faces taunts from the other pack teens because she hasn’t yet been able to transform into a wolf. She’s worried the ability will never come and she’ll be kicked out of her pack. Compounding her stress is a strange wolf that’s started following her. He’s suspected to be a dangerous feral—trapped in animal form so long that he’s lost his humanity—but eventually reveals himself to be Marcus Jennings, her best friend’s brother, who was presumed dead in a plane crash that claimed the whole family. Chloe protects stoic Marcus while he emerges from his shell, and she must step up when the pack faces threats both internal and external, from infighting and a supernatural being. Mainly told in close third person following Chloe, the narrative occasionally alternates to the wolf’s intriguing point of view. Marcus’ position as Chloe’s adoring beta is refreshing, and Chloe shows impressive growth from timid high schooler to assertive alpha. Reminiscent of Maggie Stiefvater’s The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, the plot is slightly derivative but still immensely entertaining as Luiken (In Truth and Ashes, 2017, etc.) combines sweet romance and riveting action to great effect. The book situates whiteness as the norm, using othering language to describe a biracial Chinese/white character.

A howling good time.