Wereling

April 5, 2010
Debut author Feasey kicks off a gripping new series with a tale of a young man unexpectedly discovering his true heritage. When 14-year-old orphan Trey wakes up to a room that's been utterly destroyed, with no way anyone could have gotten in as he slept, it's the start of a new chapter in his life. The same day, the mysterious Lucien Charron shows up, pretending to be his long-lost uncle, and frees him from the oppressive group home. Trey soon learns that magic is real, Lucien is a vampire, and he himself is a werewolf, perhaps the last hereditary werewolf alive. Introduced to Lucien's beautiful daughter, Alexa, and his right-hand man, Tom, Trey has little time to adjust before he's learning to control his powers and fight creatures he couldn't even have imagined a week earlier. Although Trey sometimes sounds overly formal (“I need to talk to someone, Lucien, and it would appear that my options in that department are somewhat limited and diminishing rapidly”), Feasey's world-building is solid, the characters believable, and the action genuine, making this an all-around strong beginning. Ages 12–up.

August 1, 2010

Gr 7-10-Trey, 14, wakes in pain with no clothes on and no memory of the night before. Everything in his small room at his British care center for orphans is destroyed. Before he can be punished for the mess, a stranger comes claiming to be his uncle and asks Trey to trust him. Trey escapes with this mysterious individual, who is neither his uncle...nor human. Lucien Charron is a vampire who has come to help Trey become what he was born to be: a werewolf. Trey learns that his parents were murdered and that Caliban, Lucien's evil vampire brother, is trying to kill him because of a prophecy. Lucien, with the help of his daughter Alexa, a sorceress; and his right-hand man, Tom, begin to teach Trey how to transform at will and keep control of his mind. Despite their combined efforts to keep the boy safe, he is attacked, and it soon becomes clear that someone has betrayed them. When Alexa is kidnapped, Trey and his protectors must face Caliban and his minions to rescue her and save all of mankind from subjugation. Paranormal fans and reluctant readers will feast on this fast-paced vampire/werewolf tale with a technological twist. A "Demoncyclopedia" at the end of the book explains the abilities and hierarchy of the netherworld creatures. Expect sequels.-Samantha Larsen Hastings, Riverton Library, UT

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2010
Grades 6-9 Perhaps in reaction to the many classic monsters repurposed for romance, a counter-trend has emerged to bring back the scary. In this propulsive blend of action and myth, Trey is a 14-year-old orphan whose life is upended by the arrival of Lucien, a millionaire vampire who knew the boys parents. It doesnt take Lucien long to drop the second bomb: Trey is the last hereditary werewolf in existence. Oh, and he might be the prophesied chosen one able to stop the dark forces of the Netherworld. Its not difficult to understand the fantasy-fulfillment offered by a character who can change at will into a seven-foot, 300-pound beast, and Feasey gets a lot of mileage from just how cool it would behe even offers up a possible romantic interest in Alexa, the vampires daughter. The dialogue is stiff, but Feaseys descriptions are a notch above what is typical for this fare. A sequel is already limbering up its muscles, which is a good thing: the ending as it stands feels rushed (though youll dig the appended Demoncyclopedia).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)