Wolfbreed

By: S. A. Swann

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

When a monk inadvertently discovers a lair of werewolf young, he unleashes what will become the Church’s most powerful and secret weapon. The werewolves are clandestinely raised by the Teutonic Order to serve as instruments of God against pagan unbelievers. Trained to slip into villages cloaked in human form, they are all but unstoppable. Only one, called Lilly, has cunningly fled her brutal master.

When young Uldolf sees what appears to be a beautiful young woman injured and cowering in the woods, he races to her aid. Uldolf and his adoptive family will do anything to protect the terrified girl, but the danger is greater than they can possibly imagine. For death is the only life Lilly has ever known—and if their humanity can’t pierce the darkness Lilly harbors in her soul, they’ll soon come to know it, too.

©2009 S. A. Swann (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Swann’s exquisite werewolf historical brings the era vividly to life as the perfect setting for his conflicted, multidimensional characters. This may be the werewolf book of the year, for, filled with action, romance, gore, and political intrigue, it’s a fresh, page-turning take on werewolf tropes that is not to be missed." (Booklist)
"Religion and political intrigue turn an adolescent werewolf into a killing machine in this compelling novel of 13th-century Northern Europe...Lilly’s struggle to reconcile her split personalities–cold assassin and lonely girl–becomes a quest for redemption and love as she endures rape, amnesia and the knowledge of her own terrible actions in the church’s service. Swann turns opposing viewpoints into sympathetic perspectives, clearly painting the complex political and religious dynamics of the time." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
"Vivid and visceral, dark and delicious, this one kept me turning pages from start to finish." (George R. R. Martin, author of A Feast for Crows)

Not what I expected

This story was hard for me to get in to. The reader did a fine job, but right from the get go I got lost and had to go back and go back. Not sure if it was the reader or the story I was having an issue with. Still by chapter 4 it got somewhat better and I stuck it out to the very end. It was a bit weak, but still an interesting take on the paranormal.

Wolfbreed

When this book was finished, I felt cheated. I didn't feel there was enough meat to the story. It was a bit strange in the beginning, but finally started rolling along. Then, all of a sudden, it was finished. I did enjoy seeing the female character grow and experience the world, but it wasn't enough for me. The reader was fair and I would have liked to hear more emotion from him with the characters.

Very impressed with this authors writing

I usually don't review the books I listen to because I'm lazy. I've listened to 120 books from Audible and this book easily ranks in the top 10 for me. I know a book is good when I stay up all night listening to it in one sitting. The author painted a highly detailed world and a very interesting, perfectly written plot.