Feral Nights (Feral Series #1)

by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Overview

"Smith’s blend of supernatural suspense, campy humor, and romantic tension is addictive." — The Horn Book

Fans of best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Tantalize quartet will recognize Yoshi, a sexy, freespirited werecat; Clyde, a sarcastic werepossum; and Aimee, a human with shifter connections. Now these three former sidekicks are starring in an adventure of their own, kidnapped and transported to a remote tropical island ruled by an unusual (even by shape-shifter standards) species. The island harbors a grim secret, and predator and prey must join forces in a fight to escape alive.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763662943
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	02/11/2014
Series:	Feral , #1
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 10.20(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	HL750L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

 

Editorial Reviews

Smith kicks off a spinoff series to her Tantalize books with a noirish adventure featuring shape-shifting werepeople old and new. Eighteen-year-old ladies’ man (well, werecat) Yoshi, the younger brother of Ruby Kitahara (last seen in Tantalize), travels to Austin, Tex., in search of his missing sister. Upon arriving, Yoshi learns that Ruby is the prime suspect in the murder of Travis, a werearmadillo whose ghost haunts his nerdy friend, Clyde (“My werepossum metabolism usually keeps me warm enough, but Travis’s spiritual presence has a chilling effect. Like a ghostly mini air conditioner,” Clyde quips). Clyde, still recovering from injuries incurred in Smith’s Blessed, wants to avenge Travis’s death, but the unlikely trio of Clyde, his crush Aimee, and Yoshi are forced to unite when they are captured and taken to Daemon Island, to be hunted for sport. Smith’s fantasy smoothly switches between the three protagonists’ perspectives, while expertly blending the mythical and the modern. The story’s sharp banter and edgy plot make for an entertaining and clever story about loyalty and reconciling differences. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Teens who favor humorous paranormal romance that never takes itself too seriously will enjoy dialogue that sparkles with wit, filled with both literary and pop-culture references.
—Kirkus

Smith takes readers back to the universe of the Tantalize quartet with this sexy, fast-paced new novel...[with] an ending that satisfies and should win her many new fans.
—Booklist

Smith’s fantasy smoothly switches between the three protagonists’ perspectives, while expertly blending the mythical and the modern. The story’s sharp banter and edgy plot make for an entertaining and clever story about loyalty and reconciling differences.
—Publishers Weekly

Fans of the Tantalize quartet will appreciate this companion novel featuring its supporting cast.... As before, Smith’s blend of supernatural suspense, campy humor, and romantic tension is addictive.
—The Horn Book

This fast-paced story, told from various points of view, captures the reader from the start. All three are well-developed, strong characters. This is a book that both genders will want to read.
—Library Media Connection

From the Publisher

Shape-shifting werepeople battle to survive on a remote island while vampires, Yeti-like creatures and other creeps hunt them for sport in this action-packed, goofy companion novel featuring secondary characters from the series that began with Tantalize (2007). Werecat Yoshi heads toward Austin, Texas, looking to find his sister Ruby, who's been missing since her involvement in the death of an evil vampire chef and a well-liked teenage werearmadillo, Travis. He enlists the unlikely help of Travis' friends, a human, Aimee, and a wereopossum, Clyde. The trio is eventually kidnapped and spirited to the island, where the story takes its surprising Survivor/Hunger Games turn. Teens who favor humorous paranormal romance that never takes itself too seriously will enjoy dialogue that sparkles with wit, filled with both literary and pop-culture references. ("You're saying that you and my sister perform exorcisms on vomiting children with rotating heads?") Aimee, Yoshi and Clyde take turns narrating in the first person, each of them sarcastic, with varying levels of self-deprecating snark coloring their inner monologues. It may be difficult for readers to keep track of the vast ensemble of characters, particularly if they haven't read the previous four books, but many won't care--instead they'll be wrapped up in the playful, smart tone. (Paranormal romance. 13 & up)

Kirkus Reviews