How To Run With A Naked Werewolf (Naked Werewolf #3) by Molly Harper

We have come to know Anna a little bit in the two previous books as the towns doctor.  What we didn't know is that Anna is running from a dark past which she thinks will never stop hunting her.  For fear of her past catching up to her and hurting the werewolves, Anna has come to see as family, she decides to leave, change her name and start over.  You know what they say about well laid plans don't you?  Anna intervenes in a struggle in a parking lot which leads to her car being blown up and under the protection of the werewolf bounty hunter Caleb.

Caleb agrees to help get Anna to Anchorage as long as she agrees to a few stops along the way.  Anna is not at all keen on this because she wants to stay a few steps ahead of her abusive ex husband Glenn.  Anna cannot help getting involved as Caleb tries to apprehend fugitives and without intending to, she quickly finds herself caring for Caleb.  Unfortunately, all good things must end at some point and for Anna, a visit from her husband might just prove to be extremely dangerous.

Okay, to be clear, the naked werewolf series is paranormal chick lit.  If you go into this series expecting more than that then you will be seriously disappointed.  It's a nice light easy read filled with funny one liners and ridiculous pop culture references. If this is your sort of thing, this series might be a good fit.

Harper did take a much darker tone in this third novel because the protagonist Anna, is a survivor of domestic abuse. Even though Anna, by the time she met Caleb, had spent years on the run, she is still very much dealing with PTSD.  Anna is extremely scared of her ex husband Glenn and still to some degree blames herself of the end of her marriage and the fact that she was left disconnected from others.  Harper does a great job talking about how abusers isolate their spouses to cut off escape routes.  Even with everything Anna has gone through, she is never afraid to stand up for herself and fights back when she must.  I really liked this about her and it was absolutely necessary for her to have this trait, otherwise the book would have read like here comes big bad werewolf to save the day.

Werewolves: They Just Can't Help It

 

The very nature of urban fantasy means an interaction with the supernatural. Regardless of the supernatural creature that the author chooses to focus on, the one thing is certain, unless an author is making up a brand new creature from thin air, there will be a strong lore in existence, which will highly influence how the character is written.  The vampire has most certainly taken a lead in terms of representation. The werewolf is far less popular but when it does make an appearance, regardless of who the author is, the characterisation is nearly uniform.  In many ways, the werewolf can be understood as a metaphor for hyper masculinity and violence. Over the years, werewolf nature has become commonplace to explain away abusive relationships and a forced submission upon their partners.  That this is romanticized is one of the largest issues with how lycanthropy is constructed today.

Perhaps the most common werewolf trope is extreme possessiveness to the point of jealousy. These wolves demand to control and own their women and defend them like an actual wolf would its hunting territory. I still await the story when a werewolf actually cocks his leg against his woman, but I won’t be surprised when it happens.

This overwhelming possessiveness and control is constantly presented as romantic. In the Otherworld Series when Elena returns to Stonehaven, Clay simply will not accept that she won’t be with him and considers them married, despite her objections. Even after she is reconciled to their relationship, he demands near constant attention from her. Other men cannot even look at Mercy from the Mercy Thompson series with Adam growling, roaring and coming close to attacking and he is extremely reluctant to ever let her out of his sight. In the Caedemon Wolves, the fact Devin feels possessive of Tamara and is jealous when she speaks to other men is the very first sign that he actually has feelings for her - before love or affection or kindness, it’s possession. Even in Twilight Jacob forces a kiss on Bella despite her objections - to say nothing of imprinting, including small children and even eggs in the womb; marked from the womb as owned! Taking, controlling and owning their mates is an incredibly common theme.

Dominance issues are nearly synonymous with werewolf stories today. It is based in the false idea that because werewolves literally have an animal nature that they will behave like wolves in a pack.  This would be a fine assumption, if this is what actually happened but that is not the case in most stories. In the books that I have read, alphas are almost always male though we know that in real packs there is an Alpha female or male or both.

The constant jockeying for position as Patricia Briggs portrays in the Mercy Thompson series is non existent. In Briggs’ world two wolves can barely stand to be in the same car with each other simply because they haven’t figured out who is the most dominant. Dominance in this way is more of one male testing his masculinity against another through violent means.  Because the violence is happening in a werewolf pack, it is never questioned and always rationalised, as though these men don’t spend more of their time in human form.

It’s also telling how so many of these dominance games put women at the bottom of the hierarchy - a major contrast to the lives of actual wolves. In the Mercy Thompson series, women are given the same rank as their mates, no matter if they were far more dominant than the men they were with. In The Protector female werewolves are sheltered and protected and often forced to take mates for their “protection.” In the Anita Blake Series just about all the shapeshifter packs are dominated by men, female heads are remarked upon for their rarity and the main source of influence for female shifters is as mate to a male leader.

Being Human U.S. Season Two, Episode Five: Addicted to Love

 

"Every monster had their own version of an addition; it's written into our blood."

There was a lot going on with this episode of Being Human.  Now that we have reached the fifth episode of this season, it is clear the characters are on the dark path that we have been promised.  Much of Aidan's story was told through flashbacks this episode.   

Suren had chosen Henry after Aidan refused to run away with her.  I can fully understand her desire to get away from Mother.  In the 1930's, she had already reached the age of 700, and had yet to be granted any autonomy over her life. Mother very cavalierly tells her to make the most of the party that they are at because she is tired of Chicago and that they will be leaving the city.  Suren suggests that she will stay on her own, only to be quickly denied. 

Even in the present day, there seems to be nothing that Suren can do to please her Mother, who makes it very clear, that she has created an empire from her hard work and demands that Suren become an absolute duplicate, to be seen as acceptable. Tension between mother and daughter is not at all creative or new, but it certainly was acted well. 

Suren walks in on Henry, Aidan's child, have sex with another woman.  He claims that she means nothing to him, and that he brought her upstairs to feed.  Suren does not believe him, and so Henry appeals to Aidan to tell her that she is being childish.  He could not have chosen words that were more wrong. Suren rushes downstairs where a party is happening, while Aidan and Henry fight.  Aidan breaks Henry's arm and banishes him from vampire society.  

Downstairs, Suren sees the woman that Henry was screwing, and feeds on her in front of everyone.  Mother is livid that they have been exposed, and demands that the doors and windows be locked.  The vampires kill every single human in the room and Mother orders Suren be put to ground.  As she screams about not wanting to be grounded, Serene is carried away by two vampires. The language chosen makes it appear that Suren is a six year old instead of a 700 year old woman.

In present day, Mother is still dissatisfied with Serene progress and makes an appearance at the hotel to tell her so.  She wants the orphans culled immediately, because she fears that they are organizing.  In a fit, Serene runs up to see Aidan and tells him that they have to find the orphans.  When he tries to placate her, Serene reminds him that he does not even remember what it's like having a mother, and that therefore; he should not lecture her on how to deal with hers. 

Aidan finally admits that he has known all along where a nest is.  When they show up at the funeral home, all the orphans have fled with the exception of Henry.  Aidan is very surprised to see him and hides him from Serene.  Clearly this is a mistake, and I think in time we will come to find that Henry has assumed leadership of the orphans now that Bishop is dead.  Why would he be waiting there for Aidan in the first place?  The man is clearly conniving and is up to something.

Being Human U.K. Season One, Episode Five

 

Oh my goodness, this show keeps getting better and better. This episode opens with George asking what it is about that them, that leads people to drop of jars of jam, by way of apology, for writing pedo on the front door, and Annie announcing her decision to haunt Owen.  George tells Annie that he understands why she wants to haunt Owen, but says that he does not want her to go. Annie replies, "I want to scare him, to make him beg and scream. It's not just about justice; it's more jagged than that." I am glad to see Annie stand up for herself but sad that it is happening after she is already dead.  As we know women die from domestic violence daily but for them death is always the final assault.

At the funeral home, Herrick is holding court and rejoicing over the fact that Mitchell has decided to join them.  Lauren is clearly not impressed by what is going on.  She hints that there is plenty of room for storage and this of course implies their feeding habits.

At the hospital, Mitchell invites Herrick in through what looks to be a back door.  I don't understand why Herrick needs an invite, when the hospital is a public building.  In the elevator, Mitchell tells him about 41 year old Duncan Johnson, who has 5 weeks left to live, because he is dying of AIDS. When Herrick inquires about Duncan's profession, Mitchell tells him that he is an architect. Herrick then proceeds to introduce himself to Duncan, saying that he has a proposition for him.  What dying man is going to turn down that offer?

Back at the house, George calls Owen to complain that the plumbing is on the fritz again, to get him to come over to the house. 

Later, in the hospital cafeteria, Mitchell approaches Josie, a woman who he dated in the 60's.  Though she knows that he is a vampire, she is still shocked to see that he has not aged a day. Mitchell tells her that he shares a house with some friends, and they reminisce about a weekend they spent together. When George interrupts them, Mitchell introduces him to Josie, but when George balks, Mitchell reassures him that she already knows all about them.  George mumbles about talking later and leaves. Josie then tells Mitchell, "that was mean, you just outed him."  Really?  Outing is something that happens to GLBT people with disastrous results, it's not something that happens to imaginary werewolves, and the analogy is absolutely wrong and insensitive. It amounts to yet another example of using the language of the oppressed, to apply to the supernatural. Josie then goes on to tell Mitchell that she is dying of lung cancer, and that there is no hope for her.

Later that day, Owen shows up at the house.  He walks into the kitchen, only to discover that the plumbing is indeed working.  As he leaves the room, Annie is waiting for him. She says, "I am death. I am darkness, vengeance and fury, fire and blood, diamonds and bones, sapphire and steel. Confess Owen, confess." When she walks away from him, Owen taunts her asking , "hey Annie, is that the best you got?"  As Annie stands there absolutely shocked, he laughs dryly. " I should have known that even death would not be a match for even one of your sulks," Owen says.  He dismisses her and walks out of the door. 

Back at the funeral home, Mitchell and Herrick are watching over the body of Duncan.  Mitchell asks Herrick if he would consider talking to Josie.  When Herrick learns that she used to be a dance teacher, he says, "not exactly an essential worker, but come the evolution, we will need to learn how to dance". Lauren overhears the conversation and when Herrick leaves, she tells Mitchell, "You shouldn't do that, let them take someone you care about." When Mitchell asks why not, Lauren replies,"they could become cruel.  It changes you this life."  Mitchell says, "It didn't change me", but Lauren answers, "yes it did, it just took longer." Duncan suddenly sits up, drawing a huge breathe, and as Mitchell rushes to comfort him, Lauren leaves the room.

Back at the house, Annie tells George about Owen's reaction to seeing her. She says, "It makes sense really when you think about it. We were expecting him to react like a sane person, even though this is someone who killed is fiancee, concealed it, and then rented out the crime scene." I feel it necessary to point out that the writers have fallen back on the criminally insane.  We all know that people who are neurologically atypical, are far more likely to hurt themselves before hurting anyone else, and yet in the media, the insane violent person is what is most often depicted.  This is absolutely disableist, because not only does it actively other, it creates unreasonable fear. Annie then decides that she is going to visit Janey, for fear that she will be next.

Mitchell arrives and interrupts the conversation. Annie tries to tell him what has been going on in his absence, but he clearly is not listening to a word she is saying.  George asks Mitchell where he has been and then outright says, "You're back with them."  Mitchell tells him that it is different and that no one is being forced.  He is still angry about what happened with Bernie.  He says humanity is stupid and cruel and that humans are really the monsters. 

The next day, Herrick approaches Josie and says that it's a lot to take in, and that it's about there being another option.  Mitchell tries to tell her that hospitals would be antiquated, and that this would end all famine and all war.  Josie responds, "Being human means being mortal. It means dying. You can't rob people of that.  It's a trick, Christ Mitchell just because they are handing themselves voluntarily it doesn't stop it being a con.  You're offering something you have no right to.  Of course people want eternal life. People want capital punishment, it doesn't make it right. Never a birth, never a death; that's no evolution, that's a full stop." She goes on to ask whether or not Mitchell's friends know about what he is doing, and when he says no, she tells him that this is why he got Herrick to approach her because he knew what she is going to say.

Being Human U.K. Season One, Episode Three

 

This episode opens with Annie flipping out in the kitchen and Mitchell warning George to stay out, because he believes that Annie is suffering from PMT.  George declares the assertion ludicrous, and says that he is not going to eat his steaks raw because someone who is not alive cannot possibly be suffering PMT.  When they enter, Annie is indeed flipping out and the kitchen is a mess.  Today is the anniversary of what have been her wedding but of course being a woman, it had to be hormonal, though she no long has hormones right? She holds a grater saying that it was an engagement present.  Okay, who the hell gives a grater as an engagement present? That alone should have given her second thoughts about Owen.  Mitchell decides to ask Annie to go out, believing that what she really needs is to meet more people like her. 

They end up at bar that is having an 80's night, and Mitchell introduces her to another ghost named Gilbert. At the bar, Mitchell assures George that meeting someone with the "same condition," is exactly what Annie needs, but George reminds him that it wasn't a success the last time he encouraged one of them to meet someone with the same condition. Mitchell encourages George to get with a girl, but George confesses that he is worried about hurting her. I think this is a legitimate worry considering that he is a werewolf.  I am shocked to see Mitchell just blow away his concerns, considering the level of violence he is of capable of.

At the hospital, Lauren shows up and to ask if Mitchell got his present.  She tells him, "you did this to me, you made me what I am".  When he starts to dismiss her saying that he made her but her actions from that point on are her responsibility, Lauren tells him that Herrick made her do the film, and that the last time she came to see Mitchell, he hurt her terribly. Rather than showing her any sympathy, Mitchell tells her that he can barely help himself, and that he does not know what she wants from him.

Annie takes the bus to meet Gilbert at a cemetery, but when they get there, she realizes that it is her grave. When Gilbert calls it beautiful, she says "I was 22 years old, I had my own life to live. I was happy, I was in love." Gilbert says that she can be happy now, and Annie asks, "How can I be happy, I've lost the only man I've ever loved more than anything else in this world and the children that I wanted". Gilbert tells her that she is beyond all of that now, and that the beauty of the world is all still there for them.  Annie suggests that a better place is where they should have gone. He tells her that this is where you stay unless you find some kind of resolution. He says that she is still here for a reason.

When they get back to the house, Annie tells George and Mitchell that when she figures out what the unfinished business is, then she can move on.  When Mitchell asks what she is going to do, she tells him that she does not know, but she's pretty sure that it's going to involve some highlight pens and some paper.

When Mitchell and George leave, Gilbert puts on the most depressing music.  Annie finally turns off the music and tells him that she needs to finish her unfinished business before she can move on, and asks if Gilbert will help her. She suggests that it is a task or a project that they can do together.  Gilbert says, "if I do this with you, it probably means we'll spend quite a bit of time together". He grabs a pen and paper, and asks her to tell him about her.  When Annie starts talking, everything she says is about Owen and how romantic they were together.  He tells her that it was the dullest story that he ever heard, and that no one should ever make a film about that.

Fed up with the story, he takes her out of the house.  He takes her to get records, read Nietzsche and even harasses cops who cannot hear them.  Annie finally pauses to ask him if they are actually having Gilbert fun yet.

Back at the house, Owen is trying to fix the plumbing. Janey is complaining that the issue with the plumbing has been going on for months, and says that he should just call someone in.  When he refuses, she tells him, "I think you like coming around here, hanging around with those two blokes, pretending that you're a teenager again. The first time you came round, I smelled beer on your breathe after. Let them get pally and they will take advantage."  Obviously frustrated, Owen leaves, but before he walks out the door, he turns and looks around the house as though he senses Annie.

Annie goes upstairs and announces to Gilbert that they need to have a change of plans, because she is still in love with Owen, and that she cannot let him go.  Gilbert says he must be very special.  Annie says she knows she is there because she wants to be Owen's wife. She wants to "love him and cherish him and look after him".  They go over to Owen's new home, and she says that she is going to be like his guardian angel and stop anything from happening to him. When Gilbert asks if she is moving in there permanently, she responds with a smile, and says, "we'll see how it goes".

Lauren shows up at the hospital, and says to Mitchell that she is clean, but she is there because she just knows that she is going to kill tonight. "All I think about is when I can kill again, when I can feed. This screaming pain in my blood and nerves right under my skin. It gets shorter and shorter the time I feel good after I've killed.  I need something to keep me going please."  Mitchell then takes pity on her and opens up a vein so that she can feed.  Just don't kill anyone he says, "I promise I will help you".

Review of Blood Bound By Rachel Vincent Book 1 of The Unbound Series

 

Vincent created a very interesting work in this book.  Basically, there are normal humans and there are enhanced humans.  One is born enhanced or one can have an infusion of enhanced blood to temporarily gain extra skills.  These skills include: tracking people through their name or their blood, binding (the ability to enforce a contract in which default can lead to pain or even death) the ability to walk through shadows,  blocker (someone who can hide the presence of a gifted person) and a seer (someone who can see the future as well as the repercussions of decisions).  As you might imagine these beings are very powerful and they are made even more so because the government refuses to acknowledge their existence.  This means that crimes committed by them don't get investigated by the police, thus giving them the ability to create massive underworld crime syndicates. 

Liv's problems begin when she is approached by Cam and Anne about a missing it child.  Cam is her ex boyfriend and true love whom she left in a lurch after being told by a seer that one of them would kill the other.  Anne is a former childhood friend whom she was accidentally bound to.  All Anne has to do to get her to comply is to ask her for her help.  It seems that someone broke into Anne's house and killer husband and now the widow wants justice. Anne chose Liv because she is one of the best blood trackers and because the binding means that she is unable to say no.

Everyone has secrets in this world and everyone has past actions that they are trying to hide.  How can anyone truly be responsible for their actions when they can be compelled to do anything at anytime? How can anyone ever be trusted? Even as Liv is being compelled by Anne she is simultaneously being compelled by Cavazos the crime bus to find his missing child. This is why it is hardly a surprise when both acts of compulsion lead to the same child.