Bookending Autumn: Loving the Monster

Good evening bookworms!
I’m pretty sure I warned you about how extra I am going to be this month, so, consider yourselves prepared – the double posts will happen this month. (You’re welcome!)

This post is part of Bookending Autumn 2019, which is organized by Sam & Clo! The prompt for today, “Loving the Monster” is hosted by Lauren @ Northern Plunder! If you want to do this prompt, please don’t forget to link back to Lauren’s post!
Prompt Explanation: Which halloween monster is your all time favourite and why? Give us some recommendations or upcoming releases you’re excited about!

Ooof, this is hard!! I mean, I love vampires and witches… but I think werewolves just kind of pip them at the post!! And I don’t know why!! They’re just… so intriguing!! I mean, depending on the history or mythology that you read, they’re just normal people most days of the month. They might have super strength or a taste for really rare meat (insert vomit here). Also, I just need to clarify, this does NOT mean that I am #TeamJacob at all. But, for the positives, WOLF CUBS!!!

I mean, werewolves are probably terrifying IRL (I mean, not IRL, but if they did exist…), but they seem to be one halloween monster movie that I can watch with little repercussions. Everything else just kind of terrifies me (I cannot watch zombie movies any more – I just have actual nightmares).
My fave werewolf movies:

• An American Werewolf in London
• An American Werewolf in Paris
• Ginger Snaps
• Red Riding Hood
• Underworld series (I know they’re technically vampire movies, but they have werewolves too! And hybrids!)

However, let’s be honest, we’re all here for the book recommendations. So, let’s get to it!

The Wolves of Mercy Falls – Maggie Stiefvater

Honestly, this series is seriously one of THE BEST werewolf stories I have ever read. I love how Maggie changed the mythology to become more seasonal (and these books will always remind me of winter).
The friendships and found family in this series are not just #goals, but #lifegoals. Also, I’m trying not to scream about Maggie’s writing style because I know I harp on about it all the time, and I know it’s not for everyone… But I LOVE IT.

Marked for the Hunt – Leah Chiasson

I’m pretty sure I posted about this one on my instagram account during September. This self-published paranormal book (and it’s spin-off Bound by Blood) are some of the best werewolf (and witch) stories I have read.
I love Leah’s world-building and the fast-paced story that goes with it. The characters are so good – you really get a feel for their motivations and … I think I’ve just talked myself into rereading this beauty! (Shh, don’t tell my TBR!)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – JK Rowling

I mean, you can’t really talk about werewolves without talking about Lupin, right? The man whose entire name* probably fated him to become a werewolf even before Greyback came along.
Yes, he’s essentially a secondary father figure to Harry (after Sirius, Hagrid, Arthur Weasley, and Dumbledore to a certain extent), but it was also nice to see a caring werewolf who can curl up and sleep under his desk when times get tough.
* Remus (and his twin brother Romulus) were abandoned by their mother in Roman mythology and were suckled by a she-wolf. Lupin, or lupine, comes from the latin Lupus, which literally means wolf.

Shadowhunter series – Cassandra Clare

I usually have a bit of a chuckle to myself when you have characters named Remus Lupin, or in this case, Lucian Greymark, because if they’re some kind of paranormal being, it’s always going to be werewolf: the names always give it away. But anyway, yes, there are werewolves in the Shadowhunters universe!
I must say, I do like that they have a protective tendency in this one (or maybe it’s just Luke – it’s been a while since I’ve read the series), but I’m 99% certain he’s a cop and he looks out for Clary and her mum (I mean, obvious reasons aside).

The Lunar Chronicles – Marissa Meyer

After Kai, I think Wolf (again with the names) was probably my favourite of the boys. Thorne and Jacin didn’t even hit my radar.
However, there is an entire colony (pack?) of scientifically (biometrically?) engineered werewolves living on the moon. Which, kind of makes sense given that most mythology of werewolves has them tied to the full moon. I guess if you live there full-time then you wouldn’t necessarily shift back to human-state. I mean, if they CAN shift back to human state! (It’s been a while since I read this one too…)

The Southern Vampire Mysteries – Charlaine Harris

Now, I know this series is generally more vampire-based; however, there are a lot of were-creatures in this series. There are werewolves, werepanthers, werefoxes, and even a super-rare weretiger (oh, Quinn ?).
As well as all these, you also have the very generically named “shifter”, which means that they can choose what they turn into. Shape-shifting is a pretty rare ability in most of the paranormal / fantasy books that I’ve read, so I found it kind of intriguing.

Magic Bites – Ilona Andrews

Surprisingly, I also have a book on my TBR this month that has werewolves in it. Now, I can’t recommend it yet, but it’s for the prompt where you get a friend to recommend a book or pick a favourite (or something), so someone I know really loves this book. And I am usually pretty happy with their recommendations!
I also don’t really know all that much about it, except that the MC is a mercenary, and it has necromancers and shifters. So, sounds perfect for a halloween read!

What is your favourite ‘monster’?