Review Detail

When Amy is killed by a white werewolf, Mac's world is turned upside down. Her solid group of four best friends has now become three, though Mac isn't even sure how long that will last. Jason, Amy's boyfriend, has become a whirlwind of self-destruction. Kyle, Mac's best friend, has become distant. And both boys are keeping secrets that could change everything.

When the Trackers, a vigilante group dedicated to hunting down and shipping off anyone infected with lupine syndrome, comes to Hemlock with the intent to a) find even the harmless werewolfs and incarcerate them forever and b) recruit Jason to their ranks, Mac know she has to take action. But hunting down the wolf that killed Amy will uncover truths that could destroy everyone she loves.

There's a lot to love about HEMLOCK. Mac is an engaging narrative voice, the world building is solid, and (one of my favorite things about this book) the characters are all flawed, complex, and authentic. The stakes are high, and as the mystery unfolds, the lengths Mac will go to save those she loves kept me turning pages!

The only thing that kept this book from getting a five star rating from me is that I felt Mac wasn't quite fully developed as a character. We hear a tiny bit about her awful upbringing (a con artis/criminal of a father who constantly moved around), and we're told that's the reason Mac can handle herself and look for the wolf on her own, but we don't see examples of that upbringing. And we don't really see examples of Mac putting specific skills to use in her quest. I think a deeper look at Mac would've made this book resonate even more for me.

There is a love triangle, and I know there are readers who are tired of seeing that in YA, but I will say that it didn't bother me here. Partly because Mac isn't conflicted about whom she loves, and partly because the characters are damaged and flawed and it all just felt a bit desperate and therefore authentic.

The world stayed with me long after I closed the pages, and I honestly can't wait to get my hands on the next installment to see how Mac picks up the pieces in the aftermath of the secrets revealed in HEMLOCK. This is a solid addition to the paranormal YA genre, and one that rises above the pack in more ways than one. I recommend it.