Review: Unleashed

Unleashed
by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Series: Wolf Springs Chronicles #1
Pages: 382
Release Date: November 22, 2011
by Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers

Goodreads / Purchase

Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night—welcome to Wolf Springs.

*A copy was provided by Random House for review purposes*

Since this is a werewolf book, I was expecting it to be creepy. What I wasn’t expecting was for it to be freaking terrifying. This book is so dark and creepy and scary…but so awesome because of it. Holder and Viguie definitely weren’t messing around, because they got right into the story from page one. I loved how they explained the setting and the situation, and the writing was pretty awesome throughout the book. I really loved the story line and staging. Also, I was totally blind-sided by the part that Kat plays in this book. I did not expect what happened to happen, and I really liked that Holder and Viguie did that. At first, I really enjoyed the suspense that Holder and Viguie created around a certain character who was acting strange (those of you who have read this book know who I’m talking about), but after about 10 pages I figured out what the character was, but Holder and Viguie tried to continue the suspense for about 70 more pages afterwards. Now, either I am a freaking genius and just know stuff, or it was pretty obvious what was going on. SPOILER: [Here’s a little suggestion: don’t name your series “Wolf Springs Chronicles”, have a tag line that says “Every town has its secrets. In Wolf Springs, they’re just a little darker”, and a cover and title that basically screams “werewolf” if you’re going to try and make what these people are a mystery]. That was a bit annoying, and, at times, the storyline was pretty boring and slow-paced, but, other than that, I can’t really think of anything wrong with the book. Oh, wait, yeah I can. HOW ABOUT THE GINORMOUS CLIFFHANGER AT THE END HUH? Almost killed me it did ;P

Pretty much from the second he walked through the door (literally) I fell in love with Trick. Probably because the way that Holder and Viguie described him made me think of my Celebrity Crush (he isn’t actually a cowboy, but for a video he dressed up as one), who also happens to be the hottest man on earth. Every time Trick said something or did something I just envisioned my CC (Celebrity Crush), and I was mush. Trick was funny, sarcastic, smart, and pretty freaking hot. Which is basically everything I would want in a guy (and, incidentally, that pretty much describes my CC, so there.)
I also really liked the part that Kat played in this book. She was strong, smart, kick-butt, fierce, and I’m glad that she stood up for herself and actually did something about what was happening around her.

I can honestly say I’ve never read a creepier, darker werewolf book in my life, and I’m SO glad I didn’t start this book at night, because I would not have slept. What with the super hot main guy and the heart-breaking cliffhanger at the end, I can’t wait for the second book!

4.5 pink flowers

Favorite Quotes:

“He (Trick) bent over to put on his boots, giving her (Kat) a great view of his butt – a nice butt – and her grandfather glanced at her just in time to catch her gaze.

~Page 35

“’Does this bustle make my butt look big?’”

~Page 47, Trick

“’Houston, we are go for launch,’ he said, and then floored it.”

~Page 130, Trick