This was fun. I'm a huge horror fan and I enjoy the chance to read a werewolf story that feels new. I loved the unpredictable storytelling and the characters I grew to love when I didn't expect to. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

Thoroughly enjoyed Good Dogs. An interesting take on found family and a good werewolf story that didn't rely too heavily on tropes. Brian Asman is a solid writer with a good sense of humor and plot pacing. I had him at the store for a signing and continue to hand sell the title. Another great book from Blackstone.

Once inside Brian Asman’s first full-length novel, you might slash through many chapters being dragged into a visceral undertow of emotions. This on-the-rise horror writer has centered “Good Dogs” around a bonded pack of werewolves who’ll remind you of bohemian bums alternately bickering and trading in-jokes while trying to make sense of their wild-flung fate. They might be only a slight exaggeration of a typical modern found-family in California—but they’re about to face an epic struggle with something that’s got its own perverse spin on familial needs.

An interesting take on the werewolf with a bittersweet ending that's at once tragic and hopeful.

Delia is a werewolf in a world where it's a twist of genetics, not a literal curse, and has become a mother to her pack. Which includes leader Hirsch, her partner Naughton, and three younger wolves - Joey, Linnae, and Baby Girl (Emily.) When one of them gets off their leash (heh) during a Change, they wind up with a human leg in their yard and have to run from what peace they've found. Hirsch bought an abandoned town called Talbot...and there's a good reason it's abandoned. In those woods, the werewolves are not the predators, they're the prey.

The dynamics between the group were interesting and imperfect, all of them fighting both human nature as well as that of the wolf inside them. They have to deal with not remembering anything in their wolf form, but still having stronger senses in their human one. The want, they lust, they hate, and they feel it a little more intensely during the Change.

This definitely gets gory, no one is quite safe, and all of them are even less trusting when thrown into the unfamiliar and it is to their detriment. It's a quick, feisty read.

4*

Althought this is a debut novel, Good Dogs is a perfect werewolf monster story that marries folklore and family.

With elements of horror, nicely fleshed out characters and nods to the genre done with respect and good humour, this is a great read for monster fans.

It's not hyperbole to say that I think Good Dogs is one of the best werewolf novels out there. It's a superb mix of horror and character work, one I found myself finishing in only a few nights. You could say I... devoured it. it is a terrific novel and highly recommended this spooky season.

An enjoyable read about a “found” family of werewolves that relocate to a new home and only to l end up against something more sinister than themselves. This one had a strong start and the characters really pulled me in. The and felt a little flat and rushed though. All in all a solid read, I look forward to more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

Who knew there was something scarier in the woods at night than werewolves? This is a beautiful take on the power of chosen family over our given family, and how the love of your chosen family can lead you to become who you really are. The elements of the power of grief of are also present and how that grief can turn us into something totally unrecognizable. For fans of horror and werewolves, this novel is for you!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Werewolf stories come in all shapes and sizes, but Brian Asman’s debut novel, Good Dogs, highlights perhaps some rather emotionally compelling aspects of this well-loved subgenre. From ideas of found family to love and acceptance in the face of harsh change, this story packs an emotional punch to rival the gory grotesqueness that makes this a horror story. We meet Delia, a woman whose life has some sense of stability thanks to her pack. Instead of a chaos-fueled existence, their “Changes” are regulated with strict rules and protective technology. But what happens when those safeguards fail? This reality becomes all too real for Delia and her pack, leading to an uprooting of home, friction between pack members, and lots of turmoil. Settling in the allegedly abandoned town of Talbot, California, it’s time to start anew. Yet, something lurks in the woods, something even werewolves may not be able to contend with.

Any “monster” novel comes with its own unique set of fascinating details. For instance, we all know the typical lore of silver bullets and full moons surrounding werewolves, but it is always up to the author to determine what pieces of lore fit their story best. It’s in this way that these types of stories contain a unique sense of world-building, something that Brian Asman utilizes expertly. In this fashion, Good Dogs is a story completely of its own in terms of originality and uniqueness for the details by which these werewolves exist. And it would be wrong of me to say I’m not curious about what other happenings occur in this universe Asman has crafted given the creativity exhibited here.

Another shining facet of this debut is the character work Asman champions. There is an undeniable sense of a family forged with authenticity within these pages, showcasing a multitude of personalities, motivations, and meaningful dynamics. Of course, this is a horror novel, so these familial ties elevate feelings of suspense, especially in the last 30% of the book, to heart-pounding proportions. Asman takes his time setting the stage for the unstoppable reckoning headed for the pack, a gut-wrenching, stress-inducing, wild conclusion.

A snarling, suspenseful story, Brian Asman’s Good Dogs certainly scratches the itch for the werewolf stories we have all come to know and love while still implementing novelty and nuance. It’s a tale made possible through an immense care for characters only to be matched with tremendous violence and bloodshed by the story’s end. A werewolf story turned emotionally-fueled family saga turned somewhat slasher, Good Dogs has it all and then some.

This book hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go. It’s raw and tense and gives werewolves the gritty, non-glamorous treatment they deserve. We follow a werewolf family who, after one unfortunate mistake, has to pack up and move to what they think is a perfect new home. Spoiler: it’s not. Turns out, they’ve moved right into the territory of something much older and scarier, and things go downhill fast. The tension is off the charts, and just when you think you know what’s coming, the story twists in a way that keeps you guessing.

The writing is sharp and visceral, with just enough gore and dread to keep you on edge. The main character is super relatable, and I found myself rooting for them while thinking, “Oh no, this is not going to end well.” The pack dynamics add some great layers to the story, making the relationships feel real and messy. It’s not a perfect book, but honestly, that’s part of its charm. It’s dark, bloody, and unpredictable, and I’m already looking forward to whatever this author comes up with next.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC Copy!

A story about werewolves that are not fantastical or romanticized is always going to intrigue me. I feel like the folklore and legend were honored in the portrayal of the wolf pack in this story. The found family who finally found a place to settle and are upended because of a mistake, and everything goes wrong. The wolves end up being stalked by a creature who was created from brutal and violent ends. The slasher eques writing style was addicting and kept me hooked to this story and constantly wanting more.

A found family group of werewolves, just trying to manage their inner beast move to the middle of nowhere to let their inner beasts run free. Little do they know they moved into the territory of something older, bigger, and badder than them.

I liked this so much. It was such a fun and horrific story. We get different archetypes of people that fit into the hierarchy of the half wolf pack half dysfunctional family, and I loved all of them. It didn't feel predictable despite Asman setting it up from page 1. This was some bloody action horror I had a great time with.

This very quickly made its way into my heart. And then into my gut, my brain, my soul. Right from the beginning we are thrown into an unsettling situation, one that really pulls at your heartstrings. And then it cranks on your anxiety and twists in your gut as you watch - because the imagery is spot on - as things get creepier and more horrifying. I loved the POV we enter after the initial hell broke loose, a relatable character in many ways. I felt myself get hopefully for this character, felt my heart break for this character and I thoroughly enjoyed it the whole way. When a book pulls you in the way this one does, it’s hard to not become invested in the story. Immersed in the story. I’ll be adding this one to my “favorite werewolf story” shelf post haste!

A new novel from a viral horror writer and this one is taking the werewolf horror approach. We follow a family of werewolves who must move from their current home after one of the members makes a deadly mistake. But at their new habitat, they encounter a mysterious beast and they must figure out a way to survive before everyone winds up dead. I’m trying to figure out if I’ve ever read a book totally centered on werewolves and I don’t think I have so this was an interesting story for me for sure. I liked it! Not perfect but I'd read more from this author.

Release: October 1

GOOD DOGS is not "just" a Horror Spooky, though the Horror is inventive and frighteningly implacable! Also this novel is a philosophical and existential examination of the nature of humanity, as viewed through a disparate collection of individuals who primarily have only one aspect in common: the Change. Not each month, but a few times each year, these folks lose their human nature to become wolf-creatures overnight, for about three consecutive nights, with humanness returning each morning. From an elder, through mid-age, to a late adolescent, each with divergent backgrounds, these intermittently shapeshifting humans must work through life both as humans, and as unthinking instinctual creatures of the night.

Good Dogs by Brian Asman is one engaging werewolf horror story!
His writing is just incredible. And I was honestly engaged from the very beginning.
A fascinating book that combines horror of the supernatural and the very real.
An excellent story!

Thank You NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

If you only know Brian Asman from reading Man, Fuck This House you are doing yourself a disservice. The man can WRITE. Good Dogs is my new favorite werewolf book. It's an interesting take on the werewolf mythos, emphasizing the importance of found family. Dangers both supernatural and human abound, with lots of tension and incredible action scenes. Easy 5 stars

Brian Asman is a time wizard, sprinkling magic this way and that as his words hit the page, and by time wizard I mean he transported me back in time with this here book and made me feel like I was a kid again, reading their first horror book, mind blown completely open, jaw not so much on the floor as off the face. The wonder and joy and the excitement, they hit me like that Mack truck Coach Conrad's mama supposedly drives.

There's The Howling and there's Mongrels. Now, now there's Good Dogs.

This started with such potential. A story from the werewolves point of view and some very fun, innovative ideas. However it felt like they went from beasts to pups when trouble hits.
As the story progressed I lost connection with the story as it felt like too much unnecessary back story and internal thinking. I found myself rolling my eyes and mumbling aloud to get the action going.
There were some great aspects of the book with characters and relationships that felt genuine, a gripping opening scene, and a unique take on the werewolf lore

WHOA, GOOD DOGS is a riveting creature feature that packs a powerful punch. Asman masterfully presents a unique perspective on the classic werewolf tale, infusing it with heartfelt horror and a compelling character-driven plot. At its core, this debut novel is a captivating exploration of found family, showcasing the author's talent for storytelling. While the story centers around werewolves, it delves deeply into the human experience, offering relatable and poignant moments as the characters grapple with their uncontrollable nature and the resulting feelings of guilt and shame.