Review - The Pack (#1) by Jason Starr

The Pack by Jason Starr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 1.5 days

Blurb From Amazon

When Simon Burns is fired from his job without warning, he takes on the role of stay-at-home dad for his three-year-old son. But his reluctance pushes his already strained marriage to the limit. In the nestled playgrounds of the Upper West Side, Simon harbors a simmering rage at his boss's betrayal.

Things take a turn when he meets a tight-knit trio of dads at the playground. They are different from other men Simon has met, stronger and more confident, more at ease with the darker side of life- and soon Simon is lured into their mix. But after a guys' night out gets frighteningly out of hand, Simon feels himself sliding into a new nightmarish reality.

As he experiences disturbing changes in his body and his perceptions, he starts to suspect that when the guys welcomed him to their "pack," they were talking about much more than male bonding. And as he falls prey to his basest instincts, Simon must accept that werewolves exist if he is to turn the tides of his fortune...

My Review

Meet Simon Burns, possibly the most unfortunate guy of the week in terms of work. He thinks he is getting a big promotion after working for the same company for over 7 years only to be fired rather humiliatingly and without a second thought. Going from a high powered job to a stay at home dad is life changing and challenging. But after a play date with his son at the park he meets some grown up friends and on their first "night out" his life changes and here in starts a new and terrifying chapter.

I loved this book, it is easy to read - a story that you just fall into and can't put down (well nosey folks like myself can't). We follow Simon going through an emotional journey through stresses with his job and financial situation, not to mention his marital issues which all stem from his journey after being flung into the life of a werewolf. I think I liked it so much because you get to follow pretty much every aspect of this normal guy going through a lot of struggles you can identify with(especially with today's economy). Also how the journey of the "change" happens and how it affects him both emotionally and physically.

There is a fair bit of violence and sex in this book (it is all wrapped up in the beast and the changes that take place) but it doesn't detract or take anything away from the story. It has been a long time since I read a werewolf book and I love how this one has been done, it isn't all about the horror and gore (although there is enough of it to keep fans happy). I have been left with a few questions which I hate but as there is going to be another book I am hoping they get answered there, also you are left with a cliff hanger and the omg no you can't end it here!! Book two is out in the US now and for everyone in the UK we need to wait til October. 4/5 for me and now going to see if I can get book two whilst on vacation.

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