Synopsis: Someone is picking off fortune tellers and hippies in Oregon, snatching them out of their Birkenstocks mid-stride. And when the legend himself, Hal Rupert, Animal Control Officer, gets a whiff of the mystery, he knows he’s the man to solve it. In between proudly wrangling out-of-control cats and dogs, he’s noticed a peculiar uptick in another sort of animal…werewolves.

Hal infiltrates the country fair to investigate the disappearance of the flower children. But his real priority is protecting the love of his life, Desdemona Cohen, whose long purple tresses and black-glossed lips captured his heart the moment he first saw her standing behind the register at Hot Topic. Desdemona may have nicknamed Hal “Creep,” but he’s determined to win her heart. And, you know, save everyone else, too.

Review: It’s been a long time since I had not read a novel by Adrian Phoenix but I liked many of her series a few years ago (besides I need to continue them…), so I was curious to discover this first new novel. But I think that in the end I expected maybe a little too much and the novel was not necessarily what I wanted. It must be said that this first volume is unique and completely atypical compared to what we usually can find.

Our hero, or rather anti-hero, Hal, is a character that is not recognized or only in very specific circles. This is an animal control officer but he also keeps the peace between the border between humans and supernatural creatures (although he is not well known for this). His girlfriend (although he is the only one aware of that fact) Desdemona is a young woman that we like to see the interactions with. If she says he is a stalker, a monster or threat of gutting him, it’s not because she does not like him, they are just affectionate and doing cute names. It was pretty funny to see that he does not realize at all that he is completely different from the person he believes he is. And it’s true that their meetings are quite impressive to see when you realize that Hal interprets everything and anything in his favor. Yes, because of his ego issues, it must be said that he is quite bloated and he considers himself as a hero or a human legend and does not hesitate to tell it to everyone.

But a new terrible problem appears and he is determined to understand what is happening. Indeed, many disappearances occur and hippies, as well as fortune tellers, volatilize without a trace and Hal wants to understand the end of the story. Yet the history will be complicated when he is the victim of a plot intended to kill him or when his friends are found themselves in danger and that Desdemona is also in this situation.

It was a nice book but I admit that I did not necessarily adhered to the story as much as I thought … however it was a pleasant and different discovery and I wonder what the author will present thereafter.

 

3

mellianefini

26 thoughts on “Thinning the Herd by Adrian Phoenix

  1. blodeuedd

    Well, that looks scary

    1. Melliane

      it’s funny

  2. Lekeisha

    That cover really makes me want to read it. Creepy dude. Anything that has tentacles and slither makes my flesh crawl, I want to know what this story is about.

    1. Melliane

      lol yes it’s a fun cover

  3. Melanie Simmons @mlsimmons

    I will say that this is a cover that catches my eye. I mean, how can you not want to read a book with an tentacled whatever taking over a van? It does look very cute. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m like you though, I wonder where it will go next.

    1. Melliane

      lol yes, it’s quite intriguing!

  4. Jenny @ Supernatural Snark

    This sounds like a quirky little story Melliane, but I always love a good anti-hero. They never fail to fascinate me. I’ll be curious to see what you think of the next book if you continue the series (if it’s a series?)!

    1. Melliane

      yes it’s nice for a change too. I don’t know yet but it could be

  5. Brandi Breathes Books

    Wow, that looks like a B movie cover, lol

    1. Melliane

      true

  6. kindlemom1

    It is hard not to expect too much when you already love an author. Glad this was still an okay read for you though.

    1. Melliane

      yes it was different and nice but I think I wanted a bit more

  7. Heidi

    I have never read or heard of this author. Sounds like the story was well done, but I really want a wow book right now as winter is the time I struggle the most with reading slumps.

    1. Melliane

      she is a good UF writer.

  8. Carole Rae

    EW SCARY COVER!

  9. LilyElement

    The cover caught my attention. I’m intrigued. Great review Melliane 🙂

  10. kimbacaffeinate

    I love when you review this series, that cover..lol Bummer it didn’t go as planned, but glad you enjoyed bits.

    1. Melliane

      we’ll see later

  11. Melissa (Books and Things)

    I don’t think I’ve read much by this author, but it sounds like a typical UF. One that the first book is okay, but not great. Hopefully it will get better if it goes on! Brilly review.

    1. Melliane

      I hope so

  12. Braine

    Oh boy, is her other series better then?

    1. Melliane

      I think so

  13. joy // Joyousreads

    not gonna lie, that cover is not enticing at all. sorry! glad it was fun for you, though. 😀

  14. Lorna

    Sorry I am so behind on my commenting. This doesn’t seem to be a book I would enjoy and your review just emphasizes that. Thank you

  15. kara-karina

    Yes, I haven’t read anything from Adrian in awhile, and that cover made me think of Seanan McGuire series instead. Might read it too.

    1. Melliane

      yes it’s been a while bu I prefer the old ones for now

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