Book Review- The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group

Title: The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group

 Author: Catherine Jinks

Series:  none

Published:  352 pages

Length: February 3rd 2011 by Quercus Publishing

Warnings: drug, alcohol and sex references. None of these things are graphically described. Werewolves, vampires, guns

Other info: Catherine Jinks has also written a lot of other books for adults and children, such as the Reformed Vampire Support Group, which is quite closely related to this book.

Summary : 'A werewolf? I kept stumbling over that word; it made no sense to me. How could I be a werewolf? Werewolves didn't exist.'
When Tobias Vandevelde wakes up in hospital with no memory of the night before, he is told that he was found unconscious. In a zoo pen.
The doctor rules out epilepsy and Toby's prank-loving friends are just as freaked out as he is. Then the wild-eyed Reuben turns up talking in hushed tones about Toby being a werewolf. Reuben's pale, insomniac friends seem equally convinced and offer to chain him up every full moon. They also claim to be part of some sort of vampire support group. This has to be a joke - right?
It's only when he's kidnapped, imprisoned and in desperate need of rescuing that Toby begins to believe them...
Hamster-drinking VAMPIRES, vulnerable WEREWOLVES and accidental ZOMBIES? Welcome to the bizarre world of THE ABUSED WEREWOLF RESCUE GROUP. 

Review : We start off meeting Toby, who tells us that he's the one they found naked in the dingo pen at the nature reserve. An interesting introduction. He is now in hospital and has no memory of how he ended up there. His doctor says it’s not epilepsy, and has no other suggestions, and Toby ends up a bit stuck for ideas. Then a priest comes along thinking he knows what’s going on, but he is shot down by Toby's mum. However Toby is convinced, sort of, and at some point meets with a support group of (he doesn't know it at the time) vampires. Through another set of various events he ends up in the Australian outback at a site where people bring werewolves and force them to fight each other. He then meets some more werewolves, some more vampires and eventually a few zombies as they try to escape.

The story was good. It wasn't too simple, and wasn't too complex either. Some parts seemed a little unnecessary but didn't drag it down too much.

The characters were likable with clear personalities. At the start it was hard to get a good image of each of the characters but as we learnt more about them it got clearer and easier to visualise. However, the fact it was a thirteen year old boy as the main character just made it seem like it was written for a younger audience, and therefore slightly less interesting than The Reformed Vampire Support Group

The whole thing is told from Toby's point of view. Some parts of it seemed a little too adult for a thirteen year old, like the fact he and his friends had tried smoking and drinking a bottle of port before parents came back. The writing itself was easy to understand and get through.

This is a ok-ish continuation to the Reformed Vampire Support Group. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be a part of a series or not, but it works very well as a standalone novel while  the characters from the RVSG were re-introduced.

Overall:  Strength 3 tea to a fun quick read that  provides an interesting take on a recurring theme.

Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Author website |