Deadly Hemlock

Jun 03, 2012 Marg K. rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1-star-rating

If I wasn’t previously convinced of the existence of an instruction manual on How to Write a YA Book and Market It to the Masses, I most definitely am now. Yep, I’m pretty damn certain that it’s out there, and it’s filled with ready-to-use stock character profiles, plot templates, story formulas, picture diagrams, flowcharts, and checklists...lots of checklists.

Listen, I realize that the writers who have ventured into the YA publishing arena and have managed to get their hands on copies of this...more If I wasn’t previously convinced of the existence of an instruction manual on How to Write a YA Book and Market It to the Masses, I most definitely am now. Yep, I’m pretty damn certain that it’s out there, and it’s filled with ready-to-use stock character profiles, plot templates, story formulas, picture diagrams, flowcharts, and checklists...lots of checklists.

Listen, I realize that the writers who have ventured into the YA publishing arena and have managed to get their hands on copies of this manual have probably been forced to sign (in blood) iron-tight nondisclosure contracts that if broken will result in the loss of their souls followed by lifelong banishment to a desolate prison camp in Siberia. So, I don’t expect to ever be able to possess and present to you actual concrete proof, but what I can do is engage in some adamant speculation with Hemlock as evidence.

Let's first examine the book's heroine. Whatsherface (sorry, but I can't for the life of me recall her name or be bothered to look it up) is the not-so-ordinary ordinary girl. As such, she has obligatory average looks and a Plain Jane fashion style that consists of jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers all obtained from a thrift shop of some sort. She wears absolutely no makeup and never styles her hair. In fact, she barely ever even brushes her hair except for maybe running her fingers through it because she cannot permit herself to do anything that might indicate that (unlike most other human beings on the planet) she cares about her appearance in the slightest. She must, at all times, remain immaculately modest and completely oblivious of her potential attractiveness. This is because, according to YA fiction, caring about your appearance is bad. Very, very bad. Only the mean popular kids do that and we’re supposed to silently judge them for it.

Now, Whatsherface also happens to be parentless. This serves two purposes: (1) it allows her to repeatedly & stupidly put herself in dangerous situations that involve lots of tripping over things while running for her life, fainting, and being rescued by hot love interests and (2) it leaves her emotionally scarred which in turn allows for lots of pointless angst to be forcibly injected into an already melodramatic romance.

Speaking of the romance, there is of course a love triangle...'cos what teen girl hasn’t had two hot guys madly in love with her for no apparent reason and willing to do anything for her including lose their pride & dignity fighting over a chick who can’t decide which hottie she ~~prefers to make out with~~ loves more, right? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Anyways, unsurprisingly the love interests come in two varieties: (1) hot broody bad boy with a self-destructive streak and (2) hot boy-next-door with a white knight complex. Unfortunately, in YA fiction, variety is not the spice of life, and us females are not only superficial but also attracted to only two types of guys with one-dimensional personalities and zero purpose or ambition in their lives other than to protect us (and stalk us a little).

As for the plot, well, it’s simplistic & linear with an anticlimactic climax and a predictable ending with a contrived pseudo-resolution that blatantly sets up an unnecessary sequel that will undoubtedly focus even more on the soap opera-like romance than its predecessor.

The end.
(less)

like 70 likes · see review

Apr 30, 2012 Giselle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, favorites, own, paranormal

There has been no shortage of vampire and werewolf novels in recent years. I was wondering how a new werewolf book could possibly bring about something new and original. Somehow, someway, Kathleen Peacock thought of an intriguing plot, wrote some fantastic characters, gave them life, unique voices, strong personalities, and wrapped it all up in this lovely novel full of mystery, friendship, and loyalty.

What makes this plot unique is obvious from the start: The werewolves are out. The public has...more There has been no shortage of vampire and werewolf novels in recent years. I was wondering how a new werewolf book could possibly bring about something new and original. Somehow, someway, Kathleen Peacock thought of an intriguing plot, wrote some fantastic characters, gave them life, unique voices, strong personalities, and wrapped it all up in this lovely novel full of mystery, friendship, and loyalty.

What makes this plot unique is obvious from the start: The werewolves are out. The public has been made aware of Lupine Syndrome. The Trackers, who are trying to contain the spread of this virus, are basically given free reign to be violent to whomever they think has been infected. Thus, as you can guess, the infected want to hide their secret. Then there's Amy - our protagonist's best friend - who's just been murdered. See? We've got a simple werewolf lore with added suspense, a murder mystery, and anarchy, which gives us a pretty darn good page-turner! Also, this is the first book in a long time that I can honestly say has surprised me with the twists. It ambushed me! There are actually several of these twists wound together that made me take a step back… and blink.

An anarchist society such as Hemlock's really triggers some helpless feelings while reading. Everyone's at the mercy of the Trackers. They have all the power, and believe me, they use it. This actually reminded me a bit of reading a dystopian: feeling like you're trapped with no one to turn to for justice. One thing I'm curious about is the werewolf politics: What they're doing to fight this, what the camps are like, etc. However, seeing as this is the first in a series there's still time to get into this.

Inside this society, Hemlock possesses characters that shine throughout. Mac's personality is so honest I really grew to be fond of her. She's got incredible devotion, she's strong and her head is screwed on right. In addition, there are two of the sweetest, although polar opposite, guys after her. I don't dislike love triangles but I've read my fair share of them. Yet, I was delighted by the way Kathleen wrote the romance in Hemlock. First you should know that although the romance is always somewhat present underneath it all, it never takes the lead. The plot keeps at center-stage with Mac's commitment to get to the bottom of Amy's murder. With that said, both guys in this book are incredible. Kyle is so adorable you just want to squeeze his cheeks. Jason- he's the bad boy. You'll hate his actions, but it's easy to see the huge heart that he's hiding underneath his tough exterior. Don't ask me which team I'm on, though, I have joined none. I refuse to choose! *Crosses arms*

As far as werewolf books go, this is easily my favorite to date; it has so much more. It's an all around wonderful novel that balances plot, romance, and action perfectly. It will keep you up till morning, either from its enticing pace, or its gorgeous cover that you simply cannot stop staring at!

Oh, and sidenote: The author is Canadian! REPRESENT, YO! >.<

--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

(less)

like 54 likes · see review

Apr 28, 2011 Krista (One Love) (Critical) marked it as to-read · review of another edition

"while trying to choose between the human boy who loves her and the troubled werewolf who saves her life."

Um, gag me. I SWEAR TO GOD if I see another freaking love triangle where the idiotic girl CAN'T FREAKING CHOOSE a boy, I'm going to rip my hair out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

like 104 likes · see review

Jan 03, 2013 Renu rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss, favourites

"It was official, my life belonged on the CW."

When I first started blogging I loved Paranormal Romance, but my love for it quickly began declining to the point where I rarely ever read it anymore. When I read the summary for Hemlock I thought it sounded like every other PR out there...but boy was I wrong!

I thought the plot for Hemlock was going to be predictable, but Peacock has done a fantastic job of keeping readers in the dark. There were so many unexpected twists and turns that I hadn't bee...more

like 6 likes · see review

Apr 02, 2012 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 - Hmmm... 4 or 5?

I finally found a werewolf book that I liked!!! Yes, this book is your typical, overplayed werewolf storyline - so yes, it is cliche and predictable. But there was just something about it - probably the LOVE TRIANGLE, there's your warning - that had me flying through the pages in the three hours it took me to read it, and no, I did not skim any of it.

WARNING: This review may have some minor spoilers because of the vague summary and because of the way Peacock wrote the book....more 4.5 - Hmmm... 4 or 5?

I finally found a werewolf book that I liked!!! Yes, this book is your typical, overplayed werewolf storyline - so yes, it is cliche and predictable. But there was just something about it - probably the LOVE TRIANGLE, there's your warning - that had me flying through the pages in the three hours it took me to read it, and no, I did not skim any of it.

WARNING: This review may have some minor spoilers because of the vague summary and because of the way Peacock wrote the book. I say they're minor spoilers because you find out pretty quick everything I am not hiding in the spoiler tags.

First the story. I admit it's not the greatest storyline ever. Like I said, it is your typical boy is a werewolf, girl finds out which means she is now in danger, boy tries to stay away from girl, and girl has to find out how she really feels about him and decide if he's worth hanging on to.

Having said that, there was more to just your typical book. There's a love triangle. Dum, dum, dum. Actually, it's more than just a triangle, but read the book to find out. And guess what? Not only is the boy human, but he's also going to be one of the hunters. Oh choices, choices.

So yes, the storyline isn't original and totally unique, but it was full of suspense as the mystery unraveled, and full of action.

What made me really love the book was the romance. Yes, I know it's not a good thing that the best thing a book has to offer is the romance, but too bad. I'm one of those who is not opposed to love triangles, as long as it's either there in book 1 and not just carelessly thrown in the sequel OR as long as an author is not trying to sell the concept of soulmates and then throw in a third party.

So I was tugged emotionally as Mac tried to make her choice. (view spoiler) I admit, I had a few squeals, and a few tears did land on my pillow.

I also liked that this book didn't leave us with a total cliffhanger (though it did break my heart), but made us look forward to book 2. Road trip!(less)

like 7 likes · see review

Apr 24, 2012 Soumi(in love with Puck) Roy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-e-galley, young-adult, shapeshifters, books-i-reviewed

Hemlock is one of the best werewolf fictions I have crossed path with. This novel is an absolutely heart wrenching paranormal love story with ingredients like murder and mystery, secrets and suspense.

The Wolf Story

It’s been twelve years science US government has declared the existence of Lupin syndrome, known as werewolf virus. One scratch from an infected person can turn you into one of them.
When her best friend Amy was brutally murdered by a werewolf, haunted by vivid nightmares and memories...more

like 13 likes · see review

Jan 09, 2013 Sarah (saz101) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, 2012-releases

4.5 stars

Supernatural fan? No, not the TV show—the fuzzy and fanged kind. You’re in for a treat—Deadly Hemlock, or simply 'Hemlock' as Americans will know it, may just be the best you read this year. Kathleen Peacock offers it all: The paranormal, a spine-chilling murder-mystery and the kind of romance that makes your heart skip a beat. Been there, done that? Yes, but Peacock does it well.

The Story
In an America shaken by the discovery that werewolves do, in fact, exist, there is a political war...more

like 6 likes · see review

Jun 11, 2012 Juhina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review-books, favorites, own, books-won, edelweiss, ebook, signed-books

Oh my gosh, it has been a LONG time since I have been obsessing over a book like I am obsessing over Hemlock right now! This book BLEW ME AWAY! I mean, I have read this book about 10 days ago and i am STILL raving about it to anyone who would listen!! Hemlock is definitely one of those rare books that remind you of WHY you love reading so much! Also, this is coming from ME, who is a person that does not like paranormal as much as contemporary and dystopian! However Hemlock was so good that as so...more Oh my gosh, it has been a LONG time since I have been obsessing over a book like I am obsessing over Hemlock right now! This book BLEW ME AWAY! I mean, I have read this book about 10 days ago and i am STILL raving about it to anyone who would listen!! Hemlock is definitely one of those rare books that remind you of WHY you love reading so much! Also, this is coming from ME, who is a person that does not like paranormal as much as contemporary and dystopian! However Hemlock was so good that as soon as I finished reading my galley, I went and pre-ordered a copy for myself to reread!

Hemlock is about a girl, Mac, who used to be part of a close group that consisted of: herself, Amy, Amy's boyfriend Jason, and Kyle. However this friendship broke down when Amy was found murdered, and all signs point to a werewolf. See, in Hemlock, people know there are werewolves and any person can become one if they contract the Lupine syndrome. However, the werewolves are shunned and when found are sent to werewolf camps where they end up locked there for the rest of their lives. I loved the uniqueness of the story, it really is not like any werewolf novel I've read. Also to add to all this, there is a murder mystery and you all know how much I love those! Every single one of the characters in Hemlock are so damn likable! We've got the protagonist, Mac. She is strong, level-headed and just an all around GOOD friend to Amy, Jason, and Kyle. She is trying to pick up the pieces of their broken friendship after Amy's death while at the same time trying to solve this mystery (it sort of gave me a Veronica Mars vibe and I love that show!).

Then we've got Jason and Kyle. Oh boy, is it possible to love BOTH guys SO MUCH that your heart breaks no matter who Mac ends up with? Jason is the really messed up rich kid that gets in trouble just for the thrill because Amy's death has screwed with his head so much that you just want to hold him and comfort him and tell him it'll be all right. Then we've got Kyle, the best friend you would always want and the secret crush you would always hide. He is the opposite of Jason. He is responsible, is the one looking out for Mac and not the other way around, and YOU want to be held by HIM and hearing him say that everything will be fine. Kathleen Peacock has woven SUCH an amazing romance plot that it has restored my faith in love triangles. The twists and development of the romance and the awkward and charged moments were all so unbelievably AMAZING, it was very hard for me to concentrate on anything BUT the book. Now even though there is a love triangle and romance, the book really centers around Amy's death and mending the broken friendship and trying to figure out what the trackers (think 'werewolf police') are really doing in town while trying to not get killed in the process!

Hemlock was such a thrilling, addicting, incredible page turner that I ended up staying way past my bedtime to read it and even reading it in the middle of class because I JUST.COULD.NOT.PUT.IT.DOWN! I am now counting down the days until I can get my hands on Hemlock #2 because that ending? It leaves you with enough closure while at the same time gives you a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting SO MUCH MORE!!

More reviews on Maji Bookshelf (less)

like 4 likes · see review

Sep 03, 2012 Brodie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

4.5 stars

So you've trekked from La Push to Mercy Falls and think you're an expert when it comes to treating flea infestations and discouraging your furry, four-legged friend against marking his territory? You think if you've read it 5 times, then you've read it all? Please. You're still a pup. Kathleen Peacock has shown there is still plenty of exciting life to be found amongst our shapeshifting friends. Deadly Hemlock brings murder, mystery, twisted politics, simmering romance and shocking secr...more 4.5 stars

So you've trekked from La Push to Mercy Falls and think you're an expert when it comes to treating flea infestations and discouraging your furry, four-legged friend against marking his territory? You think if you've read it 5 times, then you've read it all? Please. You're still a pup. Kathleen Peacock has shown there is still plenty of exciting life to be found amongst our shapeshifting friends. Deadly Hemlock brings murder, mystery, twisted politics, simmering romance and shocking secrets to a small town choking so deep in fear over the recent werewolf attacks, that they've brought in a radical and frightening group known as the Trackers. Highly effective in their capture of those potentially carrying the Lupin Syndrome; and will use any means necessary to aid in their goals.

Mac doesn't have it easy. Her once tight-knit quartet of best friends has been brutally torn apart. Amy, murdered by a werewolf. Jason, on a downward spiral from his girlfriend's death and Kyle, tempting her heart and hiding dangerous secrets. (In fact, everyone is hiding secrets). I love how determined Mac is. She may need saving from time to time, but she's no damsel in distress. She doesn't let fear hinder her from being proactive; she's desperate to bring justice to Amy, to prevent this from happening again, and especially to help close the case so the Trackers will leave town. A lot of heavy emotions and secrets threaten to weigh her down, but she takes every new blow with admirable strength. Plus, I love that she can make light of her life at times, comparing her romance to a CW show.

Mystery runs a thick and tangled web throughout the pages. You have your suspicions and maybe you're right, but hell if you can figure out the entire answer. The deeper Mac and Kyle dig, the faster your mind is whirring, just as conflicted as they are, just as desperate to latch onto the truth. The subtle clues, the tantalising build up and the final reveal were played out brilliantly. I actually felt a little Veronica Mars vibe at times; with the best friend murdered, the search to uncover who did it, and Mac having ghostly conversational dreams with Amy. I'm a VMars fan, so I loved this, and I think other fans will enjoy these hints toward one of the best shows unfairly cancelled.

It's equally thrilling and infuriating to watch the influence the Trackers exert, their unethical treatment of all werewolves. Yet it's a difficult position, because you recognise that there does need to be a system in play, because not all werewolves are going to be tamed little pups. But the Trackers methods? The torture? The concentration camps? The lies and manipulation and stripping these creatures of any form of human (or even animal!) rights? You want to scream at them (I was seething with rage in one particular scene, courtesy of the biggest asshole in Hemlock, Derby, who you want to throw into a pit of starving wolves). Give someone a taste for power and they'll come back for more and more, until you can no longer satisfy their increasing diet; but by then they've grown strong enough to take it by force. And when a group of extremists are more influential than the police force, slowly trickling into the government, you know it's time to start checking your every shadow twice.

Deadly Hemlock paints a world so eerily believable, even with it's supernatural/sci-fi roots. It's all too easy to imagine our own society descending in a similar fashion, with the way we segregate, point out differences and fear that which we don't understand. Kathleen has spun a disturbingly realistic, yet delightfully entertaining story that is guaranteed to grab you by it's ~~paws~~ claws and drag you along for a howling good read!(less)

like 5 likes · see review

May 15, 2012 Blythe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, netgalley-edelweiss-arc, judge-a-book-by-the-cover, highly-anticipating-2012, 2012-reads, didn-t-see-that-coming, gimme-the-next-book, hand-me-some-tissues, in-a-name-challenge, read-reviewed, surprised-i-didn-t-hate-it, exceeded-my-expectations, 2012-favorites

Hemlock is quite possibly the best werewolf book that I’ve read. It’s not like I’ve read that many, but this was still amazing.

Hemlock follows Mackenzie (Mac), and her longing to uncover the truth about the mysterious death of her best friend, Amy. Of course, things get in the way of her journey to uncover the truth, one of those things being a group of werewolf hunters known as The Trackers. As more secrets of the seemingly quiet and peaceful town of Hemlock unfold, Mackenzie realizes she may...more Hemlock is quite possibly the best werewolf book that I’ve read. It’s not like I’ve read that many, but this was still amazing.

Hemlock follows Mackenzie (Mac), and her longing to uncover the truth about the mysterious death of her best friend, Amy. Of course, things get in the way of her journey to uncover the truth, one of those things being a group of werewolf hunters known as The Trackers. As more secrets of the seemingly quiet and peaceful town of Hemlock unfold, Mackenzie realizes she may have gotten herself into a dangerous situation, and now, there’s no turning back.

Right from the beginning, I knew Hemlock and I were going to get along well. There’s not much action for the first half of the novel, but that doesn’t mean it was boring at all. I couldn’t have turned the pages faster, and with each chapter, more and more is revealed about the mystery of Amy Walsh’s death, all the way to a boiling conclusion that I did not see coming.

The characters in Hemlock, especially Mackenzie, were handled expertly, and had so much depth to them it felt like I could reach out and hug them. Mackenzie is an amazing heroine, and didn’t take no for an answer. There’s also Kyle and Jason, who are great characters as well, although I wanted Jason to die desperately throughout most of the book. ~~Hell, maybe I still do.~~ But, given that’s what I assume Peacock’s intention was, I suppose that’s a good thing that she made me feel such strong feelings towards a character. I also really liked the character of Mackenzie’s cousin, Tess, because she provided somewhat of a comic relief.

The mystery of Hemlock was much better than I expected it to be, and with each and every plot twist I found myself gasping aloud. Like I had mentioned earlier in the review, the ending came as a complete shock to me, although I was a little disappointed in it, but that’s only because the theories I had in my head were a bit more complicated, and the ending in Hemlock was a little simple.

Peacock’s writing is excellent, and I absolutely loved the chapters in which Amy visited Mackenzie in her dreams (that was probably my favorite thing about Hemlock). The portrayal of how much a death of a friend could change your life, and that you’d do anything to find justice for that person was done amazingly, and I found myself tearing up quite a few times throughout this book.

Overall, I really enjoyed Hemlock, and I recommend it for anyone who is looking for a fresh take on the werewolf genre, but at the same time, something so much more than that. (less)

like 9 likes · see review

Jul 12, 2012 Laurie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

if you aren't team jason, you're dead to me

like 6 likes · see review

Jan 16, 2013 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-release, all-time-favourites, amazing-covers, amazing-loved-it, borrowed, book-with-gorgeous-boy, cliffhanger, complicated-families, cute, i-cant-stop-thinking-about, kick-ass, obsessed, pure-awesomeness, the-start-of-something-beautiful, will-buy-the-book

Deadly Hemlock is one of the best wolf reads out there and, after reading it, I understand why many have loved it so much. Be prepared to face the ultimate mystery, to face the terrifying truth and a wonderful romance in Peacock's debut novel.

Deadly Hemlock is set in a world where werewolves do exist; the condition is called "Lupine Syndrome" and those infected are kept at arms length and shipped off to a camp designed to 'help' them. Everything is running fairly smoothly until the Government's...more Deadly Hemlock is one of the best wolf reads out there and, after reading it, I understand why many have loved it so much. Be prepared to face the ultimate mystery, to face the terrifying truth and a wonderful romance in Peacock's debut novel.

Deadly Hemlock is set in a world where werewolves do exist; the condition is called "Lupine Syndrome" and those infected are kept at arms length and shipped off to a camp designed to 'help' them. Everything is running fairly smoothly until the Government's fearless army of werewolf hunters, the Trackers, arrive in the small town of Hemlock. And it's their intrusion that finally calls for a change. Mackenzie has not stopped thinking of her best friend who had been brutally murdered by a white werewolf not too long ago. The arrival of the Trackers snaps Mac to her senses and she decides to investigate Amy's death with the help from her two remaining friends, Jason and Kyle. What she doesn't know is that she may be putting herself in more danger than she could ever imagine.

When I picked up Deadly Hemlock, I realised that I hadn't read a YA novel about werewolves for a long while, and this book has reminded me of why I adore them so much. This book contains all the major points to make me happy: a mysterious plot, a set of varied and unique characters, and a complicated romance. Yeah, I'm a fan of love-triangles... judge me. Though, having said that, I am only a fan of well-written love triangles, and Peacock has definitely got that in the bag! I extremely enjoyed getting to know Jason and Kyle, who had contrasting personalities that really intrigued me. They each have their own role in Mac's life and both hiding secrets of their own from her. Mac is a really lovely character, and it's difficult not to ignore her charm and her considerate nature.

Deadly Hemlock is that start of an epic werewolf trilogy that YA paranormal lovers must pick up as soon as possible. Kathleen Peacock has written an addictive and beautiful novel that will simply leave you desperately pining for the sequel.(less)

like 3 likes · see review

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

Shelves: 2012-release, cover-love, dac-challenge, favorites

I almost didn't write a review for this because I'm not sure how to put how much I loved this book into words. But I attempted anyway.

I might have been a little biased about this book because of the werewolves. I have a special attachment to them because the first thing I ever really wrote - and the only thing I ever finished - was about werewolves. But after I finished, I knew that had nothing to do with why I loved it so much. People might say they're sick of werewolves, but Hemlock is somethi...more I almost didn't write a review for this because I'm not sure how to put how much I loved this book into words. But I attempted anyway.

I might have been a little biased about this book because of the werewolves. I have a special attachment to them because the first thing I ever really wrote - and the only thing I ever finished - was about werewolves. But after I finished, I knew that had nothing to do with why I loved it so much. People might say they're sick of werewolves, but Hemlock is something I think everyone should take a chance on.

I love the idea of a world where people know that mythical creatures exist. The world of Hemlock is such an easy one to immerse yourself in. The way the world is built up and explained is perfect. It's a world that's so interesting that I just completely loved reading about it. Maybe it's so easy to get involved with because it's also so easy to imagine because it's barely different from ours - but instead of regular serial killers, the serial killers in Hemlock happen to be werewolves. Or maybe Kathleen Peacock is just that good.

I think I only had one issue with this book, and that was Amy. Amy is - or was - Mac's best friend. Amy, even in death, is a big part of the book, yet I almost hated Amy. She's portrayed as a bad person, both through Mac's dreams and the secrets we eventually find out she kept. Even the way Mac talked about her sometimes. It made me wonder she was friends with her, why everyone loved her so much. It was hard for me to understand anyone's motives when it came to Amy.

However, Hemlock is still full of mystery, suspense, and of course some romance. And some awesome characters. Mac is an ordinary girl who can be extraordinary at times simply because she cares so much about protecting the people she loves. The way she never gives up on Jason is admirable. She doesn't run away from all the scary things in her world just because they're scary - but at the same time, she's still scared. She still acts like a teenage girl.

There is a slight love triangle in Hemlock that will probably escalate in the rest of the series, but I can't even complain about that. Both boys involved are ones I love. Jason is broken, flawed, not always easy to put up with, but fiercely loyal and protective. Kyle is also very loyal and protective - but in a different way. Either way, no matter what you think their personalities are, all the characters in Hemlock are very well-developed. They all have depth, which isn't something I've seen in YA lately.

Overall: Werewolves. Suspense. Amazing characters that are real, even if they're slightly paranormal. This debut has it all. Hemlock grips you from the first page and doesn't let go - not even when you've finished. 5 stars.(less)

like 8 likes · see review

Jun 25, 2012 Donna {Book Passion for Life} rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

4.5 stars

Deadly Hemlock is one of them books that I went into with no expectations, so I was thrilled that this book utterly surprised me. It threw me so many amazing surprises that overall, it was a fantastic read.

In Deadly Hemlock werewolves are no longer in hiding after being discovered by the government. The werewolf gene called the ‘Lupine Syndrome’ is being spread to other people by bites or scratches.
Mackenzie lives in a town called Hemlock and she is trying to deal with the death of he...more 4.5 stars

Deadly Hemlock is one of them books that I went into with no expectations, so I was thrilled that this book utterly surprised me. It threw me so many amazing surprises that overall, it was a fantastic read.

In Deadly Hemlock werewolves are no longer in hiding after being discovered by the government. The werewolf gene called the ‘Lupine Syndrome’ is being spread to other people by bites or scratches.
Mackenzie lives in a town called Hemlock and she is trying to deal with the death of her best friend, Amy who was brutally murdered by a werewolf. However, Amy isn’t the first person to be killed, and a man hunt is starting to take place, to wipe all the werewolves out. Mackenzie however, believes there is more to Amy’s death than what she’s been told, and takes it upon herself to find out the truth. But what she isn’t prepared for are the secrets and lies that come out, and thing turn dangerous very quickly for her. Can Mackenzie solve Amy’s murder without getting herself killed? And can she protect the people she loves?

Finally – another werewolf story that is on par with Andrea Cremer’s Nightshade series. I love werewolf stories, but the one’s I’ve read recently all tend to have the same story line, so I’m so pleased that Deadly Hemlock is completely and utterly unique. In my opinion this story has quite a dystopian feel to it – especially with the werewolves being so out in the open, so I was shocked to find out it’s being classes as an urban fantasy, however dystopian or urban fantasy, it was fantastic nonetheless.

The characters were a joy to read about too. Mackenzie, Jason and Kyle have all lost their way since losing Amy – some more than others, but with Mackenzie’s strong personality trying to keep them all together, it was nice to see how tight their friendship was. Mackenzie really was a stand out character for me, I adored both her relationships with both boys and I think the author did a great job with the love triangle too. I’m usually one that isn’t keen on love triangles, but the author didn’t make it the key point in the book; it was more a back-story and it was great. She really left me battling with who I wanted Mackenzie to end up with and overall, I’d be happy with either one of them.

Kathleen Peacock really has created a thrilling, suspenseful and captivating read with Deadly Hemlock. It's filled with secrets, lie’s, hope and love, and I loved every minute of it. Highly recommend to paranormal fans that are looking for a new and exciting series.

A huge thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for giving me the opportunity to review this book.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Apr 11, 2012 Amy marked it as to-read · review of another edition

GAH. MURDERED?!?!
How dare someone murder an Amy?!?!?
Even though it's not me, I still feel like I have a connection to this Amy in the book...I feel so bad for her :,(

--------

O.O two likes...? Where did they find this shortsy not so much of a review anyways..?

like 4 likes · see review

May 05, 2012 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen, favorites

A killer is on the loose in Hemlock and Mac's best friend Amy is just the latest in the string of murders. She was found in an alley after being brutally torn apart -- a chunk of white fur clutched in her hand.

Ever since the werewolves outed themselves, Lupine syndrome has been on the rise. Anyone scratched or bitten is immediately sent to a rehabilitation camp. Since new werewolves typically can't control themselves or the bloodlust that strikes, it's human protection that's at the forefront o...more

like 2 likes · see review

May 19, 2012 Tatiana marked it as abandoned · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, ya, series-dropped-lost-steam

If you are looking for something original, unique, something that immediately grabs your attention, you will not find it in Hemlock.

If you are looking for stock characters and story lines, stock love triangles and stock narrator full of grief, angst and no distinct voice, Hemlock might work for you.

like 18 likes · see review

May 23, 2012 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Reeling from the recent gruesome death of her best friend, Mac is struggling to find peace. As Amy’s ghost haunt her dreams, her remaining circle of friends seemed to be growing apart. Jason, Amy’s boyfriend is on a downward spiral, while Kyle, Mac’s best friend harbors secrets that involve his clingy ex. But the terror of the citizens of Hemlock is also far from over as wolf attacks persist. A group of radical werewolves hunters moved in, bringing in extreme views and questionable methods enoug...more Reeling from the recent gruesome death of her best friend, Mac is struggling to find peace. As Amy’s ghost haunt her dreams, her remaining circle of friends seemed to be growing apart. Jason, Amy’s boyfriend is on a downward spiral, while Kyle, Mac’s best friend harbors secrets that involve his clingy ex. But the terror of the citizens of Hemlock is also far from over as wolf attacks persist. A group of radical werewolves hunters moved in, bringing in extreme views and questionable methods enough to rival the terrors incited by the werewolves themselves. Suddenly, Mac is thrust right in the thick of it all as she tries to save Jason from himself and Kyle from his secrets.

Just when I had my fill of werewolves, Hemlock proves that once again, I really shouldn’t say, NEVER again to the call of these mythical creatures. Kathleen Peacock’s initial offering to her Hemlock trilogy was a fantastic set-up to what promises to be an addictive series. Admittedly, this book has been on my radar since I got wind of it. And let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed.

From a cast of fascinating, well-developed characters, sweet and mostly angst-ridden romance, Hemlock is a novel that had me completely obsessed. For once in my ever-loving life, I actually looked forward to what promises to be a difficult love triangle among the three characters. I say difficult, because I was truthfully torn between the two male leads in the book. And while I’m pervasively into bad boys, Kyle’s sweet disposition had me re-thinking all the reasons why I loved misunderstood bad boys to begin with. But Jason’s brooding, angry outlook in life reels me back in, soaking in all his dark glory. I predict that this love triangle will give me future headaches and not for the usual reasons that I abhor this type of romance. Kathleen Peacock achieved the impossible; she had me checking all my prejudices about werewolves and the dreadful love triangles at the door.

I must admit that I don't readily accept a reality where mythical creatures exist. I question the whys and the hows - the genesis of the world in the book, if I may. But I was quite satisfied with the premise that it all began with a disease – the lupine syndrome. I liked the ambience that Kathleen conceived in Hemlock. The rabid wolves have the serial killers quality that had me imagining a city on a lockdown at the first sign of trouble. I also loved that not all werewolves were created equal; there were some who constantly battled themselves to fight off the monster within.

The eventual killer in the book was a surprise! I never saw it coming for sure. It almost broke my heart when the culprit was revealed.

The only problem I had with this book is the heroine's predisposition to face the problems head on, all by her brave self. Yes, it’s a characteristic typical of a hero/heroine in a novel but at times, I couldn’t help but question her state of mind. Sometimes, her justification for not asking someone's help bordered on stupidity. One thing’s for sure, her courage goes deep and more often, beyond her capacity. But I guess that’s rarely a bad thing, isn't it? Regardless, I absolutely loved MacKenzie - a refreshing character lacking in fear, fiercely loyal, and an overall admirable heroine.

VERDICT: Mystery, suspense, action, and a realistic, addictive romance guaranteed to torment, Hemlock is a fantastic debut tackling a tired paranormal myth. But don't fret, this book has some twists that will sure to surprise you. (less)

like 7 likes · see review

Apr 15, 2012 Ezmirelda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, beautiful-cover, books-i-own, paranormal, romance, 5-stars

The Full Review can be found on my blog PARAFANTASY.

I went into reading HEMLOCK not knowing what to expect. All I knew was that I didn't care much for novels with werewolves; in fact, I'd stopped reading them altogether after a particularly bad one about a year ago. I read the back and wondered if the author could pull off writing a story like this and still be able to make it unique and original. At first I had my doubts, but sooner than later I found myself completely engrossed in this book. W...more The Full Review can be found on my blog PARAFANTASY.

I went into reading HEMLOCK not knowing what to expect. All I knew was that I didn't care much for novels with werewolves; in fact, I'd stopped reading them altogether after a particularly bad one about a year ago. I read the back and wondered if the author could pull off writing a story like this and still be able to make it unique and original. At first I had my doubts, but sooner than later I found myself completely engrossed in this book. What I find the most intriguing about this book is the characters. They all have their strengths and their weaknesses; none of them are perfect. I know firsthand how terrible it can be to deal with someone's death, especially a person who was very close to you. People have different ways of handling their grief. For Mac, Jason, and Kyle that's finding Amy's werewolf murderer.

In the world of HEMLOCK those who are infected with Lupine Syndrome are turned into lethal werewolves. When found, turned werewolves are sent away into a government run facility that no one has any clue what goes on in. Then in comes the Trackers; people who have dedicated their lives to finding hidden werewolves, hunting them down, and killing them. Mac has a bad feeling about these people, and for good reason. But for Jason this means a possible chance at avenging the death of his girlfriend who was killed by a werewolf; one that's still on the loose. Throughout the book Mac gradually begins to lose Jason to the trackers, and their intimidating leader.

The pacing of this book kept me on edge. There were times when I felt like punching Jason in the face. And then there were other times where I felt like hugging him. Kyle was a very sweet throughout the book, and I think he might be my second favorite character in the book. The ending and the way things left off between these three was cliff-hanger-rific! I was literally crushed when I got to the last page and realized there weren't any more pages left. Overall, HEMLOCK is a head-spinning novel that you don't want to miss! I highly recommend paranormal readers, especially those like me who had given up on the werewolf genre.
(less)

like 5 likes · see review

Jul 03, 2012 ~Tina~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wolves-shapeshiftes, paranormal, young-adult, own, favorites, read-2012

Truth be told, I was just about over werewolf books. I've been disappointed by two of what use to be my favorite were-series and just as I was about to boycott them for life, I remembered that I own this book, so I figured I'd just read it. Rate it. And be done.
Little did I know that this was going to be an absoulte favorite!
So, series, please, please don't let me down. I'm gonna take a chance on you;)

Hemlock is one of those reads where I started to read the first chapter only to be done six ho...more

like 8 likes · see review

Apr 05, 2012 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As a reader, I come across a lot of stories overdone. Werewolves being one of them. I must tell you that this book is pure AWESOMESUACE! Not only it is unique but the world building is simply amazing!
In the words of Luigi from Disney Cars, this is how I feel:
"I must scream it to the world, my excitement from the top of someplace very high."

What I loved most about this book is that it is what is really is. Werewolves. Not nice werewolves who can speak to each other through their minds but wolves...more

like 6 likes · see review

May 16, 2012 Mitchii rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, urban-fantasy, romance, paranormal, fantasy, 2012-reads

Ok, I’m on the fence. I think I spent good amount of time deciding how to rate it. 3? 3.5? But since it kept me all night (which means it was interesting enough to hold my attention), I’m gonna round it up to four. But then again I'm somewhat a fickle minded so I might change that. But not really that drastic.

Now, all things considered Hemlock is pretty average. Guilty of using the same plot devices present in other books. But unlike the other books that concentrate more on either the paranormal...more Ok, I’m on the fence. I think I spent good amount of time deciding how to rate it. 3? 3.5? But since it kept me all night (which means it was interesting enough to hold my attention), I’m gonna round it up to four. But then again I'm somewhat a fickle minded so I might change that. But not really that drastic.

Now, all things considered Hemlock is pretty average. Guilty of using the same plot devices present in other books. But unlike the other books that concentrate more on either the paranormal aspect or the love angle, this one has a problem where the story mostly revolves. Mackenzie’s best friend was killed by a werewolf. And her friend Amy is not just average person; she’s the granddaughter of a senator. This made her death a little controversial. Unlike in other books, people in this town (I guess, in this world) are aware of the existence of werewolves, they called it lupine syndrome. And they fear people infected by the virus.

Amy’s death left Mac, Kyle and Jason, her ex-boyfriend devastated. Especially Jason, who felt guilty of her death and want to avenge her by joining the trackers. This group is responsible for hunting down the werewolves. But Mac doesn’t like the group and she wanted Jason out of it. So she decided to dig around her best friend’s death. Turned out that her death was not what it seems. But that’s not only her problem. Kyle, has secrets too—that involved her. And the virus.

The mystery is what kept me all night. I wanted to know who killed Amy. If it really was done by a werewolf. I was irritated though with Amy popping around in her head and doesn’t do much aside from annoying her (and well, me!). It wasn’t really hard to put two and two together though. I kinda know who did it (not really the person himself, the mastermind). So that kinda blows. But I liked that author opted to put something like Amy’s death as the starting point that made the rest fell into place. I liked the flow of the story. And was really grateful that the entire thing was resolved. Now I’m expecting more about the characters and syndrome itself.

I don’t know what to make of Mac. I don’t hate her, and she’s far from being a member of tstl but there were times she irritated me. I know she wanted to help and all that. But what comes from her mouth was different to how she acted. I hope next time she walks the talk. Kyle on the other hand was ok, I didn’t like that he pulled an Edward Cullen-in-New Moon stunt on me (he left, he freaking left!). I don’t know why he didn’t pursue her before (probably the friendship thing) and why risk it now with everything happening. Anyhoo, best friend angle is not really my thing. As for guy number two, I kinda read it from miles away the reason why Jason broke up with Amy. I know this little love triangle will play out later. But Mac already decided who she loved but like I said before, sequels often than not are made for guy #2. So…you…know…Jason…could... ;)

Now with Amy’s murder is solved, I’m expecting more of the story. And like the book, I’m also on the fence with the two guys. Kyle? Jason? I think I need the sequel to make up my mind. :P(less)

like 3 likes · see review

Jun 18, 2012 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: on-my-bookshelf

I've read so many great books lately, I'm starting to run out of adjectives to describe them all. How often can you say, amazing, brilliant, and awesome in a review without starting to sound a bit repetitive. I'll tell you one thing, this is one instance where I don't mind being repetitive at all! I've read ALOT of really great books this year, and I really don't think that's a bad thing! :)

This book is one of those AMAZING books. Add it to the list with the rest of the awesome I've read this y...more

like 1 like · see review

Jul 18, 2012 Tara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012debut, challenge-dac2012, own

Review originally posted http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/2012/...

Excuse me while I fangirl over how freaking awesome Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock is! I mean, Hemlock is LEGIT. I thought I was kind of over werewolves and what not, but Kathleen Peacock sucked me right back in with Hemlock!

I mean, okay, first of all – the plot in Hemlock is EPIC. It’s werewolves, but it’s not your typical always hiding from people werewolves. Because everyone knows the werewolves are there and there’s organizations...more

like 1 like · see review

May 05, 2012 Jodi Meadows rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-love-beyond-reason

When I heard ARCs existed of this book, I immediately begged for a copy.

I’m going to confess something: I don’t read a lot of werewolf books. It’s not that I don’t like them, but I typically don’t find myself choosing them off the bookshelf. That said, I knew HEMLOCK was a book that had werewolves . . .

But when I read it, I didn’t think, “This is a werewolf book.” Because it’s not about werewolves. It’s a book about prejudice, friendship, loyalty, and mystery. It happens to have werewolves as pa...more When I heard ARCs existed of this book, I immediately begged for a copy.

I’m going to confess something: I don’t read a lot of werewolf books. It’s not that I don’t like them, but I typically don’t find myself choosing them off the bookshelf. That said, I knew HEMLOCK was a book that had werewolves . . .

But when I read it, I didn’t think, “This is a werewolf book.” Because it’s not about werewolves. It’s a book about prejudice, friendship, loyalty, and mystery. It happens to have werewolves as part of the worldbuilding.

It’s also a book that, according to the Publisher’s Marketplace announcement, has a love triangle, but I didn’t get the typical love triangle feel from it. Mac didn’t spend her time pining over which boy to date; she spent her time trying to solve a murder mystery, helping her friends, and avoiding bloody death. And the love interests were also friends first, and potential kissing partners second.

The friends were all real, present, and fleshed out. I felt like I knew them. And while I wasn’t as attached to one of the characters because he kept behaving like a jerk, I never questioned Mac’s loyalty to him because she had strong memories of how things used to be, and their interactions made it clear that they used to be close — and might some day be close again. He was a real, flawed person in pain. He was redeemable.

I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding in this book. Kathleen took a world where werewolves have been outed as a real threat, and began drawing it through the logical stages of confusion and fear and prejudice. There are people for and against werewolves, people who just want to be left alone, and people willing to judge werewolves individually rather than judge the entire population by one horror story. There are pro- and anti- posters and t-shirst, slurs, and terrifying “rehabilitation camps.” The world of HEMLOCK feels real and scary.

But my favorite thing about HEMLOCK is Mac, the main character. She’s strong. Not necessarily in the physical sense, but strong of heart. She cares deeply about her friends and her family. She doesn’t trust easily, but for those who’ve earned it, she’s unflinchingly loyal. And when she gets a hint that her best friend wasn’t just killed by a werewolf, but murdered and someone may be trying to cover that up — well, Mac takes it upon herself to seek out the truth, no matter how impossible it seems, and how much danger she must go through.

I’d recommend HEMLOCK to readers wanting an intriguing mystery and a deep look at a scary world.(less)

like 6 likes · see review

Sep 01, 2012 deanneluvbooks rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-book-i-ve-read-2012, drop-everything, favorite-series, highly-recommended-book, leave-me-alone-or-die-book, my-book-bestie, read-over-and-over, super-crazy-good, thrill-ride

I feel horrible for the people who are influenced by bad or not so positive reviews on amazing books. They sure miss out on a good thing, oh, well, too bad for them:)

This was such an amazing, exciting and I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride at Disney kinda story. I'm definitely going to stop, drop and roll to the nearest book store to get Kathleens next freakin' smokin' hot book!!! So watch out everybody on that release day because I'm giving advance warning I'll be driving like a bat out...more

like 1 like · see review

May 09, 2013 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Summary:
Hemlock is a world where werewolves have become known to the public. They are dangerous and the world is doing all they can to stop them, including rounding them up into camps. With all of these precautions, it does not stop a white wolf from killing Amy. Amy was the best friend of the narrator Mac. Mac is grieving her best friend, attempting to keep her other friends together, and finding out exactly what happened. Trackers, a special type of police, are attempting to find the white wol...more Summary:
Hemlock is a world where werewolves have become known to the public. They are dangerous and the world is doing all they can to stop them, including rounding them up into camps. With all of these precautions, it does not stop a white wolf from killing Amy. Amy was the best friend of the narrator Mac. Mac is grieving her best friend, attempting to keep her other friends together, and finding out exactly what happened. Trackers, a special type of police, are attempting to find the white wolf in order to keep it from killing again. This adds a level of difficulty for Mac as she is attempting to piece things together.

My thoughts:
Let's be honest, the cover is beautiful. Why wouldn't you want to pick up this book based upon that alone?

I really enjoyed this one. There are very few YA mystery books that I don't figure out fairly early on. I took notes on this one and didn't figure out the ending until the end. I was pretty surprised. The fantasy aspect of this book paled in comparison to the mystery. That was the most engaging part of the story.

Other than that, the prejudice and links towards mistreatment through history are clearly seen throughout this story. It is a book that I wouldn't mind teaching because drawing parallels between the Holocaust and Japanese Internment camps as well as connections of racism and mistreatment. I'm always interested in bringing in contemporary literature to my classroom that ties in with themes that we are working on and then reading a classical novel with those same themes. I think this would be a great novel to work with. The language is appropriate for a high school setting. There are some SAT vocabulary words sprinkled through and werewolves/fantasy is still very popular.

The only thing that was disappointing was the love triangle. It developed rather naturally, but I felt it was inappropriate for any feelings to be brought up between Jason and Mac. Jason was Amy's boyfriend. Shouldn't he be busy mourning, not whining and then becoming interested in Mac? It also might have been that I didn't really like Jason. He was the most annoying character within the book and I would have much rather focused on strong, wonderful Mac with mysterious Kyle. (less)

like · see review

Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tour

Initial Thoughts: I feel like I really missed something with this book. Everyone else seemed to love it, giving it 4-5 star ratings. I thought for sure that a mix of urban fantasy and some weird werewolf disease would be absolutely fantastic but I found that the science was lacking, and also, I felt like I missed an entire book.

What I liked: I liked Mac. Ms Peacock really brought me into Mac's head, and I felt close to her. Like I've known her forever. Her pain over missing Amy was palpable. I r...more Initial Thoughts: I feel like I really missed something with this book. Everyone else seemed to love it, giving it 4-5 star ratings. I thought for sure that a mix of urban fantasy and some weird werewolf disease would be absolutely fantastic but I found that the science was lacking, and also, I felt like I missed an entire book.

What I liked: I liked Mac. Ms Peacock really brought me into Mac's head, and I felt close to her. Like I've known her forever. Her pain over missing Amy was palpable. I really liked Kyle, too. Sure, he was conflicted a little, but at least he wasn't so cliche about it.

I really, really enjoyed the Trackers. I know they were supposed to be the bad guys according to Mac, and the good guys according to everyone else in town. I loved that conflict in Mac's head about them. More importantly though, I thought they were excellently written, and a nice way to bring in that dystopian sort of theme without having to write an entire book about a dystopian nation.

The action in Hemlock was fast paced and engaging. From the first page we're sort of thrown into the entire atmosphere: the dark alleys, the stalkers, the werewolves' blood lust. I loved it, and it had my heart pounding.

What I didn't Like: The entire time I was reading I kept feeling like I was reading a second book. I felt like there was a first book that I somehow missed and just jumped into the sequel. Ms Peacock spent a lot -- I mean a LOT -- of time telling us about what happened before the book started. Soooo much info dumping about what happened to Amy, how Mac dealt with it, how close her, Amy, Kyle, and Jason had been. I think this series would have been better off as four books, with a book about everything before Hemlock. This book was over 400 pages long, and because of all the memories and info-dumping, it got boring and stale at times.

The world-building was sub-par, too. We have this lupine syndrome, a werewolf disease, and really no history on it. Maybe if the science was there, it would have felt more real to me, but I just couldn't manage to believe it. Then there are the laws surrounding the wolves, how they cease to be citizens, lose their rights and their belongings, and are sent off to concentration camps until they die. It just didn't seem very.... American to me. I don't know. I just couldn't believe it, and that's very detrimental when I'm reading a book.

In Conclusion: This book was just okay. By the last 75 pages or my heart was pounding out of my chest, and I was rushing to turn the page. But with all the info-dumping, and the general feeling of 'Did I miss something?' I just couldn't get into it. All that, on top of poor world building, it just wasn't a hit for me. I probably won't be picking up the sequel.(less)

like · see review

Apr 08, 2013 Mr. Muesli rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Hemlock tells a story of an alternate world where werewolves do exists--and they are being hunted. Anyone who was been bitten or scratched by a werewolf are infected by the so called "lupine syndrome" and have to report themselves to prevent the spreading of werewolf disease.

Thus, our story began in a small town called Hemlock, after a girl named Amy has been brutally murdered by a white wolf. Her best friends Mac, Kyle, and Jason are still struggling to cope with her deaths, because each of th...more

Hemlock tells a story of an alternate world where werewolves do exists--and they are being hunted. Anyone who was been bitten or scratched by a werewolf are infected by the so called "lupine syndrome" and have to report themselves to prevent the spreading of werewolf disease.

Thus, our story began in a small town called Hemlock, after a girl named Amy has been brutally murdered by a white wolf. Her best friends Mac, Kyle, and Jason are still struggling to cope with her deaths, because each of them believed to have played a hand to help her murder. The white wolf is still running around free, and when even your neighbour can secretly be a werewolf, you can never be safe in this town.

A quick glance at Hemlock had convinced me that this is a werewolf book that stood out from the others. Being a non-fan of werewolves after the whole vampire-werewolves craze, and after reading Shiver which I did not really like, I finally settled with this one to fill the gaps in my free weekend time.

In short, Hemlock is the kind of book that I'm not praising so much, but I won't practically say it as horrible either. There are some traits that I like but some of the characters and the story bugged me. The characters are okay in my standards. Kyle and Serena are my favourite because most of the time they're not messing things up, but I hate the main character and the guy named Jason.

Mackenzie, or Mac, is the typical heroine in YA literature that has more than one guy falling for her and does things without thinking. Or she does thinks, but it would end up as a mess afterwards. She was portrayed as being not so strong but has this knack of comeback phrases that makes most of her enemies spite her. What's bugging me is the fact that she goes all around town solving her best friend's murder, but on the way she makes out with Kyle and makes trouble and dismisses suspicious people which I have suspected waaay before she does. The clues somehow appears around her in a series of coincidences (deus ex machina), werewolves appear out of nowhere and attacked her (random plot device), and she managed to avoid being scratched and bitten ALL THE TIME (more deus ex machina). She could know which people should she investigate and which clues should be pursued, when there are infinite number of possibilities.

That goes with her best friend, Jason. Man, what's wrong with this kid? All he does for the whole time is get drunk, get into fights, be a jerk, and have mood swings. I know, I know. Her girlfriend is dead and he's in the emo period. But damn, every single time his name comes up I just want to kick his arse. And Mac goes and sucks up to him all the time.

This book also has the issue of flashbacks and info-dumps. The beginning has Mac info-dumping the readers about her life, the lupine syndrome, and depressing thoughts about Amy. It has more telling than showing, and it bores me to death. Move on to the story!

Anyway, what I love about this book is the author's take on werewolves. She managed to make werewolves fascinating and simple without actually going overboard. It also makes me guessed the whole time which of the characters are actually wolves, and when they did turn out to be one, I found myself grinning. I guess wolves in the world of Hemlock are pretty cool.

Hemlock is quite an enjoyable read, and as I said before, it wasn't so bad. Although the ending is quite short and less gripping, with the villain that I'm not so convinced is actually that bad, I would probably recommend this to fans of werewolves. Or wolves.
(less)

like · see review

Jan 01, 2013 Titis Wardhana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, paranormal

Kayaknya ini buku penutup 2012...

Mack punya geng 4 orang: Amy, Jason, Kyle. Amy dan Jason pacaran, sampai suatu malam Amy terbunuh oleh werewolf. Werewolf di sini kayak penyakit, jadi kena gores sedikit sudah terkena LS atau Lupin Syndrome, dan bisa berubah jadi werewolf, tapi pengidap LS ini tidak bisa terdeteksi sampai orang itu berubah.

Kematian Amy membuat hubungan ketiganya renggang. Kakek Amy yang seorang senator tidak tinggal diam. Dia mengundang Trackers, kelompok pembasmi LS, jadi siapa...more

like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
The (Not-So) Aust...: Hemlock - April Read Discussion	3	5	Apr 27, 2013 01:51am
What's The Name o...: YA School searched for werewolf positive disease [s]	4	15	Mar 26, 2013 12:46pm
Good YA Series: What do you think of Hemlock?	2	33	Aug 26, 2012 12:54am
Never Too Old For...: Hemlock Series	10	38	Jun 25, 2012 11:53pm

title link	preview: Deadly Hemlock
avg rating	preview: Deadly Hemlock Goodreads rating: 4.04 (3397 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13024972-deadly-hemlock?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327400209l/13024972.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13024972-deadly-hemlock?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Deadly Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock[/url]

Deadly Hemlock (Hemlock #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (7)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Kathleen Peacock

Books by Kathleen Peacock

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Hemlock

Quotes from Hemlock