Birthing the Beast takes the reader back to a time when werewolves were feral beasts, purely intent on tearing the flesh from your bones with their jagged teeth and gnarled claws, leaving nothing but destruction in their quest to satiate their hunger.

Our story opens introducing the savage nature of the beasts we are about to encounter. The prologue alone conjures vivid imagery harking back to classic monsters, the kind held within the grim pages of Gothic tales and on screen Hammer horror creature features; an atmosphere established early on that remains palpable as the gritty story unfolds.

We discover one of these ancient beasts has escaped and is making its way to freedom. Freedom that just so happens to be where our protagonists call home – the picturesque Felltree Island. The initial world building is fantastic and really helps to develop a picture of time and place. The map of Felltree Island was a nice touch and I found myself returning at crucial moments in the story to get a sense of location.

Initially we are introduced to our protagonist Damien – a carpenter’s son whose mother tragically died when he was born - and his best friend Lilly. Lilly is arguably the catalyst for the direction of the plot and it’s evident that she is the emotional driver for Damien, along with his father Byron; loyalty and a sense of duty are strong themes for the main character’s morality.

Without a doubt my favorite character was Hank, the gruff Chief of Law with a unfortunate history. His portrayal paints him as a chronic do-gooder trying to make reparations for his past mistakes that continue to haunt him and I’m interested to see how his own personal journey progresses through the future trials he has to face.

We follow Damien, Lilly and Hank as they begin to realize that something on Felltree Island has changed, it is no longer the peaceful safe haven the townsfolk have always believed it to be. This culminates in the disappearance of Lilly and the whole town begin rallying to search for her under the supervision of Hank whom is the only one they trust to bring Lilly home. When there is no sign of her, Damien overhears his father losing hope that she’ll be found alive, further driving his frustrations and sense of loss. Feeling more helpless than ever at being unable to find his only friend and confidant, Damien foolishly takes off alone and finds himself encountering exactly what led to Lilly’s disappearance.

When he returns home to warn his peers of the danger they are in, naturally Hank is the only one who tries to believe what Damien claims to have seen lurking in the forest. Sadly they don’t believe him until it’s already too late and the so called story is scratching at their door with sharp claws and teeth bared, no longer a figment of Damien’s imagination.

The plot ramps up the action when disaster strikes Damien’s home town of Derry, it was at this point in the story that I felt taken aback at how brutal the author was willing to be with his beloved characters, taking no prisoners when it comes to the devastation that one ferociously hungry werewolf can effortlessly inflict.

Not only is Birthing the Beast a tale of a vicious werewolf, but a seemingly secretive cult continues to appear following major events, leading to a sense of unease and even more questions. Who are the people in the purple robes? Who do they serve? There is clearly more to the story than merely an escaped beast attacking unsuspecting townsfolk.

Just when Hank and his team think all hope is lost, in rides the enigmatic Victor on his steed, bringing with him the answers to many questions surrounding where the beast came from, who the mysterious robed figures are and how the townsfolk can potentially win the first battle of what appears to be the dawn of war.

There are definite vibes of the film The Village throughout due to the setting and it is also easy to draw parallels to Little Red Riding Hood in the events that happen to Lilly. One scene in particular featuring her red coat really stood out to me and I enjoyed how this was woven into the narrative, whether that was done intentionally or not by the author.

By the end of the book, Damien, Hank and Victor are being set up to become our triforce of sorts, forced together due to circumstance, all of them facing the prospect of a challenging quest ahead whilst struggling with tragic loss burdening their minds.

The first book in The Lycanthrope Saga, touted to be composed of six books, successfully sets the reader up for what I’m sure will be a roller-coaster of an adventure into uncharted ancient lands facing evil in the form of man and beast.

Check out the book on Goodreads

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Written by Amy

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