Were-animals & Shape Shifter Stories

 We are talking about were-animals and animal shape shifters (as there are those who shift magically); and if you want to listen to the podcast there is the link:

alchemy of genres



Starting off with a funny, magical manga; wherein the individuals have been cursed to shape shift into one of the aspects of the Chinese astrology chart when embraced or touched by a member of the opposite sex.  This is discovered by one girl who goes on to befriend most of the strange clan of affected people, so readers are brought along and learn about it all alongside her.


Very silly, very fun, you should try it.



Willingham's Fables series (as well as his spinoffs) have various shapeshiting elements; the most famous one would be the Big Bad Wolf, who can be a man or a wolf (or a wind); and who serves as the Sheriff for the individuals living in their small area of Fabletown, as well as those living on The Farm.  All denizens of Fabletown have come here through magical means from other realities and are running from a dictator who wants to take over all realities and reshape them to his satisfaction.  

I highly recommend this series, it is pretty amazing.



Rowan, tought to hate shifters, and hired to track two escaped convicts.
Quinn, used to humans who fear and hate shifters but doing his best to keep his pack safe in a world where shifters have no legal rights or status. 
Quinn likes Rowan, though he isn't sure why; and Rowan is fighting his instinctive pull to Quinn as it goes against all of his training.....however, they need each other as lots of suspicious coincidences are piling up and figuring it out before it's too late and the entire pack is eliminated or captured is a priority.  Added into the mess, is the growing attraction both men feel for the other and trying to figure out what it means and how to handle it.
This book is fun, with some very silly bits; but also with some more thoughtful, serious dilemmas underscoring the silly moments.  I enjoy Alice Winters writings, and this is a new series which looks quite promising.





I have spoken on this series many times, but I refuse to apologize (I love it, deal with it...lol).  In this world, were-animals come in two flavors, regular and god-pack.  Regular shape shifters can hide among humans, god pack have weird eyes that identify them, and sometimes they are closely aligned with actual gods (sometimes not); but because they cannot hide their eyes, they become the scapegoats/figure heads for all shifters, making sure they are safe and speaking on their behalf. Jono is an unaffiliated god pack alpha who ends up working with, and then in a relationship with Patrick, a mage with ties to many gods.  

Turner's world building is truly awesome and the stories in the series hold up to multiple readings/listenings.  The last book in the series is due out later this year and I am both looking forward to it and dreading it (not sure if it will be a happy ending.....ahhhhh)


This is another series I have talked about many times, so I encourage you to check it out if you enjoy humor and steampunk fiction.  In this world werewolves are among the "undead" as the making of a werewolf comes from a bite that either successfully creates a werewolf or simply kills the person.  In this series it is unknown why some survive and others do not, and that is primarily because it IS the 1800s and some aspects of science are not discovered yet.  This series follows the adventures of Alexia & Lord Maccon.






In the San Andreas Shifters series, Carriger brings the universe she has created into the modern age with some changes made; i.e. wider array of magic due to a disaster in the early 20th century.  This series is also mostly focused on a particular pack (The titular San Adreas Pack) that has broken with many typical pack ideations, making them the only queer wolf pack, and following each of the members as they find romance.  





Ox was 12 when his daddy taught him a very important lesson--he said that Ox wasn't worth anything and that people would never understand him.....and then he left.  When Ox was 16, he met a strange boy who talked his ear off; and then he finds out that the boy hasn't talked to anyone else in two years.  When Ox was 17, he found out the boy's secret, about wolves and mates and magic.  When Ox was 23, terrible murders happen and tear his world apart.  He is left alone to pick up the pieces and maybe prove that his dad was wrong---and maybe he is more important and smarter than anyone has given him credit for.  

This book is really emotionally touching and covers quite a long span (so it's not a short read).  The sequel, Ravensong, goes back over some of the same events but from a magician's perspective.  In this world wolves can be both made AND born, and it seems weres are mostly wolves (nothing is else is discussed anyway).  Klune has created a whole society, complete with rules, protocols and a history which is entwined with the story of the main characters and their journey (emotional, physical & romantic).


Kenyon has many were-creatures in her Dark Hunter universe.  In this story Bride (human woman) and Vane (werewolf man) end up together as they are fated mates and both are on the run from danger.  
This is a fun, quick, romantic suspense book....not much for deep thought, but a fun saucy story.











Liam, a fox shifter on the run from a huntsman (literally a hunter who cares more about the hunt & kill, than about whether or not the hunted is an animal or a shifter).  He decides to take a job as a librarian in Fox Hollow, a refuge for many non-typical residents (magic users, shifters, etc).  When his car breaks down, Liam meets Russ, a mechanic and volunteer firefighter and sparks fly......could it be the kind of sparks a fated mate makes?  Russ is still recovering from losing his beloved husband, and Liam is scared and has been betrayed too many times to trust to fate for anything.  Can they beat the huntsman?  Can the men overcome the odds and find love?
Brice's story is a fun, quick story full of danger, romance and hope for a happy ever after.





Arthur needs a good job in order to keep supporting his sister & himself (his sister is in recovery from addiction and he is taking care of her).  Bertie (aka Dr. Philbert Jones) is a dragon and historian.  Bertie hires Arthur as his assistant but as they get to know each other better, begin to form a relationship.  Can a person become a dragon's treasure?
This is a fun, fluffy romance with a dragon shifter and a human.






This is a fun & funny graphic novel featuring a romance between a female vampire and a male werewolf.  












This is Hidden Species #3, and really shouldn't be read alone or out of order; but it IS the only one in the series focused on shape changers, in this case, hellhounds.  Alistaire is a typical Hellhound, preferring to keep life fun without focusing on anything serious.  Aidan is the head of the shifter clans and he is helping Alistair in trying to find a cult leader and avoid a major magical conflict that is brewing.  The forced time together feeds their attraction making this into a fun romp of a story.






The case has been argued that Jekyll is a shifted version of Hyde, and though he IS a monster, he isn't really a were or a shifted animal.  I mention this here because it is a good book and a classic if you want to try something and nothing else appeals.














Twilight gets a mention here for having werewolves prominently featured in the story.  This series isn't my favorite at all, but it is still popular, and a soft spot for many millenials.....so if you want something light and frothy (and a bit stalker-ish), feel free to give this series a try.









Harry Potter's Universe is another that isn't exactly high literature but is a great example of magical shifters and is also hugely popular.  If you aren't familiar with either the books or the movies, it is WAY past time to explore, just go in with a sense of fun and do yourself a favor and do NOT read any of the retro-writings or musings of the author as they have turned a classic fantasy series into something else entirely just through her own sad prejudices (and you won't know about them if you don't go looking).  
I am all for ignoring her views and reading the literature, though her views have definitely inclined me not to send any new funds in her direction, so just borrow the books, support your library and roll with the story.





This is the prequel to the Chosen One Universe series of stories and is one of my favorites (and one of the only ones that stands alone).  Sweet Nothings is centered on middle school teacher Sam and how his life is turned upside down when he learns Vaughan, his high school crush is actually a werewolf and the alpha of the local pack.  He learns this when a child shows up at his door begging for help and for him to "call the alpha Vaughn"; and he ends up rescuing six children who have been kept prisoner nearby by an evil sorcerer.  Sam is learning about the secret world of magic and shifters because he needs to know in order to keep the children safe; and by his side?  Vaughn, who is now free to pursue Sam and make all of them a family.  
This is a really sweet and enjoyable story.






Shade has to figure out who or what killed a human in one of Cleveland's peaceful metro parks.  The challenge?  The lead suspect is a cop.  The complication?  He is a werewolf, as are many park rangers and they aren't happy that Shade is on the case.  Can she find a way to solve the case without letting the human world know the magical world's secrets?

Shade is a very cool and nuanced character and her adventures/mysteries are always intriguing and full of action.









In Origin (Book #1 of Scales & Spells), we have dragon shifters.  
Cameron goes to Germany after graduating from college as he tries to take a break and find himself, instead he finds dragons hiding and in the forms of humans with a secret hidden castle.  He also is told that he has magical abilities, which he has to learn how to use; but which means he is treasured by the dragons as a new mage hasn't been born in centuries.  
As a special bonus, Alric, King of the Fire Dragons is really sexy and is helpful.  Can Cameron convince Alric he doesn't mind his scars but really wants to explore this intense connection more?
Sherwood & Drake have started a fun series that blends fun with suspense and a dash of romance.  Definitely fun to explore





I have mentioned the Anita Blake series many time, and while it isn't for everyone, I really enjoy it.  Hamilton has a range of therianthropes (were-creatures of varying species) and explores the culture of various animal types; usually while investigating a case.....or because she has become infected with it (Anita carries many animals but doesn't shift into any of them).


A fun series to explore, but not to everyone's taste.








Another of Hamilton's series, this one features Fey creatures, some of whom shapeshift into animals or monsters.  A very fun series but really heavily references fairy & fae legends and types so if you aren't familiar be prepared to need to Google a lot of "what does that mean?" moments.










While the Alice Worth series introduces werewolves in the very first book, it isn't until #3 that we really get into pack & wolf dynamics.  Heart of Ice has Alice just closing a big case for the vampire court and happy to be back doing "normal" magical cases and spending some time with her sexy werewolf Sean.  When Sean is injured, Alice finds herself in a dilemma/trap.  To save the city, she risks capture by her grandfather and unimaginable torture at his hands.  To save Sean she risks losing everything she fought so hard to gain.  Luckily Alice is really bad at backing down from challenges and is determined to figure out a way to save Sean AND the city.






Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifter, but not in the traditional "infected by a were" way.  Hunter explores Yellowrock's Native American traditions, her long memories of past events as well as her abilities as a skinwalker (meaning she can take on many shapes).  These books are full of suspense and action, and a blast to read.







Sebastian is a fox shifter who has been raised among wolves.  He is on the run after a physical and sexual assault from his adopted father's trusted advisor and his ex-boyfriend.  Alpha werewolf Liam helped him escape and lives with the hope that Sebastian will come back to him and recognize him as his destined mate.  When Sebastian finally comes to see him again, he is really scared from months of running and hiding and terrified that Liam will be like his ex.  Just as Sebastian and Liam start to build trust, Sebastian's ex finds him and begins to again terrorize him as well as Liam's pack.  Can the two of them eliminate the threat and build something lasting, finally healing scars from his past?  
The third and final book in the trilogy has just come out, but thus far, it has been a sweet and suspenseful ride.  



The Iron Druid series is another I have mentioned often, because it is pretty awesome.  Atticus is a druid and thus able to magically change his shape if he so chooses.  The series explores his druid powers, training an apprentice, finding someone to love, and fighting against (or hiding from) various gods & supernatural creatures.  Definitely a recommended series to explore.








Sophie Feegle needs a break in the form of a job; rent is due on her crappy apartment and she's halfway through her last loaf of bread.  She doesn't need anything fancy; just enough to pay rent, maybe buy some food and perhaps a wee bit extra so she can buy a whisky at her neighborhood bar.  Having some time to hang out with the naughty old lady next door (the closest to a friend she has) would be nice too.  When a stranger offers her a job as an assistant to the coroner at the San Francisco City Morgue, she jumps at it.  Yes, she is a bit suspicious, but hopeful it's finally a bit of good luck.  She never expected to find her calling working with the morgue staff on the night shift.  They are strange but they are her kind of people.  Eventually she finds out that they are all supernatural and/or shifters and that all the bodies they are processing are supernaturally related crimes.  She also meets the sexy and capable fox shifter/police detective Malcolm (Mac) Volpes and finds that maybe she is even more unusual than she thought; and maybe they have uncovered something that will get them all dead.
This was such an unusual and fun book, with an original main character; I cannot wait to read what happens next.




The Innkeeper Chronicles is another fun series.  In this series the werewolves are actually aliens.  Dina runs a B&B that is almost sentient and provides secret housing for non-humans.  A very different and fun look at shifters & were animals.








I have definitely brought up this series a LOT, but it's one of my favs, sooo......
Again, lots of shifters, lots of magic......oodles of action and romance.  Ah, so good.












I haven't finished this one, it's a long read.  It takes place in an alternate universe with humans and "others" which are nonhumans that can shift into various forms.  The others rule, but human always try to find ways to take over.
Meg has been enslaved her whole life.  She has escaped and is hiding in the Courtyard, an Others District where no humans can interfere.  She gets a job as the human go-between for deliveries.  Simon Wolfgard is in charge of the Courtyard and wondering if Meg is a danger to his people.  
Bishop's books are a slow burn, with lots of details to observe; but seems like an interesting book thus far.


 The Slaughtered Lamb is a bookstore AND a bar (which seems like an amazing combo that I wish I could patronize).  They serve everyone; vampires, wicche, demon, fae......though the owner Sam Quinn is very wary of wolves.  She has a good reason to be wary, as she is a werewolf courtesy of an attack where werewolves captured, tortured and raped her and she remembers them every time she changes.  When she stumbles on a female shifter's body covered with scars just like hers, Sam is scared.  The fear grows when her precious necklace is broken (a last gift from her mother before she died and embued with magical protections).  Without the necklace she is under attack with no idea why, but Clive, sexy vampire Master of the City of San Francisco is determined to help her figure it all out.  Clive wants to keep her safe and also let her know that he thinks she is strong and beautiful; that her scars aren't ugly but are instead proof of her strength.
This is a really good and immersive story that feels very different because Kelly has fun twisting up known legends into a new form.   Can't wait to read more.






















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