Coming of age is never easy but for Kitty Norville, it’s a genuine bitch. As the youngest member of a werewolf pack Kitty is considered little more then a pup, the least dominant of the pack. For a time Kitty is comfortable with this but then she starts breaking the rules of proper werewolf conduct when she refuses a direct order from her pack leader and continues working as DJ for an increasingly popular late night talk show. Typically the supernatural creatures attempt to remain out of the public eye as much as possible. Kitty is certainly the exception to that rule as she dishes out her offbeat blend of sarcastic wit, psycho-babble and sound advice to her callers consisting of the usual cranks, want-a-bee’s and some who are “the real deal.”
As the show gains popularity and syndication, Kitty is loath to simply follow orders and walk away from something she personally has developed into a growing enterprise. This naturally puts her at odds with the pack and can’t help but lead to trouble with a capital T. While on the air one night Kitty receives a call from someone claiming to be a werewolf hunter, he’s in the building’s lobby on his way up to the recording booth with the express purpose of killing her. Some fancy negotiations all captured live and on the air lead to an uneasy alliance between Kitty and Cormac, the would-be assailant. Naturally the show ratings spike with this latest bit of excitement furthering Kitty’s determination to stay with the show no matter the consequences. A bit of detective work leads Kitty to the money trail behind Cormac’s contract, a trail with ties to both the vampire community and her own pack.
The plot thickens following an on-air, coming out of the closet confession by Kitty as to her true nature which does little to endear her to the supernatural community. After hearing the latest broadcast, an open minded detective searches her out to assist in a serial killer investigation. Kitty’s place in her pack is shaky at best so when her life is threatened she no longer feels safe, sheltered within pack life. But as the youngest, weakest pack member how can she be strong enough to survive the death threats, pack hierarchy and bring a rouge werewolf to justice? Kitty’s in for some difficult and traumatic experiences as she attempts to find a balance point between human and the creature she has become.
Looking for a slightly different take on the whole werewolf/vampire genre? Well look no further; this is an entertaining read with a twist. I picked this little gem up when I needed a break from a couple of slow reads and it didn’t disappoint. There’s plenty of action with just enough fresh attitude to hold your attention to the end. It’s tempting to say that Kitty is to werewolves what the first Anita Blake novels were to vampires. Vaughn provides the reader with a comprehensive, perhaps more realistic take on werewolf pack life complete with tithes, pecking orders, a hint of sexual tension and plenty of politics. While reading this I couldn’t help but get the impression that this is the first of a series featuring Kitty in her role as a talk show DJ and part time detective. It will be interesting to see how this character develops in future releases.
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