Bonds of Fenris by S.J. Bell (VO)

Synopsis: Talia Thornwood’s life ended one year ago, when she became a werewolf. She survived the attack, and the horrifying transformation a month later, but the life she has now is barely worth living. She lurks about in a filthy, run-down house, with too many werewolves crammed into too small a space. Every day is a struggle against the stress of human contact, the romantic prodding of her obnoxious packmate Pierce, and the gnawing hunger for flesh in her soul.

She’s all but resigned herself to a dreary existence on the margins of society when she meets Corwin. Corwin is a werewolf like none other. He walks among humans as if it was nothing, and can keep his wolf under control even when the moon is full. Talia’s mind is suddenly opened to the possibilities before her, and the realization of how little she really knows about lycanthropy.

Corwin claims that he can teach her how to cope as he does, even how to transcend her affliction. But it will not be easy. It is a hard education that requires her to question everything her pack taught her, and confront exactly what she has become. And, more amazingly, what she never stopped being.

Review: I confess I started this book without having any idea in mind, it’s perhaps the reason why I was very surprised by the story. The synopsis made me think of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. A young girl in a pack, a boy who wants to be with her and a second one who will be between them. But finally we don’t have any real similarities.
Talia is a young girl who lives far away from humans with the members of her pack. But she hates since the start her werewolf condition. She would do anything she could to change what she is, despite it’s not possible. Being only two girls between three boys, is difficult for her, she always has to reject the advances from the other members. But everything changes, on day, when she meets Corwin, this boy so mysterious. Our heroine is immediately attracted by him and she only dreams about one thing: she wants him to teach her how to control the wolf in her, she doesn’t like. However, her pack is totally opposed to this project and Talia will have to lie to learn without the others.
The story was very interesting, and it’s always pleasant to discover how an author can see the werewolves. Corwin is a character more than intriguing, we’re attracted by him for the start and we want to know everything about him. He will take Talia under his wings to help her despite the training is more than difficult, more than we could wonder when we read the book. I was very surprised by these lessons, having a young man so sweet doing some methods so abrupt, it’s unbelievable. But I have to confess I was always very curious to know each new step that Corwin had prepared for us, because the author had a lot of ideas about it.
It was really easy to like Talia, she is a strong woman but in the same time so vulnerable.  She just wants a life like anyone else. However it’s impossible for her to have that even if this one doesn’t suit her. It was touching to see her evolve all along the book, to see her accept what she is for finally being like one person with her wolf. Corwin reveals himself little by little, but it’s difficult for us to understand what he really wants from Talia. He can be so cold and sometimes so nice with her, but it’s also who he is.
It was really pleasant to follow this story and to discover all the characters. Their arguments were well written, and the writing style is fluid. The plot isn’t very complicated so you don’t have to think a lot but it’s a beautiful little story.

16 thoughts on “Bonds of Fenris by S.J. Bell (VO)

  1. I love going into a book without knowing what to expect! That way you don’t have as much risk of being disappointed, yet at the same time you don’t have a bias about how you’ll feel about it before you start 🙂 See? That’s super smart! Although now that I’ve read your awesome review for it, it’s going to be hard not to go into it without expecting an amazing werewolf book with a great heroine LOL x)

    Awesome review, Mel! 🙂 <3

  2. I’ve never read Nightshade – just from the cover I could tell that it wasn’t going to be the book for me, and I think I was right in that. I liked this one. I really liked how the wolves were portrayed. I agree that it took a while before I really knew where I stood with Corwin!

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