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Unleashed (Wolf Springs Chronicles #1)

by Nancy Holder (Goodreads Author), Debbie Viguié (Goodreads Author)

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 3,157 ratings · 425 reviews

Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more s...more

ebook, 400 pages

Published November 22nd 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

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Jul 01, 2012 Cait added it · review of another edition

Shelves: i-need-some-asprin, this-makes-no-sense, tstl-to-the-max-girl, what-plot, headdesk-to-the-extreme, burn-it

As a pre- P.S. I didn't give this book a rating. 'Nuff said.

After reading:

I hate this book. I hate it with such a passion that I want to burn it, take some of its DNA, clone it, then burn all of the clones to use a kindling for the rest of my existence, and then pass it to my children who can pass in onto theirs so they can also use it to fuel their fires to the end of their days.

Yeah, I honestly detest the book that much. Right off the bat, then, let me give you one of the special littl...more

150 likes · like · see review

Nov 09, 2011 Ashleigh Paige rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-via-amazon-vine, the-shameful-shelf-of-get-rid-of-it, unmemorable, please-no-more-slut-shaming, don-t-need-my-clairvoyance-for-this, main-character-needs-to-shut-up, wow-what-a-douchecanoe, arc

Also appears on The YA Kitten. I received an ARC of this through Amazon Vine.

After an earthquake kills her mother, Katelyn McBride is sent to live with her grandfather Ed all the way out in Wolf Springs, Arkansas. The transition from LA to small-town America is a rough one, but other matters come to occupy her time. Two girls die from wolf attacks, there's a program just outside town to help people "release their inner wolves," and her new friend Cordelia is hiding something about her family. Th...more

11 likes · like · see review

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Kagama-the Literaturevixen Paige wrote: "Kagama wrote: "Paige wrote: "I'll get the little fireproof box to shove Katelyn in. We may need to pad it too. Like she says at one poin...more
Dec 21, 2011 12:00am

Ashleigh Paige Kagama wrote: "Paige wrote: "Kagama wrote: "Paige wrote: "I'll get the little fireproof box to shove Katelyn in. We may need to pad it too. Like she s...more
Dec 21, 2011 08:09am

Jan 25, 2012 Giselle rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, own, paranormal

If I would rate Unleashed on the story itself it would have gotten more praise, but I can't do that now can I? I had my share of problems with the characters and their actions that inadvertently caused me to get a bit of a mixed feeling about the book as a whole.

It all starts with Katelyn. Katelyn's mom has just died and, with her dad not in the picture, she is forced to move to Wolf Springs: A middle of nowhere town with no cell phone service or internet connection (can you believe?). She soon...more If I would rate Unleashed on the story itself it would have gotten more praise, but I can't do that now can I? I had my share of problems with the characters and their actions that inadvertently caused me to get a bit of a mixed feeling about the book as a whole.

It all starts with Katelyn. Katelyn's mom has just died and, with her dad not in the picture, she is forced to move to Wolf Springs: A middle of nowhere town with no cell phone service or internet connection (can you believe?). She soon learns that there is something in the woods that has been killing people. Classmates to be exact. What does she do with this information? She goes on a bike ride in the woods at night with a guy she just met, and then when she gets a flat miles in a deserted road, she doesn't think twice about going out and changing the tire herself. We've all seen our shares of horror movies, Katelyn- she would definitely be the girl who runs up the stairs. As a reader who likes her characters intelligent and strong, I was never able to connect with her and often found myself shaking my head at the decisions she took.

The romance in the book is cute and helps fill up the slow pace, however I didn't feel any sort of chemistry between the characters. We have the pre-requisite love triangle with Justin and Trick, though I didn't want to root for either of them. For one, Justin has a girlfriend (o_O) and Trick I don't trust. There seems to be something off with him. He definitely has secrets. In that sense, he does make a good mysterious character that I can't help but want to find out more about.

When you read the book/series title, it's no mystery what kind of paranormal story we're getting into. Nonetheless, there are still a few interesting twists that I didn't see coming. Unleashed is more of an introduction and setup for the series. We only get a glimpse of the main plot and most of our questions are left unanswered which some may find underwhelming. Regardless of the issues I have with the characters, I find myself curious enough to give next installment a try, especially after that cliffhanger ending!

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For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads (less)

13 likes · like · see review

Dec 07, 2011 Brandi ;) added it · review of another edition

Shelves: hmmm-sounds-interesting

little hesitant cause they compare it to Fallen (ugh), but I'll save judgement till it comes out....still, Fallen?

12-6-11
Looks like my early judgement hit the nail on the head. Now do I torment myself by reading this knowing I will prob detest it or do I take the plunge and suffer along with my brave GR friends who have suffered through this book before me? Hmmmm... Gonna have to ponder that one for a while ...

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 24, 2012 Holli rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, family-relationships, high-action, paranormal, romance

Every town has its secrets. In wolf springs they're just a little darker.

What an amazing first book to a compelling new series! Ahhhhhhhh! I want more, more, more, MORE!

Katelyn McBride is uprooted from her California world when her mother's life is tragically taken by an earthquake. Relocating to Wolf Springs Arkansas, to live with a Grandfather she barely knows, out in the middle of "bango land" forest, Kat's ambitions, dreams, and future are completely turned upside down.

When two girls Kat'...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Margot rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: random-buzzers, paranormal, 2011-read, young-adult

Overall I liked this story enough to complete it and I'll probably stick around for the next book in the series. I'm curious to see where this one goes because it takes a few turns I didn't expect which is always nice.

What I'd like to see more of in the next book is stronger characters. I thought Kat was fine, on par with her personality and dialogue but I felt Cordelia was underwhelming and uninteresting. Trick was okay, I'd like to see more from him, Justin was intriguing and I'm definitely t...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Reading Teen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ok. I loved this book. I finished reading it a couple of days ago, and find myself thinking, "I can't wait to get home and read more of UNLEASHED." Then I remember I'm done with it, and I get sad. It's been quite a while since I've read a werewolf book, and I just think that I was really in the mood for this, and it didn't disappoint me at all.

I recently read Nancy and Debbie's other series, Crusade, and loved those books as well, but Unleashed has a very different feel to it than the Crusade se...more Ok. I loved this book. I finished reading it a couple of days ago, and find myself thinking, "I can't wait to get home and read more of UNLEASHED." Then I remember I'm done with it, and I get sad. It's been quite a while since I've read a werewolf book, and I just think that I was really in the mood for this, and it didn't disappoint me at all.

I recently read Nancy and Debbie's other series, Crusade, and loved those books as well, but Unleashed has a very different feel to it than the Crusade series. Although both books are dark, Unleashed is much more thrilling and suspenseful. I would also say that it isn't as mature as Crusade. I think, where Crusade might be hard for some to get into, Unleashed will be an easier read. Personally, I loved both styles, and this book has secured the fact that I will eagerly read anything that Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie write.

Katelyn is not what I would call a "strong" female. She's a vegetarian from California, who cries a lot, gets scared easily, and is seriously afraid of guns.....and the stuffed animal heads on her grandfather's walls. But, while this normally bothers me, and turns me off of the story, it really didn't this time. I still liked Katelyn. I think it's because you can see the journey that she's making, and the way she's growing as a person. Plus, she's pretty funny, and witty. And even though she's often scared, doesn't make the smartest choices (STAY IN THE CAR!!!), and cries a little more than I care for, she still dusts herself off, and gets back up and tries again. And by the end, there are some very interesting developments, that force her into changing the way she feels.....about everything.

There's also some pretty intense romance in this one. Yes, there is a love triangle, and I know that some of you out there are getting tired of that, but I have to say, I loved it. When Katelyn moves to town, she meets Trick, who is funny and sweet and gorgeous, and just all around yummy. They start having feelings for each other, and I just hold my breath every time they're together, hoping they will kiss already!! Then there's Justin. Something happens to Katelyn and Justin every time they're together, and they can't seem to keep their hands off each other, and neither of them know why. I have my suspicions, but I guess I'll have to wait until the next books to find out if I'm right.

Unleashed is full of action, suspense, intensity, romance, mystery, monsters, and freaky men with drums trying to find their "inner wolf." If you are a fan of paranormal romance, I think this is a book you will devour! I know I did!

Book Doppelgangers: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, Fateful by Claudia Gray, Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Content:

Sexual Content: Moderate
Profanity: Moderate
Violence: Heavy
Other Notables: Underage Drinking/Parties

For more details, check out Unleashed on ParentalBookReviews.com

-Andye
Readingteen.net(less)

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Feb 16, 2012 Erica K rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, mystery, paranormal, romance, teen, arc

I really, really liked this book! I got my hands on an ARC through work and decided to give it a try. I was impressed with how much I enjoyed it, (despite the typos). :P
Katelyn is a 16-year-old girl living in SoCal, enjoying her life as a dancer/gymnast, when her mother dies in a house fire. Suddenly orphaned (her father died years earlier), she is sent to live with her paternal grandfather in the small town of Wolf Springs, AR. There she meets not one, but two very attractive guys her age that...more I really, really liked this book! I got my hands on an ARC through work and decided to give it a try. I was impressed with how much I enjoyed it, (despite the typos). :P
Katelyn is a 16-year-old girl living in SoCal, enjoying her life as a dancer/gymnast, when her mother dies in a house fire. Suddenly orphaned (her father died years earlier), she is sent to live with her paternal grandfather in the small town of Wolf Springs, AR. There she meets not one, but two very attractive guys her age that she is drawn to, one of them in an almost animalistic fashion. She also becomes good friends with one of the more popular, but also quite odd, girls of the school. The town is quaint, but the surrounding forested areas are fairly dark and scary, and her grandfather's rule about not going out into the forest at night seems more and more reasonable to Kat she learns that a local girl died recently while out in the forest alone. When another girl is killed in a particularly gruesome manner a few weeks later, and Kat herself has a couple of run-ins with what appears to be a very large & scary wolf, she starts to wonder just what is going on in this town.
I gotta say the book reminded me of the Twilight series right off the bat, but in a GOOD way. It has similar elements - teen girl relocates to small town, life becomes much more circumscribed, meets a couple of cute boys & feels more drawn to one than the other, weird stuff is happening & she has to figure out what is going on. However, it did not follow the exact same pattern, and had plenty of originality in the plot and the characters.
First off, the main character, Kat, isn't quite as dreary as Bella, and any melancholy she demonstrates is totally understandable due to her mother's death. Second, she's actually attracted to both of the cute guys in the story, as opposed to being completely & utterly devoted to one, while just friends with the other. The love triangle is much more interesting here! Also, I liked that her friendship with another girl was a primary relationship and actually received more attention that interactions with either of the boys.
The best part? The mystery of what's going on around Wolf Springs. It'ss central to the plot, driving it forward and holding the reader's interest. The authors do an excellent job of keeping your attention without revealing too much or making you feel like they're holding your hand and explaining every little thing.
Now, don't get me wrong - I loved Twilight and still do. I just think that this book makes for a really good, authentic read-alike that also totally stands on it's own. It's not a watered-down, formulaic copycat riding on another book's coattails. I will be recommending this to all my teens who are paranormal romance fans.
My one complaint? It ends on a total cliffhanger! And since I read an ARC, I have to wait that much longer for the next installment. Oh, the bittersweet pain!(less)

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Feb 20, 2012 Charlotte rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

this was a good read but there were just loads of things that annoyed me about this book!
this is not really a spoiler alert so dont worry:

1 at the start all katelyn goes on about is gymnastics then once she moves its like its completely forgotten about!!

2 i did not understand what was going on with justin! i dont think the author explained it well and it was even more confusing for me cause i loved trick!! so i didnt understand what she saw in justin!!

3 near the end it felt like the story was d...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 17, 2012 Hana❀Joy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ridiculously-sexy-guys, best-of-2011, meh-it-was-okay, oh-so-unimpressed

How fucking disappointing.

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 14, 2012 Katy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was so overwritten. While it's nice to picture the surroundings, the book was so bogged down with details that I just really struggled to get through it. Every little thing was described to the T, and every description was really dragged out like the howling wind or the clicking claws. And there was one detail that just bugged me. (view spoiler)...more This book was so overwritten. While it's nice to picture the surroundings, the book was so bogged down with details that I just really struggled to get through it. Every little thing was described to the T, and every description was really dragged out like the howling wind or the clicking claws. And there was one detail that just bugged me. (view spoiler)

When I wasn't falling asleep on the imagery, I was annoyed with the characters and their actions. I'm sorry, but when someone says, "Don't get out of the car for ANY reason," that means, don't get out of the damn car - for ANY reason! I just hate it when dumb characters go jumping into the fire. They're totally asking for it. And the scary scenes? How cliche can you get?

And the relationships in this book. I don't understand Katelyn's deal. And I don't mind instalove, but she has this immediate, deep attraction for two guys. I liked Trick, but I don't know what his deal is. (view spoiler) And I don't understand Justin's deal. (view spoiler)

Now, I understand the need for building the story for the big reveal, but I didn't find out what's going on until the last quarter or so. I mean, yeah, I had an idea of what's going on because the title was a dead giveaway, and I've read enough about (view spoiler) to know. But Kaitlyn was left in the dark until the last part of the book. I mean, come on. It was just too frustrating.

And there was a lot that was not answered in the book. I've already mentioned my questions about the two boys. But there is so much more I want to know. And even the smaller, almost forgotten details - like Mike's involvement in the whole thing or even the wolf campers. I have so many, many more, but I'm going to assume that Holder is leaving it for future books. I hope she addresses them all.

The end did leave you in suspense, but I think it just added to my frustration. Overall, I just didn't think I had a very enjoyable experience reading this book, and I'm curious to know what's going to happen next, but I'm not sure I can sit through another session if the sequel is going to be anything like the first.(less)

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Nov 28, 2011 Donna {Book Passion for Life} rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, for-review, from-publishers, ya-paranormal-romance

Unleashed was my first book by this author duo Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie, I know right? Can you believe it! And after reading it I can honestly say I didn’t love it but I did enjoy it.

Katelyn McBride lost her dad at a young age so she doesn’t expect to lose her mother years later, leaving her with no choice but to move to the middle of nowhere to live with her grandfather. Katelyn hates having to leave her friends and school and she is definitely not looking forward to starting over in W...more Unleashed was my first book by this author duo Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie, I know right? Can you believe it! And after reading it I can honestly say I didn’t love it but I did enjoy it.

Katelyn McBride lost her dad at a young age so she doesn’t expect to lose her mother years later, leaving her with no choice but to move to the middle of nowhere to live with her grandfather. Katelyn hates having to leave her friends and school and she is definitely not looking forward to starting over in Wolf Springs, but when she’s there things starts to pick up….however it doesn’t last long when she finds out teenagers are being killed in the woods. Wolf Springs has secrets, secrets that have been hidden through out centuries and Katelyn finds herself at the centre of them.

When I started Unleashed I have to admit, our main character Katelyn or Kat as she goes by in Wolf Springs really annoyed me. I understood her situation and my heart when out for her losing her mother and especially having to move to a new place but she really did annoy me. I found her whiney and I didn’t like the fact that she never really gives her grandfather the benefit of the doubt, but despite this as the story progress’s I actually started enjoying her as a character. She did a complete turn around. When she becomes friends with mysterious Trick, I really enjoyed the qualities they bought out in each other. Their time together was flirty and fun and it was just what I needed in the story. But when Katelyn is introduced to Cordelia’s cousin Justin, I was instantly taken by him…he had such a presences in the book and I was eager to find out more. But if you asked me if I’m Team Trick or Team Justin….I honestly couldn’t answer at this stage.

The secrets that Wolf Springs hold gave the story a certain enjoyable twist to it and it was pretty easy to spot that the Fenners are at the centre of the problems. Cordelia’s father was a horrid man and I’ve never wanted to slap someone like him before. He’s mean…just plain mean and nasty! There were also a few shockers to the storyline especially involving Katelyn and I have to say…I didn’t expect it not so soon into the story. I didn’t but it was definitely a good twist.

I have to warn you there is a cliff-hanger at the end. Was it good? It was okay…nothing really major in my opinion and I think it could be easily solved in the next book. I guess I’m kind of hoping the authors do something major to start off with for book two, just to keep it unpredictable but what I also didn’t like was the Twilight comparisons. Yes I do love Twilight….its one of my favourite but I don’t wish to read it done over by different authors. I want something original and I believe this series can be original.

All in all, Unleashed was a good start to an exciting series, one I will look forward to continuing in the near future.

Thank you to Random House for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
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Jul 02, 2012 Alex Bennett added it · review of another edition

Please check out Electrifying Reviews for more reviews like this, plus giveaways, interviews, and more!

From the moment I first heard about it, I really wasn’t expecting Unleashed to be anything more than the average paranormal romance that is ever so popular in young adult books these days. And to be honest, that’s sort of what it is. However, Unleashed is actually really good and even if it’s not the most original concept, I’d still recommend it.

The world of Wolf Springs is very much like the w...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Lucinda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A darkly delicious supernatural tale, which will delight fans of Lauren Kate or Twilight.

Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie have come together to produce something quite magical, which took me to another world filled with sinister secrets and hypnotic encounters. As a fan of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight saga (team Jacob) and Werewolves, this exciting tale was intensely gripping and a compelling read. Unleashed is the first installment within the ‘Wolf Springs Chronicles’ that surrounds a school known...more A darkly delicious supernatural tale, which will delight fans of Lauren Kate or Twilight.

Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie have come together to produce something quite magical, which took me to another world filled with sinister secrets and hypnotic encounters. As a fan of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight saga (team Jacob) and Werewolves, this exciting tale was intensely gripping and a compelling read. Unleashed is the first installment within the ‘Wolf Springs Chronicles’ that surrounds a school known as Wolf Springs high. I felt drawn instinctively to Katelyn, who is a most fascinating character and whose world becomes even more intriguing as she begins at High School. With a touch of nostalgia, as I reflected back to my own teenage years, and with an inspired magical twist this was a story that had me glued to the pages throughout.

As an avid reader of the Young Adult genre, this paranormal phenomenon was a delight to behold and something quite unexpected. From the beautiful green cover that is mystically mesmerizing to the cast of colorful, complex characters I was enchanted by this entire creation of sheer vivid imagination. I was reminded of books like ‘Darke Academy’ which similarly have a storyline that surrounds a school setting, wherein deadly dangers lie in wait to be discovered.

Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night—welcome to Wolf Springs…

From the publishers of ‘Fallen by Lauren Kate’ this darkly exciting tale will have you believing in Werewolves and completely taken-in by the realism within the narrative. I was greatly impressed by the intense drama and electric tension which radiates off the pages, complete with shocking twists and turns that are totally unexpected as to render you speechless. Beneath the gloriously assured storyline and substantial plot, is a feast for the mind of original concepts and fresh ideas; which has transpired due to two authors working together; double creative input.

This highly readable story was a joy and pleasure to read - 3.5 stars
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Feb 24, 2013 Tereza rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Co se týče dějové stránky této knihy, tak mi přišla vcelku uspěchaná. Na konci knihy na nás autorky vybalí neskutečně mnoho informací a po čas čtení knihy jsem měla pocit, že je napsaná knihy, takovým tím stylem, aby už čtenář byl na konci. Podle mě by bylo lepší, kdyby se ty informace dostávali napovrch průběžně. U některých knih mi to zase až tolik nevadilo nebo jsem si toho prostě nevšimla, ale tady to u mě mělo u hodnocení na knihu dopad.
Jinak se kniha čte lehce, je založena spíš na dialozíc...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Yellow Eyed rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Posted on my blog. YA Paranormal Book Lover - Yellow Eyed

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So if there's a book in the Young Adult section of a bookstore and it's got Wolves in it... 95% of the time I will buy it. Without doing any research on it. That's why I like Amazon. There's always at least one review on Amazon that's off-putting and you end up saving money. And there's also the fact that Amazon is cheaper.

I bought this book months and months ago. I don't even really remember when, and it's taken me mo...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Katie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book had me going for a good two or three hours but soon fell off the mark. It's new, I'll give it that, but the plot seemed to fall off a cliff half-way through.

It's not your typical magic werewolf love story and that's what kept me interested until the author seemed to run out of ideas and toss the plot in a shredder.

BUT. I absolutely adored the main heroin in this little story. She came off strong but still had the normal teenage insecurities that I feel a lot of books tend to leave ou...more This book had me going for a good two or three hours but soon fell off the mark. It's new, I'll give it that, but the plot seemed to fall off a cliff half-way through.

It's not your typical magic werewolf love story and that's what kept me interested until the author seemed to run out of ideas and toss the plot in a shredder.

BUT. I absolutely adored the main heroin in this little story. She came off strong but still had the normal teenage insecurities that I feel a lot of books tend to leave out with strong heroins. She felt like a person and not a cardboard cutout that authors these days make "normal" people out to be. Needless to say, she had personality and some spunk. For those of you who've read the Vampire Academy spin-off, The Golden Lily, I'd compare her to the main character there. Not quite Rose Hathaway, but not a pushover spineless, wimp either. Unfortunately the "best friend" was not as loveable as the main character.

Moving on to the boys. I was less enthused about the gentlemen in this book than the ladies. You have your usual mysterious stud in the background and then you have the attractive friend/crush that always ends up the underdog. Now these boys, were cardboard cutouts that you could pretty much swap with most love-triangle stories out there. Actually, I'd rather they be swapped since several other books have done them with more grace.

The plot. As I've mentioned before, the plot had a solid start that was a pleasant surprise. The main heroin loses a parent and is sent off to live with her elusive grandfather in a small town. Yes it has been done before, but Nancy Holder makes it more believable enough that I enjoyed it. After a few chapters, the story starts to have a sort of Twilight feel to it with the new girl attracting all the attention. But it was tolerable with the real plot swooping in for a rescue. Enter the mysterious werewolf attack! Yada yada. Thankfully this book actually has some evil werewolves for once, that will tear off your face instead of trying to kiss it. Sorry, but I'm tired of the Twilight Jacob cutouts showing up in all the werewolf stories. Anyways...Excuse my rants.

Ahem. So the story progresses and suddenly just veers right off course into a death spiral. Not in the literal sense, but seriously. It seems like the author just didn't know what to do with her story and started throwing in bits and pieces of loose plot to give the book some bulk. I was confused for a good portion and disappointed that the plot was just...gone. And if it were even possible the characters seem to lose depth as the story goes on. I mean, what?? Yeah. Sadly this is what ultimately lost the book three stars and left me frustrated. So much potential wasted.

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Dec 06, 2012 gina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, young-adult

Oh this book couldn't get worse. Almost all the way through disc two and after reading all the no star and one star reviews I don't believe it can be redeemed and I'm wasting my time.

Sometimes I can blame the narrator, but in this case I can't really. She was fair enough, maybe even good if the story hadn't of sucked so much. It was really painful to sit through. It was a total rip off of the bone structure of twilight, and not even a good rip off. But a painfully slow rip off. There was also a...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Kate McMurry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fantasy, ya-love-triangle, ya-mystery, ya-paranormal, ya-paranormal-mystery, ya-paranormal-romance, ya-thriller, ya-urban-fantasy, young-adult-fantasy, young-adult-love-triangle, young-adult-mystery, young-adult-paranormal, young-adult-paranormal-mystery, young-adult-paranormal-romance, young-adult-thriller, young-adult-urban-fantasy

Book One of YA paranormal romance/adventure series, the Wolf Springs Chronicles

Sixteen-year-old Katelyn McBride is used to city life in sunny California, and it is a second devastating blow on top of being tragically orphaned when she is forced to relocate to her grandfather's rustic home in the Ozark hills of Arkansas. Not only is the culture shock extreme because her grandfather lives in the middle of nowhere, but it is dangerous to go into the eerie woods surrounding his house at night--peopl...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Sumaya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: series-nf, book-hotties-i-love

WTH... when does the next book come out? :/ whaaaaaaat I don't even have an inkling of what will happen next :3

anyway, I've got to admit there was a little too much crying than i would have liked but her mother died so I guess it's fair. Kat's an okay character, I didn't feel she developed aLOT but she does turn from being 'ergg ohmigawd I wanna go back home' to 'ahh well its life' (kind of).

I liked Cordelia, I thought she was brave and helpful, but I hated that she hid so much from Kat, I got f...more

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Apr 22, 2012 Kristin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I know there are a lot of controversial reviews about this book, and I was honestly expecting it to be nothing short of, well...horrible. I was pleasantly surprised to find Unleashed to be quite an enjoyable read-a bit shallow and frankly stupid and stereotypical at times, but the end result had me satisfied and wanting more. The characters, mainly Katelyn and Cordelia, were often a tad wishy-washy. However, they were easy to understand and sympathize with. The only real problem I had with a cha...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. After thinking about what rating I should give this book, I decided with 3.6 stars.However, I'm not rounding up, and you'll probably see why later in my review.

Unleashed.. definitely suprised me. The summary makes you think 'Oh, it's like most were-books where the girl starts over.. blah blah.' And dont get me wrong, it is, but the plot wasnt constructed the same as you usually see.

The book starts off with the protagonist, Kat, in some kind of dream. Only, you dont know it's a dream until you f...more After thinking about what rating I should give this book, I decided with 3.6 stars.However, I'm not rounding up, and you'll probably see why later in my review.

Unleashed.. definitely suprised me. The summary makes you think 'Oh, it's like most were-books where the girl starts over.. blah blah.' And dont get me wrong, it is, but the plot wasnt constructed the same as you usually see.

The book starts off with the protagonist, Kat, in some kind of dream. Only, you dont know it's a dream until you flip ahead a few pages. Usually, I'm cool with the whole dream thing. However, as the book progressed, the dreaming soared above enough. Kat just dreams and dreams, and I'm serious about this. Even though her moments in la-la- land are short, all this does is add more and more confusion to the book. Looking at the bright side, it did spice up things a bit.

I know things spiced up between Kat and two guys. Now I know what you're thinking. Love triangle? Yucky. However, I wouldnt exactly call what Holder and Viguie created a love trianlge. More like an on-and-off-angle. In this weird romance zone, the two guys are Trick and Justin. Now Trick, all I can say is that he seems like a nice guy. Even though the book described him as 'SO HANDSOME' and omfg drop-my-pants gorgeous(I may have made that part up), I didnt see it. I got how Kat could fall for the gorgeous exterior, but not just him. Trick was nice and all, but I felt that his relationship with Kat was.. strange? Weird? Not true? And dont be mistaken, it's Kat's fault their relationship is like this. Not because of Trick. Kat just cant seem to.. wait for it.. 'stop thinking' about Justin. Whom she just met. At first, I thought they were mates, since this is, after all, a werewolf book. But nope, Kat's not a werewolf, which I found out later on. Come to think of it, Holder and Viguie didnt even mention Justin and Kat being mates. I'm so lost. Overall, to me, the relationship between Justin and Kat is too weird. They seem to have an instant attraction since the first time they met, even though Justin obviously had(and is still continuing) a 5-year relationship with a girl, who's his GIRLFRIEND.

Speaking of relationships, we all know there has to be descriptions of feelings in the book in order to even create an ideal relationship. All I have to say on this is that there seems to be no descriptions in this book. The most description that came from this book seems to be when Holder and Viguie were describing faces. Like, you know, physical appearance. That's it. No description for anything else. I guess a few pops in here and there, but that's mainly all the describing these two authors do.

I'm trying my real best not to diss this book, but it probably seems like I already did. Putting the negatives aside, Unleashed had an interesting plot that'll keep you continuing the book. Creatures called hellhounds were introduced, as well as dark secrets from the past and present.

Overall, Unleashed will be interesting and engaging enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, and your eyes glued to each page, but you might not be fully satisfied. I would suggest to the author to add more descriptions, and explain things more thorughly, cause I'm still confused about things even now. Maybe then the incoming books to this series will be worth continuing. Honestly, Holder and Viguie did a nice job enough to keep me waiting to get my hands on the next book, but that's only because I'm curious as to how all this will end.

Recommended to.. I dunno. Anyone? Just dont set your expectations too high.(less)

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Apr 07, 2012 Suzanne Kastens rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book. Maybe it is because I really like the authors and the work on the crusade series. I picked up this book purely because it was written by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie. The story plot was not anything unique. That is the major downfall. I enjoyed the writing style. The book is not bad, yet it is not great. I wish that Holder would have written it from different perspectives like she did in the Crusade series. I really wish that the plot will be totally unique in the next boo...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Rose rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

more reviews at: thegoddessofbooks.blogspot.com

For the first chapter or two, I thought this was going to be one of those vampire versus werewolves kind of books. There was this guy at the beginning who had to be invited into the house (turns out he's not a vampire but I thought he was) and guess what his name was. It was Vladimir. The most common guy vampire name ever. This book ended up being just about werewolves, but there was this thing at the beginning about how her father was murdered and...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: outdo-yourself-challenge, support-your-local-library-challeng, ya-reading-challenge

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book before I started reading it because I am not a huge fan of werewolves.

I have to say though that I am glad that I gave it a chance! I notice that I tend to love books that I was iffy about in the beginning.

This book had everything for me. Great characters, great plot, great setting, mystery, romance, thriller.

The writing was great and I couldn't tell when the authors were switching off.

The MC, Katelyn, moves in with her grandfather, in the mid...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Brandi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: love-triangle, supernatural, series, werewolves

I am conflicted when it comes to Unleashed. I am a huge fan of the Wicked series by these two authors. It is no secret that I like heroines who aren't perfect and Katelyn McBride is most definitely not perfect. She is a big city LA girl who fully expects the people in Arkansas to be wearing cut off jeans and overalls chewing on hay and there are various references to banjo (which I found funny). She is a city girl snob and I'm fine with it. Kat is a young woman whose life has changed drastically...more I am conflicted when it comes to Unleashed. I am a huge fan of the Wicked series by these two authors. It is no secret that I like heroines who aren't perfect and Katelyn McBride is most definitely not perfect. She is a big city LA girl who fully expects the people in Arkansas to be wearing cut off jeans and overalls chewing on hay and there are various references to banjo (which I found funny). She is a city girl snob and I'm fine with it. Kat is a young woman whose life has changed drastically and traumatically. It's OK that some of her thoughts and actions aren't always PC or nice, give her a break. Really, perfect heroines are no fun. Let's get to the other characters. Trick (I love this name)...I don't know how I feel about him. His actions are all over the place and are never explained. He is sweet and cares for her sometimes and other times he is a class A jerk whom I wish Katelyn would punch in the face. Now on to Cordelia. I actually liked her at the beginning of the book, but by the end I felt pity for her and wanted Kat to punch her too. Justin, Jesse, and her grandfather were all good characters and I was perfectly happy with them.

Now we get down to everything else. There is a lot of mystery in this book and along with that a lot of unanswered questions in the end. There is a HUGE cliffhanger, but I think a few of the mysteries should have been wrapped up. The massive quantity of unanswered questions going on in the book confused me in the beginning and left me confused at the end. There was just too much. Hopefully the next book will do a better job of wrapping some of this up. I actually didn't see the "big surprise" of what happens in the book coming. Will I be buying/reading the next book? YES! Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie are just too awesome and this series has too much potential for me not to. I am torn between a 3 1/2 and a 4 rating. It was a good book, but could have used some tweaks. I am going to have to give this book a rounded up 4 STAR rating.(less)

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Jan 10, 2012 Nhi Vo rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I didn't hate the book. I thought the story has a lot of potential. However, it's the protagonist that made me want to throw the book out of the window.
I actually liked her at first; with her dreams of dancing and performing for Cirque de Soleil. Once she got to Wolf Springs, she just basically threw her dream away. She could have just said "Oh, since I'm probably going to be stuck here forever, might as well give up now." Not only that, I didn't feel any connection to her after. She ran away e...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If the authors’ names sound familiar, they should. This is the team that brought the YA world the very popular Wicked series, and now they have decided to turn their sights on another paranormal entity. Take a guess at which one. J

Katelyn McBride is sixteen-years-old and her dream in life is to be a dancer. Her mother, the most amazing woman in the world, was a prima ballerina in her day before an earthquake shattered their lives. Although fans called Katelyn’s mom ‘The Iron Butterfly,’ she coul...more If the authors’ names sound familiar, they should. This is the team that brought the YA world the very popular Wicked series, and now they have decided to turn their sights on another paranormal entity. Take a guess at which one. J

Katelyn McBride is sixteen-years-old and her dream in life is to be a dancer. Her mother, the most amazing woman in the world, was a prima ballerina in her day before an earthquake shattered their lives. Although fans called Katelyn’s mom ‘The Iron Butterfly,’ she couldn’t survive a natural disaster. This is not the first time that this young girl has experienced hardship; her father had been murdered long ago, but Katelyn wants nothing more than to become emancipated and live in L.A. - continuing to chase her dream. Unfortunately, another disappointment is headed her way.

Mordecai McBride is Katelyn’s grandfather, and he will not allow her to be on her own. Making her fly from the big, glittering city of Los Angeles to the back hills of Arkansas, Katelyn feels as if she is going to die. Driving out into the woods, feeling as if she is five hundred miles from civilization, Katelyn is now a resident of Wolf Springs, and will be the five-hundred and fiftieth student at Wolf Springs High. Her grandfather lives in a beautiful ‘lodge’ in the middle of the woods, but the décor is a little creepy, what with the mounted animal heads on the walls. He also seems a bit paranoid, considering the fact that he likes to carry a gun with him, orders Katelyn to never go outside, and lives in a house surrounded by plaintive howls coming from the woods. This is her new home…this is supposed to be normal.

Right after she arrives in this new world, a visitor comes to Mordecai’s house - a truly handsome young man with stunning green eyes, and a very dry sense of humor named “Trick.” Trick will be Katelyn’s ride to school each day and this is the one thing she doesn’t much mind, considering how good looking the guy is.

Her grandfather and Trick explain that a girl was found mauled in the woods recently, and that there are wolves out there which is why Katelyn cannot go out alone. In addition, there seems to be some sort of convention going on in town where the guests are involved with “experiments” dealing with the red wolves of the Ozarks, that the residents are beyond wary about. Although the town turns out not to be the “Banjo-land” Katelyn expected - more like a Charles Dickens town, in fact - she begins to meet some nice, yet fairly paranoid people along the way. A girl who warns her about Trick, another girl who warns her about the other girl, and an archaeologist teacher who seems to know a great deal. Soon Katelyn finds herself embedded in the legends of Wolf country but when Katelyn brings them up, everybody goes silent.

Yes, there are many wolves and vamps out there to choose from, so finding another is not exactly a ‘shocker.’ However, I have to give this one props - the ending, and the reasoning behind the interesting plot is fresh, and not one I’ve read before. Which is almost a miracle nowadays. A good, solid start to a new series.

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy
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Dec 17, 2011 Jessica(WonderlandReviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Stay out of the woods at night and don't go out into the dark alone. Those were the rules so often repeated through out the entire novel and as you read through it you understand why.
One girl after the next is mauled to pieces out in those woods with no clue other then some mysterious animal that they cannot seem to capture is the culprit. Just a mess of flesh.

This is one suspenseful twist after other and unlike most paranormal novel the cards are kept relatively close at hand until the book is...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Tammi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Katelyn McBride was at home with her mother when there was an earthquake. Because Katelyn had taken some medicine, she wasn’t as alert as normal. Her mother ended up dying and that is something that haunts Katelyn. Because of this, she has to move in with her only living relative: her paternal grandfather in Wolf Springs, Arkansas. Katelyn, who is later nicknamed Kat, isn’t happy about this move. She wants to stay in sunny California with her best friend, Kimi Brandao. She hasn’t had contact wit...more

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About Nancy Holder

Nancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling author of the WICKED Series, has just published CRUSADE - the first book in a new vampire series cowritten with Debbie Viguie. The last book her her Possession series is set to release in March 2011.

Nancy was born in Los Altos, California, and her family settled for a time in Walnut Creek. Her father, who taught at Stanford, joined the navy and the family t...more Nancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling author of the WICKED Series, has just published CRUSADE - the first book in a new vampire series cowritten with Debbie Viguie. The last book her her Possession series is set to release in March 2011.

Nancy was born in Los Altos, California, and her family settled for a time in Walnut Creek. Her father, who taught at Stanford, joined the navy and the family traveled throughout California and lived in Japan for three years. When she was sixteen, she dropped out of high school to become a ballet dancer in Cologne, Germany, and later relocated to Frankfurt Am Main.

Eventually she returned to California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at San Diego with a degree in Communications. Soon after, she began to write; her first sale was a young adult romance novel titled Teach Me to Love.

Nancy’s work has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, amazon.com, LOCUS, and other bestseller lists. A four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, she has also received accolades from the American Library Association, the American Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and Romantic Times.

She and Debbie Viguié co-authored the New York Times bestselling series Wicked for Simon and Schuster. They have continued their collaboration with the Crusade series, also for Simon and Schuster, and the Wolf Springs Chronicles for Delacorte (2011.) She is also the author of the young adult horror series Possessions for Razorbill. She has sold many novels and book projects set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Saving Grace, Hellboy, and Smallville universes.

She has sold approximately two hundred short stories and essays on writing and popular culture. Her anthology, Outsiders, co-edited with Nancy Kilpatrick, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in 2005.

She teaches in the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing Program, offered through the University of Southern Maine. She has previously taught at UCSD and has served on the Clarion Board of Directors.

She lives in San Diego, California, with her daughter Belle, their two Corgis, Panda and Tater; and their cats, David and Kittnen Snow. She and Belle are active in Girl Scouts and dog obedience training.
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More about Nancy Holder...

Books by Nancy Holder

Wicked 2: Legacy & Spellbound (Wicked, #3-4)

The Rose Bride: A Retelling of "The White Bride and the Black Bride"

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“What kind of freaks are they? Katelyn thought as they continued to circle her. Is this some result of banjo inbreeding?” — 4 people liked it

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Unleashed (Wolf Springs Chronicles #1)

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