Wolves by DJ Molles reminds me of books I'd like to read. Classics which have been on my read list for awhile now. It is one of those plotlines that sticks with you for awhile after having read it. Gruesome and dark yet makes you wonder at the same time.

Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Wolves. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

In the 18 months since slavers killed his wife and took his daughter, Huxley has been wandering the country alone in a desperate search to save Nadine. Getting some unexpected help, just when he is on the brink, gives Huxley the push he needs to soldier on. Will Huxley find his daughter and get his revenge on those who destroyed his life?

Wolves is the story of a man's desperation and his struggle to maintain his humanity despite overwhelming pressure. The aspect that makes this book unique is that it is a cross between the wild west and a dystopia, giving an interesting perspective. Huxley's anguish is clearly felt, as he searches for answers. The biggest problem that I had with the book was that the plot dragged, making me lose interest in the story. I did not find it compelling, for the most part, although the world should have been a rich environment with the potential for an exciting story. Wolves was just too quick to start and then went nowhere for most of the book. As it was a missed opportunity for a compelling and interesting novel, I would hesitate to recommend it to other readers.

Wolves - a revenge tale. On top of that, a good revenge tale. People grieve in different ways and his way is by avenging. You can't help but get pulled into the life of Huxley, the main character of this post-apocalyptic tale. This hard working man, struggling to provide for his family, has his life turned upside when loved ones are killed and kidnapped. Now a tortured man, he leads a quest of grim horror, retribution and redemption. But what price does one pay throughout all of this: possibly the loss of one's soul. What kind of person have you become, when the dust settles - hero or monster? This is a fantastic story and addictive read. Highly recommended.

What is the price of vengeance? After reading Wolves, I would have to say that it is your soul.

Every once in a while, I find a book that I connect with on multiple levels - a book that speaks to me, pulls me into the lives of the characters and leaves me craving more. Wolves is one such book. Many times as I was reading, my wife would ask me, “How is your book?” All I could say in response was, “Dark.” There is no bubble gum, princesses or sparkly unicorns in Wolves (not that I expected there to be). It is about dangerous people living in an even more dangerous time.

What is it about Wolves that captivated me so much? I would have to say it was Huxley. He is my go-to type of protagonist. Huxley is, or was a good man, but circumstances have left him jaded and changed. Violence and loss have made Huxley a new, different man; one that wouldn’t even be recognized by the old Huxley. I was riding right along with Huxley on his road of terror and hatred. Several times, I found myself wondering what I would do if this happened to me, would I lose myself?

Even in the darkest books, I usually like to have some comic relief. I find it helps to level things out and keep things from getting too heavy. Wolves has none, it didn’t need any comic relief. It would have been disrespectful to the story, and I respect Molles for it.

Wolves is not only a story about vengeance, it is about hope, hatred and redemption. It looks into the human soul to see if there is anything salvageable there.

This is my first book by D.J. Molles. I can only hope that he hasn’t set the bar too high for his other books that have now jumped up on my TBR list.

*5 Stars