Author: Kathleen Peacock
Release Date: May 8st, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books (Harper)
Pages: 400
Edition: Hardcover
Cover Judge: Typical but I actually really like it! Especially the plants around the title.
Quote Choice: I. Love. This. Line. So. Much.Source: For Review
Goodreads: Link
Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.
Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.
Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.
Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.
So originally when this book had been pitched to me, I thought it was a dystopian. But it's not! Instead, it's an alternate universe where lupine syndrome is running rampant across America and this small town is getting more and more attacks by the week. And can I just say: THIS BOOK WAS KICK-ASS.
So most of the public doesn't like werewolves and this might be my favorite werewolf novel because people are afraid. Most people aren't fans of werewolves while others think it's only some that are evil while the others should be allowed to live their lives. There is this crazy extremist group that kills werewolves that comes into town and just makes the stakes so much higher and I love all the themes that went into the creation of the plot. Also: I loved Mac. She was funny and smart while still managing to be a relatable teenager in her inability to see what's right in front of her in a way that is not annoying, but endearing.
Peacock definitely knows how to write a mystery, that's for sure. You were constantly wondering: who was a wolf? who was the wolf? who can she trust? SO MANY THEORIES! She knows how to lay on the suspense and throw something crazy and amazing out of left-field, which I always admire in a writer.
Can I stay say the love triangle in this book is killer? Except it's not...really a love triangle in her point of view. There's two guys who like the same girl but that girl doesn't nessescarily like one of them back (this might change in the sequel but not in this first book). Jason was a hot mess, guys, but we all know we're softies for those at heart. He's been through a really hard time in his life, especially since most people blame him for Amy's death since they had just argued right before he was attacked but he was really just horribly angry at the world and started taking it out on other people. And KYLE! Eep, I loved him. He and Mac were steamy yet sweet and I love that they were a friendship that blossomed into something more. Plus the angst was well-done and not...over-done, which is something that is important to me.
Overall, I really recommend it!
Happy Reading!
