Rage of Lions

April 15, 2012
The second episode in a series projected to run to at least six cranks up the stakes, the gore, the body count and the number of super-powered were-creatures as the kingdom of Westland is overwhelmed by huge armies of invaders. The cruel, depraved, deposed Lion King (take that, Disney) sits besieged in his tower, but his mad werelion son Lucas and wererat minion Vankaskan remain free--to kidnap werefox Lady Gretchen and sneak out through the sewers of Highcliff. In pursuit goes werewolf/reluctant royal heir Drew and best buddy/romantic complication Whitley, unaware that they are heading straight into the claws of Catlord invaders led by Onyx, a gigantic werepanther. Frequently punctuated with blood-spattered massacres and atrocities, the multi-threaded plot speeds its way to a pair of separate climactic battles. One leaves Drew's allies scattered in flight, and the other puts Drew aboard a slave ship bound for a gladiatorial arena overseas. Give Jobling a hand for crafting a sequel that's even more lurid and action packed than the opener. (Fantasy. 12-15)

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July 1, 2012

Gr 6 Up-In the first book in this series, Drew learned that he is a Werewolf and heir to the throne of Lyssia. Now he and his Werelord allies have overthrown the evil Werelions and are trying to consolidate power around him. But when his lady love, the improbably matured Werefox Gretchen, is kidnapped by his half brother (and enemy Werelion), Drew derails everyone's plans by going after her, accompanied only by Whitley, a Werebear with a romantic agenda of her own. Throughout his adventures, Drew predictably waffles about whether he can really be king or if he would rather stay a "free man." Various secondary characters are developed, and the plot sometimes gets bogged down in the complicated power struggles. "Wereworld" seems to be aiming to be a "Game of Thrones" for the tween set, but lacks the strong narrative thrust of that series. Purchase where the first book is popular.-Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA

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