Member Reviews
Thanks Penguin Random House, Berkley Publishing Group, and Rachel Harrison for the issue I read through NetGalley.
2 and a half stars.
When I read the synopsis of the book I imagined a story, a way of dealing with the issues and I think it is because of that that I was so disappointed. If you're looking for a light novel, that deals with some serious topics rather lightly, that won't delve into anything that's written very well... it's a good book! And I'm not saying it in a derogatory way, simply that sometimes we need that kind of reading that distracts us for a while and that is "pochoclero". That's how I felt, and I'm very sorry because I felt that I could have a lot of potential.
The whole theme of the bite, of the GREAT change that Aurora begins to experience, were not the central thing, when the synopsis sells that. This topic was secondary, tertiary and I didn't like that... it's what I was looking for.
It was a romance book, with a bit of supernatural events here and there, family problems, very sensitive issues (SPOILEEEEEEEEEEEEEER) child abuse, which I don't think has been treated so well and even there is no warning about these topics. It is something delicate.
The fact of accepting what one is, being able to control it or not, facing what one has to live was something totally secondary, that is why I felt that I did not connect, because the synopsis allowed us to see that it was going to go that way and it was not.
However, if you get the chance, I would like you to give it a try!
It will also be reviewed on instagram magui.world
**4.5-stars rounded up**
Such Sharp Teeth follows Rory Morris. Rory is somewhat reluctantly returning to her hometown to support her sister, Scarlett, through her pregnancy. Scarlett is currently estranged from the baby's father and living alone. Rory moved away for a reason though and isn't crazy about being back, but she figures she should suck it up for a bit in order to help her sister. It's the right thing to do and doesn't hurt to be a good person once in a while.
Regardless, like many of us who have moved away from our hometowns, to return just feels weird. You're out of place, life has move on without you. You feel so removed. In an effort to re-acclimate herself, she heads to a local bar, as you do. Seriously, that would be my first stop. There are faces there she hasn't seen in years. Some look real good, like the bartender and one time almost-flame, Ian.
Maybe this won't be so bad after all...
On her way home from the bar that night, as her mind is racing over the surreal nature of her evening, Rory hits something with her car. Shocked and a bit unsure, she gets out to investigate. Apparently, Rory has never watched a Horror movie before. The next thing she knows, she's on the ground being viciously attacked.
Awaking in the hospital, Rory doesn't remember much, just the feeling of tearing flesh and a distinct, gamey odor. The explanation offered up is that she was attacked by and then fought off a bear. Okay, Rory doesn't necessarily think that was it, but what her mind is leaning towards is too crazy to even say, no one will believe her.
Recovering from her accident, in the following days, Rory notices some changes within herself. She deals with them alone, again, she doesn't want everyone to think she is crazier than they already do. As the full moon arrives, however, it can no longer be ignored. Rory can't control it. It can't be denied, Rory has found herself in the midst of a werewolf tale and she's the star. Ughhh, just her luck.
Such Sharp Teeth was such a delightful surprise. I love Rachel Harrison's brand of 'Horror with Heart' and this one is the perfect example of that style. Harrison excels at body horror, of which there is plenty within these pages, all while meshing it perfectly with everyday, relatable life issues. Her characters are so well done. I never have a problem connecting with her mains and Rory is no exception.
This story feels contemporary, and it is, but with one horrifying thing happening to Rory, it changes the entire tone. It's funny, heart-warming, heart-breaking and addicting. This is easily the most unique werewolf story that I've ever read. It was so much fun to go along with Rory as she comes to grips with what is happening to her and tries to find a way to deal with it. Rory needed to get control of her life before the incident, but the stakes are raised for sure by the attack.
I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys humorous horror, or body horror. It's a quick read and completely engaging throughout. Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I cannot wait to see what Harrison delivers next!!
If you are looking for a last-minute fall-reading pick, this is the book for you.
The plot starts like an old romantic comedy. The lead character Rory leaves her fancy apartment and the job she loves in Manhattan. She returns to her hometown to help out with the family. One night, Rory is at the local bar, and she runs into a boy she grew up with. He's still into her. He's cute, but she's always been a little distant. But he's gotten more attractive while she was away. So, we're solidly in 'Sweet Home Alabama' territory.
And then she leaves the bar. She's driving home. She hits an animal in the middle of the road. She gets out to investigate. And she's attacked by -- something. She wakes up in the hospital.
And then we're into a werewolf story.
This is a smart, scary, but also funny book about a woman who finds herself turning into a she-wolf. It's got things to say about our time of rage and body-shape positivity.
This is the second book from Rachel Harrison. Her first was a witch story that won a nomination for a Bram Stoker Award.
We thoroughly enjoyed this book and featured it in the 14 October episode of our podcast 'The Library of Lost Time. — https://strongsenseofplace.podbean.com/e/lolt-the-island-walk-on-pei-new-books/
I have read everything Rachel Harrison has written and absolutely loved it. Such Sharp Teeth is the next volume of her published brilliance. Absolutely loved it! What a great twist!
I've been searching for a good werewolf story and finally found it.
SUCH SHARP TEETH takes off quickly when Rory, who has returned to her hometown to help her single and pregnant twin sister, is attacked by a werewolf. Soon after she notices some new quirks and abilities--she's incredibly strong, only craves meat, can no longer wear silver, and heals superhumanly fast. When the first new moon comes around and she transforms, Rory is thrown for a loop as she realizes her life will never be the same.
This read is intelligent, funny, and wholly engaging. Rory's transformation to a werewolf cleverly mirrors the changes to her sister's body and life through pregnancy. The author also uses Rory's abilities to address themes of powerlessness and strength. She also deftly handles topics of childhood trauma, family dynamics, mother-daughter relationships, and what it means to have agency. There is also a wonderful romance threaded throughout.
If you want a book that will keep you up all night reading, look no further! I look forward to reading other books by this author.
I’m not really sure what to think of this one. It’s nothing like I thought it would be. There is a fun werewolf plot, but I wish the story was *mostly* a werewolf plot. The werewolf part of the story competes with complicated family issues, strained relationships, and a miserable pregnancy for the top storyline.
I mean, it was okay. This was my second attempt at reading it, it just didn’t hold my attention enough the first time and I made myself finish it this time. It may be an “it’s not you, it’s me” situation, but it is more likely a case of the story trying to be too many things all at once.
The author has an interesting writing style: her language is quite blunt, which didn’t lend itself to a deep connection with any of the characters. I think that a less severe/more descriptive style might have smoothed the roughness of so many different tough things going on and helped me fall into the story a little bit.
I received a digital copy of this book for review from the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review, Berkley!
Thank you PRH Audio for my #gifted audiobook. Thank you Berkley and Let's Talk Books Promo for my #gifted electronic copy.
If you enjoy YA (not scary) horror, this book is for you. I really enjoyed the storyline and main character. However, the cover and description gives "spooky" vibes and this book is definitely a feel-good werewolf book.
And you may ask yourself, ‘Well, how did I get here?’ I may, David Byrne, I may.
Hi, my name is Kelly and I don’t like anything lately. Actually this 3 Star is pretty much like seeing a unicorn at this point in my sea of 2s and there were things I dug about this one. Particularly Rory. I love dry, droll humor and she really delivered. I also figured this would be a werewolf story wrapped up in a metaphor for trauma simply from reading the first couple of sentences of the blurb and I was pretty much spot on there too. But then there was some mean girl stuff that just wasn’t necessary to the story whatsoever and other bad stuff and things from childhood and also the miracle of life???? Yeah. Simply too many ingredients spoiling what could have been some pretty delicious soup for me.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
LOVED!!!!!
What a great story — full of rage and trauma and violence and brutality. This is a powerful love story between sisters, mothers, friends, and lovers. It’s a meditation on the violence that shapes us (especially women), and the monsters it makes us. It was bloody and brutal and brilliant - werewolves (& their transformations) are a perfect allegory for pregnancy, and I loved the various metaphors for violence and trauma and the ways they shape us. This book was unexpected, and also exquisite. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Thank you to @berkleypub, @letstalkbookspromo and @netgalley for the #gifted copy of the book.
Rory, the big city girl, is returning home for some downtime, but also to help out her sister, Scarlett, who is having a baby soon. She is in an accident shortly after arriving and has been bitten by some kind of animal. Rory knows whatever bit her was not normal and neither is the healing of her wound. She notices things changing and is trying not to freak out, but with her mom coming into town and her sister pushing her to date an old friend from school she is at wits end. What happens next is something you won't want to miss!
This is the first book I have read by Rachel Harrison and it was right up my alley. It was scary, strange and disturbing! It fits all the spooky vibes for this Halloween season. If you love horror and paranormal this book is for you!
Actually 4 1/2 stars.
Rory Morris had returned back to her hometown, taking a leave from a job in New York City she loves. Her twin, Scarlett, is pregnant and claimed the baby’s father had moved out, so she needs support. After running into Ian, who she had a crush on for years, she hits an animal while driving home. When she gets out to check what she thinks is a dog, maybe a deer, she is attacked by something that is neither and bitten, luckily surviving when the beast gets distracted. At the hospital, her wound heals. She then finds out she is strong, has an aversion to silver, and is hooked to the moon. Rory soon realizes she is becoming something not human.
There is no doubt the author was inspired by Little Red Rising Hood and the movie Ginger Snaps. It's a tale that contains finding one’s self, love for family, finding true love that was always there, trauma, rage and vulnerability, and mixing those ingredients with a werewolf horror story. The reader gets a new read perfect for the fall, a fairy tale for the 21st century that one can sink their teeth into.
The nitty-gritty: A most unusual werewolf tale that combines body horror, romance and humor in surprising ways. If you aren't reading Rachel Harrison, you need to get on that, stat.
I love being surprised by a book, and Such Sharp Teeth was the perfect Halloween surprise. I was blown away by Rachel Harrison’s writing, her ability to convey raw emotions, her pitch perfect dialog and wry humor. The book is full of messy characters who don’t exactly know what they’re doing or what they want, and yet they keep moving forward—is there any other choice? This is the story about a woman who turns into a werewolf, but more than that, it’s about family ties, recovery from trauma and learning how to forgive, even when it’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done.
Rory Morris has returned to her hometown to care for her pregnant sister Scarlett, after Scarlett’s boyfriend left her high and dry. She’s isn’t thrilled to be back—she loves her exciting single life in New York City—and being home brings back all sorts of memories she’d rather not deal with. Like Ian Pedretti, for example, who’s had a crush on Rory since they were in middle school. When Rory runs into Ian in a bar, sparks start to fly. And Ian still has a crush on her, so why not? But later that night, Rory accidentally hits an animal on her way home, and when she gets out to investigate, something attacks and bites her.
Later in the hospital, Rory is shocked to find the terrible bite wound has healed. And other weird stuff is happening to her body. She bleeds silver, she’s hot all the time, and when she looks in the mirror, there’s a red-eyed wolf lurking over her shoulder. She only wants to eat meat—she craves it. And why does she stink of wet dog? It all adds up to something terrible: Rory was bitten by a werewolf, and she has until the next full moon to figure out what to do.
There’s a lot to unpack with this story, but I want to talk about the supernatural elements first. Harrison’s werewolf mythos isn’t glamorous or pretty. It’s dark, visceral and painful. Rory is overwhelmed by all the smells around her. Any food other than meat makes her want to throw up. She constantly sweats. The descriptions of her change into her wolf form are shocking and gross. She grabs anything that moves, including squirrels and rats, and later after she’s back in her own body, she vomits up the teeth and tails of the animals she’s gorged on. If you’re looking for a sexy werewolf story, you won’t find it here. This is as close to what I imagine the experience would be like if werewolves were a real thing.
So yes, this is about Rory coping with the harsh new reality of being a werewolf, but the meat of the story is about navigating relationships and the ups and downs of loving someone fiercely, even when they disappoint you or piss you off. I absolutely loved Rory’s relationship with her twin sister Scarlett. They are best friends, but they’re both hiding big secrets from each other. When their mother is added to the mix, the emotions become palpable. Rory suffered familial abuse as a child and she blames her mother for it. She’s never been able to forgive her, although she loves her mother dearly. It was heartbreaking to read the scenes between them as they try to deal with something that’s been swept under the rug for far too long, and I applaud Harrison’s decision to add uncomfortable topics and conversations to her story.
I also loved the romance between Rory and Ian, which isn’t the focus but adds a nice dynamic to the story. The sweet, sexy moments between them were a nice contrast to the more horrific werewolf elements, and Ian was such a funny, understanding guy, I sort of wanted to jump into bed with him myself!
The story also deals with more serious topics like women’s rights and equality, and Harrison uses the tried and true metaphor of change to show character growth. Scarlett and Rory bond over the shared experience of their changing bodies (pregnancy and turning into a monster), and neither one of them is happy about it. Scarlett isn’t completely certain she wants a baby, and Rory just wants to find a cure and go back to the way she was. It might seem like all of this in one story wouldn’t work, but trust me when I say each element is perfectly balanced. It’s rare to find an author who can successfully mix romance, horror and humor with weightier subjects, but Harrison succeeds brilliantly.
In the end, there are no easy solutions to the characters’ problems. Instead, each one is resolved in a believable way. I would love to see Such Sharper Teeth morph into a series—some things are left open just in case—although I suspect this is where Rory’s story ends. And it’s perfect.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
After reading Cackle by Rachel Harrison and falling in love with it, I was SO excited to get an ARC of her newest novel. It definitely did not disappoint. I love her writing style, she has such a way of sucking the reader in...and also making being a werewolf seem very believable 😆 I really enjoyed Rory's journey into accepting her new reality and her relationships along the way. Definitely recommend! (And if you haven't read Cackle yet...it's the perfect Halloween read!)
This was a fun quirky story about a female werewolf. I liked the main character Rory who was battling identity issues when she was bitten after a night back at home. What ensues is a novel that investigates the many layers of girl friendships, sisterhood and what it means to be a woman. There’s literally transformations and some romance but it’s Rory’s biting humor that keeps this book interesting. She is mostly trying to deal with her past horror colliding with her present horror while also trying to help her sister on a new journey into motherhood. Being a woman is tough and sometimes it Involves being a werewolf
I love a feminist werewolf story, and this book here was an excellent one. I started watching Rachel Harrison with The Return, and I'm glad that she's continued her strong focus on relationships among women and where horror can be found there, especially within one's own body. I was fascinated by the way Rory's werewolf transformations were held up against her twin's pregnancy, and how each were shown as an uncontrollable and irreversible transformation.
This book is thoughtful, scary, gross, and laugh-out-loud funny in turns. The dialogue is so deeply naturalistic - I was absolutely thrilled when Rory's sister, upon seeing Rory's new werewolf-like state, responded with a page and a half of variations of "what the f*ck". Meanwhile, the way that Rory withdraws and distances herself from the trauma of becoming a werewolf with detached humor was both funny and a little heartbreaking. The romance is believable and compelling, the family drama is faced with a maturity that I rarely come across, and the main character ate half a dozen hot dogs crouching in front of a convenience store. A highly recommended read.
I really enjoyed this novel! it is a story we know but told in a new way. A way that smooths the jagged edges of trauma and helps us root for the FMC the whole way.
Rory is smart and successful and definitely never going home again, until she does. She is back in her small town from Manhattan to support her pregnant sister and as you'd expect from the" big city girl goes back to her roots" style story she reconnects with someone form her past. An old flame, perhaps?
It has all of the bucolic loveliness you'd expect from a Hallmark movie until Rory gets bitten by a werewolf. Then we begin to deal with a person who has been hurt in many ways but can no longer use her defense mechanisms to cope. There is no stopping the wolf inside!
This book has all the witty banter you could want. I loved Rory's character growth and how this is definitely a feminist story but told in a way that will delight anyone who likes a slightly gruesome read. Its perfect for Spooky Season reading!
Female werewolves for the win! This was a fun paranormal read! I really got a kick out of reading how Rory had to deal with this new transformation in her life, as it was also paralleling the other transformations that were happening: a new niece, a new boyfriend, etc...I would love to read (even a short story) about how Ian and Rory are doing after the events of this book, and if Rory ended up meeting other female werewolves.
This was adorably cheesy in the best sort of way. The perfect spooky season fluffy read that had me giggling as well as enthralled. Rachel Harrison does a great job at incorporating a little gore and humor into her books.
Rory never planned to return to her hometown. But when her sister's partner leaves in the midst of her pregnancy, Rory is the one she calls.
Which is why Rory has returned. And why she has a run in with an old friend who could be more. And why she finds herself getting attacked by a wild animal in the middle of the night.
And after that happens...things start to change for Rory. And not necessarily for the better.
If you didn't know, this is a werewolf book. And it's so much fabulous fun! I love Harrison's style of dark humor. It makes her books such completely enjoyable reads!
Rory recently returned home to help her twin sister with her pregnancy. Rory has a lot of bad memories from her childhood so she never thought she would come back. While in town Rory deals with her issues from the past, her relationship with her mother, she starts hooking up with an almost flame from high school and then she gets attacked by animal. She soon realizes when the moon is full, she was attacked by a werewolf and has become one herself.
This is more of a dark comedy, not a thriller or horror book. There’s romance, wit, humor, drama, blood and werewolves. Rachel is a strong female protagonist and there was a lot of character growth/finding oneself throughout the book. There was also some romance. It’s a fun book to read for spooky season.
Thank you to @berkleypub and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.