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Book Review: The Werewolf Hex

Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆ 3.5/5

Title: The Werewolf Hex

Author: CM Vorra

Publication Date: December 6, 2021

Genre: LGBTQ+, Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal

Cover:

I like the concept behind the cover with its bold use of color, but I found it to be busy with many of the details lost behind the layers.

Premise

When a mysterious illness spreads quickly through a town of werewolves, alpha Lincoln O’Connell hires Mage Freddie Nieminen to get to the bottom of it. After all, Mage Nieminen has the reputation of being the most skilled mage in Minneapolis! But the more Freddie digs, the more he realizes this is no ordinary sickness, and it’s going to take every magical power he has to save this pack of wolves!

Why I chose this book:

Author CM Vorra requested this review. This request came in simultaneously with a request for a book about vampires and one about bear shifters. How could I say no to that trio?

First Impression:

I was immediately impressed with Freddie’s fun and humorous dialogue as he rails against werewolves and all the reasons he won’t work with them…yet he does it for the right amount of money, which says a lot about his personality. If snarky and sarcastic is not your cup of tea, then there is a strong chance you may not appreciate Freddie and his interactions.

What I loved:

It’s hard to create a character that a reader both loves and slightly loathes, but Vorra did it when she created Mage Nieminen. I found myself simultaneously laughing at his one-liners and wanting to tell him to stop being such a jerk to everyone around him! He’s a lot to take with his hard exterior and rude comments. Freddie does evolve somewhat, and by the end of the book, he presents himself with a slightly more thoughtful and softer side.

Despite being set in modern times, a certain amount of world-building still occurred as Vorra explained werewolf culture and rules. This was interesting as she challenged my traditional view of what werewolves and packs might look like. One of my favorite packs was the Oloffson pack, which was filled with friendly members who seemed more like a fraternity than a pack of dangerous werewolves!

Additional Thoughts:

Even though this is a paranormal mystery, nothing is especially dark or deep about the story, making it an easy read. However, I wanted more from the book. The situation surrounding the mystery could have been more gripping, and the relationship between Freddie and Lincoln felt as if it just skimmed the surface. Exploring the relationship would have given Vorra yet another opportunity to show character growth and development, making Freddie a multi-faceted character. The book would also benefit from another round of editing to address issues such as punctuation.

The Werewolf Hex is generously sprinkled with adult language that may not be appropriate for all readers.

Quotable Quotes:

• “I’ll be right back, you stay here,” I said.
“Gonna tell me to sit too?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Only if you want a cookie,” I replied.
• I have a problem when it comes to coffee. I tend to use it to refuel when my magic take a bit too much of my energy. And that habit has built a…very intense addiction to the stuff. Coffee is my happy place.
• Why were they all so damn good looking? Stupid supernatural creatures. It was built into their DNA or something to be stupidly attractive. Maybe to draw in dumb human prey who were driven by sex. Like me for example, I would make good prey.
• Neither of us apologized. Which was fine with me. I didn’t need one. Apologies weren’t a currency I dealt in, they were no good to me.
• Bright green wolf eyes met mine in the dark. It should have been frightening, but instead the light in his eyes was like a beacon in the dark around us. It felt grounding.
• I’m not the kind of mage to show off. I’m not one of those guys in the movies who swings his swords around in a hundred different directions to look cool and fancy and badass. I’m Indiana Jones shooting that guy with a gun instead.

Who might enjoy this book:

The Werewolf Hex is ideal for readers who enjoy sarcastic humor mixed in with modern paranormal storylines.

Overall Impression:

Three and a half stars. The Werewolf Hex is a great weekend read featuring a plethora of biting one-liners from Mage Freddie. Vorra invests time in world-building, explaining how the werewolf community is organized and offers insight into pack culture, which I found interesting. The story has a fast-moving plot with a few surprises along the way that kept me reading! I would love to see this book turned into a series that dives deeper into the relationship between Freddie and Lincoln as they use their combined skills to solve mysteries and fight crime. I believe that with continued polishing, Vorra has the ability to build an entertaining series.

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