Set in the vast Bavarian forest in Germany, this story gave me the feeling that I was in the middle of an original Grimm’s fairy tale, not one of the innocent Disney versions where all the blood and gore have been taken out. Konrad and his mother lived on the edge of this forest. Full of animals and trees, this area was also home for a few days each month to something deadly.
His father was alive, but Konrad didn’t see much of him because the majority of the time he was away chasing beasts. The boy has lost all love and respect for the father that is never there.
When the werewolves come calling, his father isn’t there to protect them. His mother makes him hide beneath the floors of their house. In the hiding place beneath the floor, Konrad hears each cry of pain and every scream as his mother is attacked by the beasts. Even worse, she falls on the floor right above him after her last breath has been taken. Then he hears the werewolves feasting. Talk about a nightmare-inducing experience. The horrid sounds cause young Konrad to pass out.
The author wrote this heart-rending scene in such a vivid way that I was able to picture each horrific moment of it in my mind.
When he wakes up, his father is there. Konrad should be glad to see him, but he isn’t. He slowly warms to his father, especially after his father tells him about hunting werewolves.
two werewolves by dsantiag on DeviantArt
This is a story about werewolves and revenge, but it is also a story about the relationship between a father who was hardly ever there and his son. Did he care more about gaining his revenge on the werewolves than he did his own son? Will Konrad be able to forgive him for his prolonged absences? And now that Konrad also desires revenge for what the werewolves did to his mother, will Konrad and his dad succeed in getting what they desire?
I enjoyed this novella so much that I read it twice. The story moves at a rapid pace. The scenes where Konrad and/or his father are in battle with the werewolves are exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. The satisfying ending is awesome and left me wanting to read more by this author.
A free copy of Where Wolves Run was sent to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. If you would like your own copy, I have provided an Amazon link below.
Amazon Link: Where Wolves Run
open up to imagination, www.studentpulse.com
Favorite Sentences:
The nauseating cacophony traveled through the dirt as if to mock Konrad for his cowardice as he lay in his sarcophagus.
His thoughts plagued him, an insatiable succubus, depriving him of sleep since that day he had first fled the beasts, the day he had failed to avenge his family.
The werewolf pulled the arrow from his body and tossed it aside as if it was a minor inconvenience.
Its loathsome snarling fumed hot breath that smelled of corpses and plague.
Tyrolean hat, wikimedia commons
New Words Learned:
palfrey – (archaic) a docile horse used for ordinary riding, esp. by women
side-long – directed to or from one side; sideways
Tyrolean hat – Also known as a “Bavarian hat” or an “Alpine hat,” the “Tyrolean hat” is a traditional German hat that is brimmed and usually made from felt or wool. This hat is often decorated with various accessories, such as hat pins and feathers.
http://www.germansteins.com/german-hats-hat-pins-and-feathers/
About the Author:
In his head, Jason Parent lives in many places, but in the real world, he calls New England his home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides in Rhode Island.
In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he wanted a change, he traded in his cheap suits for flip-flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he’s back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that’s another story.
When he’s not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, and travel any place that will let him enter. And read and write, of course–he does that too sometimes.
Please visit the author on Facebook, or on Twitter, Information regarding upcoming events or releases can be found on his website. While there, you can also ask questions or leave comments for him.
