A class of mostly army brat seniors are taken into the woods on a survival weekend with their teacher, Sergeant Tim O’Sullivan. When O’Sullivan forces the bullied misfits to join their tormentors on the weekend away, things take a turn that no-one (in the story) expected.

I received Wherewolves as a free review copy from NetGalley and thought the premise of a “realistic werewolf horror” could be an interesting read. And maybe it could be, but this isn’t it.

Wherewolves is like the kid you see in high school who is trying far too hard to be cool and failing miserably. The slang that comes out of the characters’ mouths is second in tragedy only to the writing for the rest of the novel.

There was not a single likeable character in the whole of Wherewolves. The two who could have been likeable were marginalised into almost non-existence. I was actively hoping each character would be killed off, not only because they were loathsome, but also because every death meant I was closer to the end of the book.

The concept for Wherewolves was good in theory, but in execution it came across as cheap, condescending and tacky. If you’re looking for an enjoyable werewolf story, this is not the droid you are looking for.

Wherewolves by John Varnras and Olga Montes.
 The underdogs, Jeffrey and Doris, do not want to go as they fear for their safety among the disdain and cruelty of the popular students. Sergeant Tim O’Sullivan, their teacher, as well as their dysfunctional parents pressure them into going, but it is an unforgivable act by their peers that propels the pair to go. Likewise, Elie, a student resented because of his Arab roots, is even more determined to prove himself this weekend. In the background, a news report cautions of a wanted couple with alleged super-human strength supposedly brought on by a new drug on the streets.

In the woods, the students hike, hunt, camp, and soon act in unity as the forest brings them closer together. But does it? O’Sullivan leaves them alone for the night. The students bond, chant, tell campfire tales, and quickly lose their fears and inhibitions. HOO-AH! Though sexual tensions are high, it soon turns to violence and everything quickly turns sour.

When the kids start disappearing one after the other, the remaining begin to unwittingly “act like the natives” carving spears, ready to face whatever is out there. What has gotten into them?

Amid blood-curdling growls and gruesome deaths, the story’s underlying layers are revealed. We see how misconceptions, prejudice, greed, fear, and hatred bring out the worst and best in us.

What is out there? Can it really be werewolves?
A fantastic read.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fantastic. 
Very gory. I loved the storyline and the cover. I read this in one sitting. Just couldn't put it down.  I hope there is more to come. 5*.

Its very rare that I dont finish a book but for this one I made an exception. Perhaps it was me but I couldnt get into the characters and gave up,

I'll be honest and admit that I couldn't finish this book. I don't know if it was good or bad. I made around the 30% mark and gave up. I'm probably too damn old, but there was so much slang that it drove me bonkers! I JUST HAD TO QUIT. My thanks to the publishers and netgalley, but this was not for me.

Different take on a werewolf story. It begins with a girl running from something but she doesn't know what. Gets picked up by someone and thinks she is safe. But is she? Then typical high school antics. A teacher who happens to have been in the Military takes students on a survival trip. The horror begins. Things are not what they seem. What is causing this? You will have to read the book to find out. Great story, intense, maybe sleeping with the lights on will help. If you can sleep. I loved this story and look forward to more by these authors. I was gifted this book by Net Galley for a honest review.

Do not recommend. Poor structure, too much telling, and was so full of ridiculous cliches it isn't even funny.

I ending up DNF'ing this novella about 50% in. I requested this because I'm always looking for underhyped horror to review and I've wanted to read some werewolf fiction. Unfortunately, I really disliked the writing style. I will not be publicly reviewing this because I do not review books I do not finish.

1 star

Two not-so-popular high school seniors are forced to go on a camping trip with their fellow classmates. The group leader is ex-military, as are most of the kids – military brats. The leader leaves them alone in the woods to fend for themselves. Whether this is by design or for some other reason is unknown.

The kids soon get into trouble (of course). There is something out there in the woods. It’s tracking them. Classmates soon disappear. They are killed.

This book reminded me of Lord of the Flies in some ways. A bunch of kids run amok and revert to non-societal acceptable forms of behavior. The reader can just tell who is going to do what.

I didn’t find the book either fun or explosive. In fact, it was rather predictable and more than a little boring. It was adapted from a screenplay, and it read like one (I would imagine). Not having much exposure to screenplays, I couldn’t even tell if it were a very good one. I found the writing style disruptive and disjointed. It also read like a young adult novel. I was immediately struck by this. I did not enjoy the book. There are far too many good books out there to read to spend time reading one such as this.

I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read and review.