Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (review by Elisabeth S. '16)

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A solid urban fantasy novel, Moon Called gives readers a healthy dose of independent, headstrong female characters, solid world building, and complex character depth. It succeeds in avoiding the usual tropes of urban fantasy or giving them new twists to keep things fresh. The series details the life of skinwalker Mercedes Thompson, a mechanic who toes the line that divides the society of fae, werewolves, vampires, and other monsters from normal humans. As a skinwalker, Mercedes can turn at will into a coyote--though she is not entirely a werewolf, she was raised by the werewolf community as one of their own until she leaves of her own accord after a decisive incident. Trouble brews when the neighboring pack has one of their children stolen. Overall, I would recommend Moon Called to fans of all fantasy, whether specifically urban or otherwise, for a fast-paced and entertaining read. - Elisabeth S. '16

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Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (review by Anushka D. '15)

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Every year, Sam switches form twice. During the few months of summer, he relishes being a human, but for the rest of the year, he lives as a wolf. Although Sam is desperately in love with seventeen-year-old human Grace, he is forced to keep his distance and watch her from afar. But when on one lucky day, they meet each other as humans, their lives are turned upside down and the only thing they can hold onto is each other. A classic story of forbidden love, Shiver explores paranormal story explores territory of a werewolf-human love affair. Although the story sounds cliché, Stiefvater manages to escape banality by infusing fine writing and well-rounded characters. Grace and Sam are both soft, yet strong and prove to be a lovely match. Combined with a consistently strong plot, Shiver is overall a good read. – Anushka D. ‘15

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