Wild by Naomi Clark

KDP, 2011
ASIN: B0053PVW22
Available: Kindle ebook

Lizzie is an addict in an abusive relationship. Abandoned on the street after a fight and attacked, she’s now a werewolf too. Wild is at heart a tale of redemption and the crippling effect abuse has on a person. It’s also a tale of werewolves on the cusp of exposure, fighting not to be defined by the worst and most stereotypical among them.

Lizzie is not the smart ass that readers of urban fantasy have come to expect, and addiction and spousal abuse seem to be among the least accepted issues in urban fantasy fiction. So it’s not surprising that this book has yet to really connect with its audience. But it’s a shame, because it’s very reflective of books of the older version of urban fantasy, like Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause and Nancy A. Collins’ Sonja Blue books. While the popularity of urban fantasy has, in many ways, led to the solidification (and some might say stagnation) of the genre, it’s books like these with a somewhat different tempo, but excellent story lines and writing, that fall through the cracks. Wild is a fantastic book, dark in ways that are somewhat uncomfortable, but ultimately hopeful. Lizzie’s struggle with addiction and self esteem makes it a book that will connect with readers unexpectedly and an excellent addition to public collections.

Contains: drug use, sex, violence, language