Purgatory of the Werewolf

The Wolf of Dorian Gray Series, Book 2

By: Brian Ference

Narrated by: Alex Hyde-White Punch Audio

Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

What's worse than realizing you're a werewolf? Being chased by a monster hunter with a demon eye.

Dorian survived being eaten alive, but time is running out to save himself and his loved ones before the full moon. He flees England and enlists with the Royal Navy hoping to escape the monster. But will his ship carry him to a new life before the full moon or plunge him into the horror of war?

This is the second book in The Wolf of Dorian Gray series.

©2017 Brian Ference (P)2018 Brian Ference

I hadn't pictured this kind of Werewolf

Sorry, I like plays on words, and you know, Dorian has a portrait that is framed, so I hadn't pictured . . . .never mind. Shall I get to the book? Lets.

I did not realize that this was a Book 2. When I saw this advertised I just saw the main title, Purgatory of the Werewolf, and thought what a great title. It reminded me of a movie from the 50's or 60's, and it was a very fitting title, as most werewolf stories showcase the endless waiting the wolf cursed person does in expectation of the next full moon. Now, I have been into werewolves since I was about four years old. I know a ton of lore, have probably seen any Werewolf related movie up until 2000, then I stopped because all that was coming out was drivel, and read a lot of books about them. To say that I love werewolves would be an understatement. So, I was very happy to see a new WW book hit the shelves. I really wish I could have read book one first, because this book is so well written and well paced that the set up to here had to hav been great.

One thing I really enjoy is mash ups. Predator Vs Aliens, Billy the Kid Vs Dracula, Marvel's Dracula Vs Werewolf by Night, etc I love to see monsters joining up or fighting one another. Honestly, who doesn't? But, I think the concept of having Dorian Gray become a werewolf takes this just a step further, and amps it up a few notches. That's kind of like making Dr. Frankenstein a Voodoo master. I can completely repsect the thought that went into the project before it was ever written.

Thankfully, the writing manages to meet the expectations.Ference handles both the Gray aspects of the story and the werewolf portions equally well. It doesn't feel like the glossed over one to get to the other. Again, I would have loved to have known what drove him to China (i.e. having read the first book, recaps never do an entire book justice nor do book blurbs). Regardless of my ignorance of the preceding events the book manages to carry the reader (me) right into the tale with out a hiccup. So, he does a fine job of entertaining you even if you aren't caught up 100%. The battles are brutal and protracted, as they should be. Short flurries are fun, but a battle should not be over quickly if it is to be impactful and interesting. Just thinking of Indiana Jones and the Swordsman in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Great Scene, fun fight, but if every scrape was over as quickly was that it would get boring fast. The same could be said of a fight that went as long as the David Keith vs Roddy Piper in they live. That was a fight! But if they all went on too long it would devolve into dreck. Ference strikes a great balance in the battles, and in the quiet emotional interludes between wolf moments. He has a lot of fun with it, and I enjoyed every second. I think that my favorite bit came when the portrait changed into a wolf as well, to reflect Dorian's physical state when the moon rose. Great stuff like that really brings a story to life.

Alex Hyde-White handles the narration quite well, his accent brings an air of authenticity to the story, and lends some credence that a straight up American dialect wouldn't be able to provide. I found him to be quite crisp in his reading, and that he provided perfect pronunication. I listen to a lot of audio books, and his was a new voice for me. It was a rather pleasant discovery, although I do have to add that there were some odd pauses at times, and that there was something like a finger snap that I heard during a transformation scene (which was incrfedibly well written and performed). Otherwise, this is solid solid stuff. I really liked this book a great deal, plan of getting book one, and three when it hits Audible as well.

Even though I did receive a promo code for this review it in no way influenced my considerations of the material, and in fact, inspired me to be more honest. Getting a code generally makes me harsher as a reviewer as I am more often concerned what someone like Me will decide based on my review.

If this review helped, please press the YES below. Thank you immensely!!!

Really liked this one!

I liked this story a lot. I remember reading a story or, maybe, it was a tv show that talked about Dorian Gray, either way, he was an interesting character. While I think I should have read/listened to book 1 of this series, in no way was I lost as to what was going on with Dorian Gray.

The narrator did an awesome job! I couldn't imagine this audiobook having been read by anyone else. While there were a lot of random pauses throughout, he was obviously so into the story and really brought it all to life.

I'm giving this story 4 stars because even though I was eager to hear more, the fighting/battle/war scenes seemed kind of long. They were written well, it's just that I felt there could have been more details added instead of focusing so much of the story on the action scenes if that makes sense.

In the end, I'm definitely interested in reading/listening to book 3.

Great Book!

This is the second book in the series & is an excellent listen. Werewolves, curses, love, & Van Helsing! what's not to love! This is an excellent addition to the Dorian Gray storyline.

oh Dorian Gray...

Well it would have helped if i had read or listened to book 1. However, this audio book was very, very well done and i didn't have any trouble following along with what was happening in this one. the story is good but I had some time connecting with Dorian Gray- i don't like him. He's a very complex character and Brain does a good job showing that. Alex Hyde-White is a superb narrator. i would listen or read more by this author. i would listen to more books read by Alex Hyde-White.

*i received this audio book in exchange for a honest review. this is it.*

Excellent Story!

I received this audio book for free in exchange for my honest review. This superbly written tale is accompanied by a very talented narrator. You will be mesmerized by this story at the very beginning and will not want to stop listening till it's dramatic conclusion.

A werewolf in China

This was an interesting and adventurous tale of Dorian Gray not only having perpetual youth but also cursed as a werewolf at the full moon. He leaves England to go to China to lay low. But in China the English troops are beset by Chinese soldiers during the full moon and the werewolf goes ballistic. A friend works on a cure and he heads back to England where an epic battle for his life takes place. Great twist on Dorian Grey. I received a complimentary audio and I am voluntarily reviewing.

Dorian Gray with a twist

This second in the series can be read as a stand alone. In this audiobook, Dorian Gray awakens with the knowledge that something else has changed. He survived what he knew was certain death from the monster he and Sage created via her painting described in Book 1. To escape from a possible manhunt, Dorian turns to his friend Lady Helena for help. He flees London and embarks on a new adventure overseas.

The narrator for this book is different from the first and is a definite improvement. Alex Hyde-White narrates with much more confidence then his predecessor.

The choice to make Dorian Gray's monster a werewolf is an excellent choice. I love it when contemporary writers take literary characters and give them a new spin. In the past, I'd wondered before if a vampire would have been a good idea but Ference's choice of monster reflects the coarseness and evil that Dorian Gray's soul has become (as seen by the painting)

I definitely recommend giving Purgatory of the Werewolf a listen. The story and narration is much improved and worth the credit.

A story about Dorian Gray

This is second in a series, while I enjoyed this book, I've never read The Picture of Dorian Gray (although I did see the movie ages ago), nor have I read the first in this series, so, I'm not sure what I may be missing that may have increased my appreciation.

Captivating

Although I hadn’t listened to book 1, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Very detailed and mesmerizing. Well written and the narration was superb!! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a thrilling mystery!

Nouveau gothic at its best!

Other reviews here have covered the story probably better than I could, I hope to cover the feel of this work.
This is a fantasy that uses several gothic characters creatively.
Imagine that a portrait of a wolf cub and a man could act as a mechanism to meld fates.
Dorian is the benefactor? of the melding of wolf and man. Now rock out a story or series. Brian has managed this in a very entertaining sequel to "The Wolf Of Dorian Gray".
Brian brings the other classic gothic characters together seamlessly. He gives a backstory to Van Helsing that adds life to that character not evident in Stoker's "Dracula". Well done.
Other authors have been successful in bringing some classic characters such as Theodora Goss in her "Extraordinary Adventures Of The Athena Club" series.
Brian's writing, plotting and characters are every bit as good as Goss's. He paces the story and action well without losing the gothic feel. I hope he gets recognition and is rewarded for his work.
I don't want to slight the narrator. Alex Hyde-White has a voice as compelling as George Guidall. He is a perfect performer for this audiobook. I truly hope to here much more from him. I use Goodreads extensively, and he has not been credited on his efforts. I will begin to correct that with this entry in Goodreads.
For lovers of this genre or anyone who would listen to a compelling performance, this is a don't miss.