I couldn’t believe that I didn’t have a review up for the first novel in Rachel Vincent’s Werecat series – Stray. Well, I’m rectifying that today since it’s an awesome novel and I just had to re-read both Stray and Rogue this week since they were on my mind (plus, I finally bought Pride and I wanted to refresh my mind before starting it).
I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.
Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.
I’d been warned about Strays—werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.
This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back…for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I’m no meek kitty. I’ll take on whatever—and whoever—I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays—’cause I got claws, and I’m not afraid to use them….
This is truly another one of those series that you really should be reading. Not only are we given a great character to learn to love, but she is so flawed that its amazing watching her grow into her responsibility and learn exactly what it means to be a werecat. Faythe may be the oldest unmarried tabby in the North American Prides, but she doesn’t care that she isn’t married with a passel of kids. In werecat society, there are so few tabbies, that they are treated like glass so they can continue the line and produce offspring. They are constantly watched and have very few freedoms that Faythe grew up trying to escape it all. She manages for a little bit, but the circumstances that bring her home completely change her entire outlook on her life. She soon begins to realize that she’ll never escape being an Alpha’s daughter (and the one to chose his replacement), but that doesn’t mean she has to do it like all the other tabbies – marry at 18 and produce kids thereafter. Faythe goes out to prove that a tabby can be just as dangerous as the male cats.
However, just because Faythe can take care of herself, it doesn’t always mean she doesn’t cause trouble on top of it. The situations she puts herself into are fabulous. Of course, I’m talking about the ramming your head into the wall type of fabulous. Faythe always seems to jump in feet first without thinking anything through and the consequences that come from that add so much to the story that it’s completely captivating. It drags you in, leaving you wanting to know what is going to happen. From the first moment Stray opens, there’s always something going on that keeps your attention fixed on the book and doesn’t want to let you go. Whether its part of the plot, character development or just some random scene, all of it is there to entice and make you want to read more about these wonderful characters.
It’s not all about Faythe either. She’s joined by some great supporting characters that not only add depth to the story, but pretty much cause as much trouble as they can for her. There’s Marc, the would-be husband if Faythe would ever meet him at the alter instead of running; Jace, who would love to have a relationship with her that is a little more; three older brothers who put the phrase overprotective and overbearing to a whole new level; and a set of parents who take way more interest in her private life that Faythe really wants.
The second novel in Vincent’s Werecat series, Rogue, was already reviewed once before, so if you’re curious as to what I said, click here, otherwise, here’s the blurb.
Okay, so cats don t always land on their feet.
I know that better than most. Since rejoining the Pride, I ve made big decisions and even bigger mistakes: the kind paid for with innocent lives. As the first and only female enforcer, I have plenty to prove to my father, the Pride, and myself. And with murdered toms turning up in our territory, I m working harder than ever, though I always find the energy for a little after-hours recreation with Marc, my partner both on- and off-duty.
But not all of my mistakes are behind me. We re beginning to suspect that the dead are connected to a rash of missing human women and that they can all be laid at my feet–two or four, take your pick. And one horrible indiscretion may yet cost me more than I can bear…
Overall, Stray and Rogue are utterly fantastic. I love how Vincent continually gives Faythe obstacles upon obstacles to overcome. There has never been a time where I have wanted to drop any of these novels and I so couldn’t wait to write this review before reading the third novel, Pride, which is why that one will have a review momentarily as well. I love this series and I so can’t wait for Prey to come out July 1st. Seriously, you really should start reading this series if you haven’t already.
