Review: Werewolves Be Damned

Reviewed by Jen
 

Nexi thought she was just a regular human woman.  She didn't even know supernatural creatures existed... until werewolves attacked her home and killed her parents. That's when her life changed forever.  The Guardians who arrived on the scene filled her in on the missing pieces.  Not only are there paranormal beings; she is one, herself.

Nexi is actually part Guardian, part witch.  When her mother was killed, her father opted to bind her abilities and have her raised in the human world.  But once the secret is exposed, Nexi opts to embrace her true heritage --her gifts and her magic-- so she can wreak vengeance on the wolves who killed the couple who raised her.

Kyden is one of the Guardians who rushed to save Nexi that fateful night. And ever since, he has been drawn to her iron will and take-no-prisoners attitude.  When the opportunity arises for him to train her, he jumps at the chance. Suddenly, their cantankerous relationship turns into something more fiery.

As Nexi trains and gets stronger, we learn about some malevolent force rallying supernaturals to great violence.  Nexi's parents were only the beginning. She must work with Kyden to figure out who is behind it all --and why it feels like it all has something to do with her.

I had mixed feelings about the book. I thought the world-building was interesting and I liked the premise.  Stacey Kennedy does a good job setting up the Otherworld and its various factions.  I found some of the secondary characters intriguing and I'd like to see more of them... (Valor, anyone?)  The sexual tension between Nexi and Kyden is hot... and though it took forever for them to seal the deal, the sex is pretty good.

However, I never felt a deep connection to the main character.  Nexi seems kind of one-note throughout the book: revenge at all costs... which eventually morphs into the two-notes of revenge at all costs plus I love Kyden.  I know there is more to her than that; and I would have liked to see it. On top of that, I felt like her relationship with Kyden progressed really fast, making the depth of their connection hard for me to believe entirely.  In fact, a lot of things seemed to develop quickly or easily, like Nexi's ability to accept the supernatural; her ability to fight; and her friendships and connections to other members of the Otherworld.

There were obviously some sexual developments that happened between Nexi and Kyden off-page, which were alluded to when we jumped from their initial contact to even more intimate terrain. And while we're talking sex... I never got a satisfying explanation on why Nexi was a 25 year-old virgin.  She's hot and there's nothing apparently wrong with her; plus she doesn't have any moral or religious reasons we know of.  I just don't buy it.

Overall, I found the book a pretty good read.  I liked it, but I didn't love it.  I'm curious if future books in the series will continue to focus on Nexi or on other characters in the Otherworld.

Rating: B-

*ARC Provided by Entangled 

Click to purchase: Amazon

Werewolves Be Damned

by Stacey Kennedy

Release Date: April 15, 2013

Publisher: Entangled