Feral: A Novel

by Nicole Luiken

Overview

17-year-old Chloe fears she’s a Dud, a child born to two werewolves who can’t change into a wolf. If she’s still a Dud by the time she reaches adulthood, she’ll be exiled. In the meantime, she’s at the bottom of the pack hierarchy and the other teens in her small town make her life miserable.

Then she encounters a feral werewolf with the opposite problem: he’s trapped in wolf form. Chloe suspects the feral is her old classmate, Marcus, who everyone believes died along with the rest of his family in a mysterious plane crash. Chloe vows to help Marcus regain his human self because giving up on him would mean admitting possible failure for herself, too. But she must act quickly. Pack law mandates killing ferals.

Finalist for the Snow Willow Awards!

"A howling good time." - Kirkus Reviews

"Nicole Luiken’s new novel is a fast-paced read blending military technology, the supernatural, and romance." - CM Magazine

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781773370316
Publisher:	Great Plains Press
Publication date:	11/30/2019
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Nicole Luiken wrote her first book at age 13 and was published while still in high school. She is the author of 17 novels, most of them written for teens. Her titles include Violet Eyes and Silver Eyes. She lives in Edmonton.

Editorial Reviews

"A howling good time.” — Kirkus Reviews

"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." —Kirkus Reviews


"…what the conclusion of Feral really celebrates is a young woman unafraid to assert her dominance and who thrives in a position of power…very thrilling stuff" —CM: Canadian Review of Materials  

From the Publisher

2019-08-22
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. (Paranormal romance. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews