What happens when a human werewolf bites a wolf?

River Wolfe is trapped in a human body and forced to endure the indignities of high school, just like any other teenaged girl.  However, just three years ago, River was the alpha female of her wolf pack until a mysterious male transformed her with one bite into a two legged human.  River wants nothing more than to return to her pack and all of her thoughts, dreams, and sketches are of wolves and of her beloved wolf pack.

One day in her physical education class, River spots him- the hated male who bit her and forced this human existence on her.  His name is Daryl Marsden and Daryl is determined to draw River out of her shell.  Daryl offers River bits and pieces of information about what has happened to her and gives her hope that maybe she can return to her life as a wolf.  River will have to make some tough choices regarding her future in this stunning new novel by Skyla Dawn Cameron.

No one would ever guess that RIVER is a debut novel unless you told them!  Skyla Dawn Cameron has perfectly captured the angst of the teenage years in a format that will appeal to adults as well as teens.  River’s struggle to understand basic human interactions, such as the need for excessive words or attending a dance, is both poignant and insightful.  One will clearly see just how awful humanity can be at times while reading RIVER.

RIVER is not a completely dark story, however.  Secondary characters such as River’s foster brother, Charlie, and her newly acquired friend, Jen, also bring glimpses into what is right about humanity.  Both Charlie and Jen are underdogs who look up to River as she struggles to assert herself when challenged by other humans. 

Skyla Dawn Cameron has clearly demonstrated a remarkable gift at capturing the true essence of humanity, both the good and the bad.  RIVER is not your typical werewolf story by any stretch of the imagination.  In fact, the wolf theme serves almost more as a symbol.  Fans looking for a unique twist on the werewolf theme need look no further than RIVER as Skyla Dawn Cameron is definitely an author to keep an eye on!

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Posted August 2006