Too wordy! The phrase less is more could be applied to this book. It’s overwritten but maybe I’m just not intelligent enough to fully appreciate this type of literature. If you like cute and cuddly werewolves who chain themselves up come the full moon to avoid creating carnage, this isn’t the book for you.
Jake is a werewolf first and a man second. He makes no apologies for being a monster. Once a month he will devour and kill a human being and do so with relish, then go on living because life is all there is and you love life. His only companion is Harley, an older gentleman who is a spy in WOCOP (World Organisation for the Control of Occult Phenomena) and treats Jake as his son, though Jake is a lot older than him at two hundred or thereabouts. Jake does not expect to survive the next full moon when he will be hunted down and killed by WOCOP agent Grainer, therefore eliminating the entire werewolf species. Harley wants Jake to fight to stay alive but Jake has had enough of life. He never allows himself to get close to anyone and especially to love because he would then have to kill and devour the object of his affections. This is a werewolf thing you see; you always want to eat the person you love, apparently.
The Last Werewolf is set in London and Wales and is filled with violence, unromantic sex and an unlikeable but interesting protagonist. These days, fiction is filled with brooding supernatural characters trying to deny their inner monster and do good in the world. Jake does good in the world; he’s used his money for various charities and missions throughout his long life but he never fights the inner beast. It’s difficult to feel concern or empathy for him but perhaps this is why I kept reading to the end, despite me not loving this book. Jake is unlike any main character I’ve read in a long time. He isn’t human and doesn’t think the way people do. Guilt is nothing to him anymore, nor is shame or loneliness. He barely feels emotion.
If you’re looking for a different type of werewolf story then think about giving this a go. As for me, though I’m glad I picked it up on impulse thanks to the spooky front cover (note to self, I really need to stop buying books because of their beautiful artwork), I won’t be reading this again. ***
Check it out on Amazon HERE
Emma's Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction 
I don’t think this is my cup of tea. Especially when you said you had trouble feeling empathy for him. The wordiness would probably bother me, too. I’m like you…I LOVE the cover.
Funny observation about the artwork. I do it too as do many other readers so don’t worry 🙂
I have this book on my to read list so since the market is flooded with fantastic books, I don’t think I have time to waste on something sorta/okay.
Lauralynn, it’s not my cup of tea either but I’m glad I gave it a go. Sometimes it’s good to make myself read something that’s out of my preferred genre/comfort zone. It’s well written but I just couldn’t make myself care about any of the characters.
Hi Rebecca,
Oh no, I don’t want to put people off this as it was a decent read. Who knows, you might love it so don’t take my word on it! The cover is beautiful though.
I tend to pick books based on their art work as well. This is one I think I’ll skip. Thanks for the review Emma.
Thanks for stopping by Debra. I’m glad I’m not the only who chooses books this way!