Under My Skin

Mar 23, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-books, review-books

For months, teenagers in Santa Feliz have been shifting, changing to animals and no one knows why or even how; it's being broadcasted and reported all over the news. Josh also unexpectedly turns out to be one of these shifters as he shifts into a mountain lion when his mother's boyfriend was fighting with him. Now he's a Wildling (what the public calls these shifters) and must keep it a secret or else he'll be taken away like all the others that were discovered.

I don't believe I quite understood...more For months, teenagers in Santa Feliz have been shifting, changing to animals and no one knows why or even how; it's being broadcasted and reported all over the news. Josh also unexpectedly turns out to be one of these shifters as he shifts into a mountain lion when his mother's boyfriend was fighting with him. Now he's a Wildling (what the public calls these shifters) and must keep it a secret or else he'll be taken away like all the others that were discovered.

I don't believe I quite understood what an urban fantasy was until I read Under My Skin. It's the perfect blend of fantasy and contemporary, keeping it modern yet at the same time it's touched by the supernatural. It was done so well, the characters and people's reactions to the Wildlings phenomenon, that I could truly believe something like that actually unfolding.

The characters were solid and I could see them existing. Josh, his friends and all the other characters just had a lot of depth and it wasn't just that - it was the world as well. Usually in urban fantasy there isn't much focus on the world because unlike fantasy, we're familiar with that world. But in Under My Skin, the world was given a nice focus and I was really aware of it - I could picture it so well.

The one thing I didn't like was all the slang. It is how teenagers talk I guess (I should know, I am one) but I never liked too much slang dialogue in books, it irritates me a little. But I suppose that could be more of a personal thing. Though it was done extremely well, I'll give that. Some authors try to portray how teenagers talk and a lot of times it just comes out as horrible but with Under My Skin it was realistic.

The story shifts between the point of views of Josh, our main character, and his best friend Marina. Both point of views were equally interesting. The story was paced very well and I really enjoyed the plot. I definitely wouldn't have been able to guess anything that was coming.

Overall Under My Skin, is a wonderful start to the series. Charles de Lint has written many books and you really can see his experience when you read Under My Skin. It'll make you realize what an urban fantasy truly is, full of the supernatural but at the same time mixed with the modern world and real, normal people dealing with it.
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Dec 10, 2012 Eden rated it 2 of 5 stars

Hmm. (There are times when I am so glad I run a book blog so I can write things like "hmm" in my reviews. Booklist or Kirkus Reviews wouldn't dig that, for sure.) This one was... odd. I'm going to try and break it down.

» The concept. It's nothing new, for sure, but here we get modern shape-shifting backed up by a solid steeping in First Nations folklore. References to the trickster Raven and the Coyote clan add authenticity to the Wildlings, or "cousins". As the characters spout the requisite qu...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Giselle at Book Nerd Canada rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, from-publishers, won, own

If you're looking for an action-packed novel, then you found it. Because where else would you be able to find teenagers who could shape-shift into animals. From a mountain lion, to an otter, and even a rat! It was interesting to hear what the government knew about these kids, yet I didn’t fully trust what their intentions were.

There are enough characters in here that it made me feel like I was reading a Michael Grant novel. Sure it was a little hard to keep track of all the names and who did wha...more

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May 11, 2013 Cissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm not generally a dedicated reader of YA fiction, mostly because I am way older than that! Still, I hate to miss excellent books, so I do read some, and this is a great example of why I do so.

The characters are very well-drawn- oddly, more the secondary characters than the 2 POV characters; both of the POV characters had such similar voices that it was sometimes hard to tell whose perspective we were in.

Still, it helps that the POV characters were only 2; it gets very confusing when authors ha...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Gwyneth Stewart rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A new YA series from my favorite author of urban fantasy. The small California town of Santa Feliz has had a strange outbreak of teen-agers turning into shape-shifters, skin walkers, animal people. Thankfully, not just another werewolf story, Charles de Lint bases this on various Native American legends. The main characters, Josh and Marina, are two high school students who are more interested in surfing, skate boards and garage bands than anything mystical, who suddenly find themselves able to...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

"Under My Skin" is apparently a first offering for YA by well-known fantasy writer, Charles de Lint. It could be loosely described as contemporary urban fantasy, and explores the concept of shape-shifting. The teenagers of the coastal town of San Feliz are unaccountably transforming into wild animals in record numbers. Josh Saunders is aware of what is happening in the community but is completely unprepared when he suddenly changes into a mountain lion and almost accidentally kills his mother's...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Indrani rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am a great fan of Mr. de Lint's work, and have been since I first read "Riddle of the Wren". Over the years, I have come to expect a certain level of excellence from him in terms of being able to convey a sense of wonder, write believable characters (in spite of their otherworldly natures), and to give his characters voice.

Unfortunately, this one falls flat on at least two of those counts. Yes, I know that this book is written for young adults - this, to me, does not justify wooden prose, a la...more I am a great fan of Mr. de Lint's work, and have been since I first read "Riddle of the Wren". Over the years, I have come to expect a certain level of excellence from him in terms of being able to convey a sense of wonder, write believable characters (in spite of their otherworldly natures), and to give his characters voice.

Unfortunately, this one falls flat on at least two of those counts. Yes, I know that this book is written for young adults - this, to me, does not justify wooden prose, a lack of depth in characters, and a lack of variation in voice between characters - sins which are all committed here.

Mr. de Lint attempts to tell his story from the points of view of two of his main characters: Josh, and one of his best friends, Marina. While this tactic serves well to describe the action that is happening in different places, Mr. de Lint fails to make either of the character's voices different from the other: Josh could have been narrating Marina's sections and vice versa for all that could be told from the prose.

Mr. de Lint also falls into the trap of using several time-worn tropes: the "girl next door" who seems to be destined to be relegated to "best friend" while pining to be more, the goofy sidekick who is more like an eager puppy than a whole person, the independent alternative chick who's just too cool for school, the tough guy who has more brains than anyone gives him credit for and who really has a heart of gold underneath his tough exterior... Add in the requisite wise old woman who only give half-answers but is a powerful mystic, and the cop who's really not as bad and authoritarian as he first seems, and let's not forget the hard-working single mom...

I think that part of this that bothers me so much is that I know de Lint is capable of so much more. He has written some beautiful works, with characters who surpass their tropes, stories that convey a sense of wonder, amazement, and joy, along with uncertainty and darkness. I don't know whether it is because this was aimed at teens (although having read "The Blue Girl", I would suggest that it is not the reason), or because he is taking on something that is such a popular subject these days (the idea of a young person suddenly confronted with being a shapeshifter). All I know is that the MTV series "Teen Wolf" is doing a much better job of this story - which is rather disappointing.

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Apr 18, 2012 Bardi rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit something at the beginning. I do not like multi-volume series. I could fill this review with reasons why, but that would not be fair to Mr de Lint, or to you for that matter.

Charles de Lint has always been the exception. Getting a new Newford story was always like hearing from the branch of the family that you always felt closest to.

Under My Skin is not a Newford book. It is,rather the start of something different. There are teenagers in a small community who find themselves beco...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Sensitivemuse rated it 3 of 5 stars

I had fun reading this book. It wasn’t too bad, and it was interesting enough to keep me going until the finish. What I enjoyed was the switching of narration between Marina and Josh. I can’t seem to choose which one I like better. Both of them were interesting and fun to read. Both of them seemed to have developed throughout the novel. Josh goes through a lot more and it seems there’s lots to be expected from him. Then there’s Desmond, who’s the comic relief of the novel, but I also enjoyed rea...more

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May 11, 2012 Sherwood Smith added it

Shelves: fantasy

A fast-paced tale for older teens, trading off first person chapters by Josh, a normal surfer guy in a coastal California city until his mom's scuzzball of a boyfriend tries to hit him, and he turns into a mountain lion and mauls the guy, and Marina, his best friend, who has a couple of secrets--one of which is her crush on Josh.

Josh has become a Wilding, a shapeshifter who can switch back and forth between his animal shape and human. For some reason it's been happening to local teens, no one k...more A fast-paced tale for older teens, trading off first person chapters by Josh, a normal surfer guy in a coastal California city until his mom's scuzzball of a boyfriend tries to hit him, and he turns into a mountain lion and mauls the guy, and Marina, his best friend, who has a couple of secrets--one of which is her crush on Josh.

Josh has become a Wilding, a shapeshifter who can switch back and forth between his animal shape and human. For some reason it's been happening to local teens, no one knows why--including the older Wildings, hitherto living under the radar as far as Josh was concerned.

Josh, Marina, and a surfer named Desmond have a band, though they haven't played for anyone but themselves, or even picked a name. They surf and skate together. Josh goes to them first, once he learns a bit about Wildings. He is scared to tell his mom, even after she kicks out the boyfriend when Josh tells her about the abuse.

The supposed attack of a wild lion at Josh's home, and his having gone missing, nets media news, which in turn gets all over high school. Josh has to cope with that, and with his new ability, and then with meeting a Wilding girl, Elzie, with whom he shares instant attraction. That's when the FBI shows up, and starts stalking everyone. Josh tries to keep his head down and act normal, not easy when he's confronted at school, has to deal with secrets and emotional issues--and that's when he gets snatched.

The pacing goes ballistic at that point, and stays strong to the end. I liked the characters (especially the fact that not everybody is white bread, which is true to most SoCal high schools today), I liked the entanglement of secrets and emotions, and how the kids tried to deal. The whole Wildings thing is exciting, well thought out, and while this tale ends on a satisfactory note (yay!) there are plenty of questions left open for a series.

I would have loved this as a teen--there is some teen sex, but it's true to the age, handled matter-of-factly and not graphic. More graphic was one horrific scene, which would have disturbed me as a younger teen, but mileage varies on these things: as always, adults ought to read it first and decide whether or not to share it with their kids. I would have no hesitation recommending it to my son. (And this book might actually be a way in for boys to read urban fantasy.) (less)

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Apr 23, 2012 Neile rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's all over the news that around town teenagers have been suddenly shifting into animal shapes. Jason is sure he's just a usual kid, but when his mother's boyfriend starts to beat him up, he suddenly turns into a mountain lion and escapes out the window. Now he's one of the Wildlings, and has to conceal it, or he'll be taken to the facility that the Wildlings disappear into, and the FBI are watching him.

I have been a Charles de Lint fan for years--the depth of his characterization, the humanen...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Meaghan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

I first heard of this book because a fellow book blogger mentioned she was going to the release party of this book and asked if I wanted to join her. As there are not many book signings or book related activities in Ottawa I jumped at the chance to go. I promptly went to the store and picked up the book and I have to admit was a bit turned off by the cover of this book. Covers are the first thing that a customer is going to see and while they say "don't judge a book by it's cover", I often do. T...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Natalie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, my-bookshelf, ya, boys-read, shapeshifter

When I first heard about the concept of Under My Skin by Charles de Lint I just knew that I had to read it. For some reason the synopsis reminded me of the Animorphs series I devoured back in my childhood days. I was so excited for this book that as soon as I received a copy for review from Razorbill I put all of my other books aside and tore through this one instead! Unfortunately, while Under My Skin was certainly an enjoyable and well written read, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappo...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Krystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Oh my Gosh! this book was so ADDICTING!!! I really want to read the second book because i really did not like how the book ended with Marina still very upset and heart broken and Josh, well, feeling guilty. The idea of the book, i will admit was VERY was very clever.

There is just one thing i did not really like. the first 2 pages go like WWWWWOOOSSSSHHHHH!!! so darn fast. not that i have anything against it, but if you ask me it should have given a bit more background info before Josh suddenly...more

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Apr 22, 2012 CαthεεBooks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-received-to-review, books-i-own, great-reads

Come by my blog, Forever Lost in Books, for MORE reviews, giveaways, interviews and memes!

Title : Under My Skin
Series : Wildlings #1
Author : Charles de Lint
Pages : 409
Release Date : March 6th 2012
Publisher : Razorbill Canada / Penguin Canada
Format : Harcover
Source :
** a copy was provided by Penguin Canada in exchange of an honest review**

My Opinion :

Under My Skin is Charles de Lint's newest novel. He has published many others (which I have not read).

Under My Skin was a pretty good book. I enjoy...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, young-adult, urban-fantasy

For the past couple months, teens from Santa Feliz are finding out that they have the ability to shape shift into animals and no one knows how or why. Its made national headline news and there’s always a new story or video coming out about it happening to yet another teen. Josh just found out that he too is a Wildling. After that moment, his life will never be the same. But Josh has also gotten the attention of the FBI and it seems that they are keeping a close eye on him. Only trusting his two...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Avery rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I first read the premise of this book I was instantly excited, I was excited by the prospect that shifters would finally get their long-deserved chance in the spotlight (I find that while there have been numerous books about werewolves there have been few on their cousins, the shifters, those who do not necessarily shift into wolves, but a whole range of different animal species- in fact, I can personally only recount two other series which deals with shifters, Rachel Vincent's aptly named...more When I first read the premise of this book I was instantly excited, I was excited by the prospect that shifters would finally get their long-deserved chance in the spotlight (I find that while there have been numerous books about werewolves there have been few on their cousins, the shifters, those who do not necessarily shift into wolves, but a whole range of different animal species- in fact, I can personally only recount two other series which deals with shifters, Rachel Vincent's aptly named "Shifters" series and Kelley Armstrong's "Darkness Rising" series), coupled alongside the fact that this book was written by world-renown fantasy author Charles de Lint I knew that I was in for a treat.

This book was successful for a number of reasons, one being that it was a high-octane action and adventure that literally kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time while reading it. Another being its memorable cast, from oblivious Des to Chaingang, a big and burly outlaw with a kangaroo mouse residing within him, to passionate and selfless Marina and Josh, a boy trying to find his inner beast in the world.

That being said, there were a few things that irked me about this book, one being the change in POV (one chapter was told in Josh's POV, the other told in Marina's)- typically I LOVE a book being told in multiple POVs, but with this book I could have taken or leaved it. I found that it didn't enhance the story in any way (say unlike how the crossed out words in Tahereh Mafi's "Shatter Me" did). Furthermore, I disliked the Elder/ Otherworld aspect of the book (I think that this can be attributed to the fact that when I read this book I had just finished a book whose central focus had been on the Otherworld and I found that the other book had done a much better job with it than this book did)- Like the multiple POVs I don't think that this aspect enchanced the book in any way, it just added an unnecessary level of complexity. Additionally, I disliked the love interest, Elzie- clearly there is a better option out there for Josh (or better yet, a better option right in front of his face), he allowed himself to be swayed by a pretty face rather than someone deserving (I found Elzie to be far too selfish and far too flaky for my liking).

All in all, despite my complaints I do think that this is a successful book primarily because of the aforementioned likeable characters and the fast plot. I feel like this is exactly the sort of book that can get hesitant teen boys to not only read but actually care about what they are reading. I am looking forward to seeing what Charles has in store for us in the next book in this series.
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May 14, 2012 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, fantasy, shapeshifters

Excellent, well-written book (what else do you expect from Charles de Lint, right?). Ignore the terrible cover. Point of view shifts between two characters, Josh and Marina, which has the potential to be annoying, but is handled very well. While neither main character fully engages my empathy, most of the characters are interesting enough to draw you further in and the story is well-rounded, looking at personal, political and mystical in a wonderful blend - pretty much an exercise in developing...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Kimberley rated it 5 of 5 stars

I randomly choose this book and I am so happy I did!!
While I wasn't sure what to expect but it was great! I really enjoyed the gritty environment that De Lint wrote. It wasn't like an ordinary novel for teenager, I thought it was more adult like which i appreciated a lot!!!
It wasn't an ordinary shape shifter novel either and I will admit I fell in love with a gangbanger in this novel.
Another thing I loved is the dual view it was given. You were given the different thought processes of the two m...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Heather Pearson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: canadian, ya

I'll be honest and tell you that I have loved Charles de Lint's writing ever since I read Moonheart in 1993. Over the intervening years, his work has lost none of it's appeal.

The story is set in modern day Santa Felix. Ov the past few months, something has been happening to its teens. They have been turning into animals. Wild animals, though they have the choice to become human once again. The government wants to kids to surrender to the authorities for their own safety. They claim to want to t...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Chapter by Chapter rated it 3 of 5 stars

Basically, it’s a story about a bunch of teens from a town called Santa Feliz, who are turning into shape shifters known as Wildlings. What sort of shape shifters? Well, they can be bunnies, mice, otters…even mountain lions! So, not your average shape shifter story.
Under My Skin pretty much revolves around the main characters Josh Saunders who learns that he is a Wildling and must learn to come to terms with this change. Not only that, but he must also try to survive and thwart an enemy who is c...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Emilie added it

Shelves: series, young-adult, own, reviewed

While I had heard of Charles de Lint, I hadn't read any of his books until I read Under My Skin. Let me just say that it was a great way to be introduced to this author. I really enjoyed reading Under My Skin, it was fast-paced and very much action-packed, something that made it into a great pageturner.

Josh knows all about the Santa Feliz teens who have beent urning into wild animals, but he never expected he would end up becoming one of them. And from the moment he changes, Josh's life becomes...more While I had heard of Charles de Lint, I hadn't read any of his books until I read Under My Skin. Let me just say that it was a great way to be introduced to this author. I really enjoyed reading Under My Skin, it was fast-paced and very much action-packed, something that made it into a great pageturner.

Josh knows all about the Santa Feliz teens who have beent urning into wild animals, but he never expected he would end up becoming one of them. And from the moment he changes, Josh's life becomes absolutely crazy. He doesn't know who to trust anymore but still confides in Marin and Des, his two best friends. But as soon as he does so, his life becomes even more chaotic. Josh has to watch his every step, what with Federal agents following him everywhere he goes. And as they often do, things quickly take a turn for the worse. Now Josh may just have to fight so save his won life and to protect the lives of all the other Wildlings in Santa Feliz. Staying alive and keeping the fact that he's a Wildling secret might be more difficult than Josh thought it would be.

Under My Skin is the first of Charles de Lint's books that I've read, and I absolutely loved it. The story in Under My Skin is filled with action and is very much fast-paced. I find that often with books wehre a character transforms into something paranormal or finds out about being a paranormal, it always takes a while for that transformation to happen or that knowledge to be acquired. Here it was definitely not the case. Josh's transformation into a Wildling happens barely past the first page, which then makes it so the story can take off right away. This is definitely something I appreciated about the story, there was definitely no dragging out of certain parts and something was always happening. Under My Skin is also told from two different points of view, Josh and Marina, and I feel like that also really help create the fast pace of the story. There was always something that one of the two narrators didn't know, but wanted to know, which in turn caused more action. Basically all this to say that Under My Skin by Charles de Lint is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and there is never a dull moment.

Under My Skin also offers quite a fair amount of characters. The story focuses on Josh, but every other chapter is also told from Marina's perspective. And then through both Josh and Marina, the readers get acquainted with a whole other cast of characters. But in this book, having a large number of fully fleshed-out characters is something that really works and is almost necessary to the story. The book just would not have been the same had it only been about Josh, Marina and their friend Des. The other characters, particularly Chaingang, Cory and Elzie, really added to the story and were often responsible for a lot of the action that was taking place. While those other characters were there, Josh and Marina are still the two that I got to know really well. While the two are best friends, they have quite different personalities, especially when it comes to dealing with the whole subject of Wildlings. But at the same time they complement each other and it was great to see them work together, and with the other characters, to achieve their common goal.

Under My Skin by Charles de Lint was a fantastic read. The writing was addicting, the story will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat the whole way through. I am more than happy that this is the first in a new series because I simply cannot wait to get more of these characters and this world. (less)

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Mar 25, 2012 Ecoyogini rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was very disappointed with how Charles de Lint adjusted his writing style. I can only assume he did this attempting to adjust his writing to what he felt was a "teenage" reader. Perhaps since I know how descriptive and rich his writing can be, I was very disappointed with the ridiculous inner dialogues that made up the bulk of the book. It was also quite difficult to adjust to the change in character perspective at each chapter. When most sentences begin with "I", if you're not reminding yours...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Magpie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: recently-read-books

Really 3.5 stars. This is by de Lint, so that almost automatically gets him a pass to 4 stars from me, but it's not one of his strongest.

It hurts me a little that people might think his ideas are cliched here. This is THE guy who pioneered shapeshifters in a modern urban setting. There are aspects of this that remind of "Moonheart" (mainly the connection with law enforcement maybe?) in a good way - I don't think he's done that in awhile.

It might not have rocked my reading world, but I'll certain...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Sheila Beaumont rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-and-adventure, fantasy, myth-and-legend, paranormal-supernatural, urban-fantasy, ya-fiction

When some of the teens in the California coastal town of Santa Feliz are suddenly changed into shape-shifters, or Wildlings, who can transform from human to animal and back, they find themselves endangered by both government authorities and an evil "research & development" corporation. Author Charles de Lint is such an adept storyteller that the characters and their adventures seemed very real to me, and the book was almost impossible to put down until I'd finished. I can't wait for the sequ...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Alanna King rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This Young Adult fantasy begins in Santa Feliz, California in present day. The story unfolds through two voices, Josh and Marina, who are best friends. In this school year, each character has become a Wildling, a shapeshifter from human to animal form. As more and more local teens are becoming Wildlings overnight, government and corporate organizations move in to lock down the situation. Josh’s quest is to make sure any external interest has good intentions, and Marina’s journey is more about ac...more This Young Adult fantasy begins in Santa Feliz, California in present day. The story unfolds through two voices, Josh and Marina, who are best friends. In this school year, each character has become a Wildling, a shapeshifter from human to animal form. As more and more local teens are becoming Wildlings overnight, government and corporate organizations move in to lock down the situation. Josh’s quest is to make sure any external interest has good intentions, and Marina’s journey is more about acceptance and making sure that Wildlings are treated with respect.

Both Josh and Marina are caught up in the movement as different factions of Wildlings compete for their attention. Some come across as eco-warriors, while others explore the spiritual blessing nature of shapeshifting and other natural gifts. Every single adult and teen group involved in the Wilding phenomenon has a different agenda, and neither Josh nor Marina can identify where they belong. Instead, Josh is singled out as a natural leader, as his animal self, the mountain lion, is one of the oldest animal clans known. Marina’s intentions of aiding the Wildling cause confuse her as she has to choose between the cause and her own dreams.

The alternating voices in each chapter allow the reader to understand the perspectives more deeply. The novel is a familiar story of teens being misunderstood as they go through their quest for identity. The shapeshifter motif allows the author a way to explore questions of identity in sexuality, race and belief. As the shapeshifter story is now a popular culture meme, this puts Under My Skin clearly in a fantasy category for beginners. The novel ends only as Josh and Marina escape their first test of Wildling experimentation leaving room for the proposed sequels to take place. The story hints briefly at stirrings of sexuality and the violence is dramatic but not overdone. This novel’s realistic and modern setting will appeal to most any reader who is ready to dabble in the fantastic. Readers who are more experienced with the genre may find de Lint’s explanations of fantastical elements to be juvenile. (less)

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Jun 08, 2012 Jan Edwards rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Under My Skin is part one of a YA series from Charles de Lint.

Josh has seen the news and knows what a Wilding is, but he never ever believed he could be a part of that world. Pursued by the FBI and sinister unnamed men with guns and tasers, Josh struggles to make sense of his new and frightening role in life as part teenager and part mountain lion. Wildings are a new strain of 'cousins', the spirit animals of the Tribes. If you have read De Lint's previous work, you will know is a frequent threa...more

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May 03, 2012 Angel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, arc-for-review, penguin-razorbill, urban-fantasy, ya, own

You can find this review and many more at Mermaid Vision Books!

Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 408
Format: Hardcover
Source: ARC received from publisher

Tell Me More:As a relatively new visitor to Bordertown, I thought I had a pretty decent idea of Charles de Lint's writing style. The rusty, gritty worlds he constructs are one of a kind, and yet they feel like neighborhoods we've all visited or seen. His characters are tough without falling into...more You can find this review and many more at Mermaid Vision Books!

Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 408
Format: Hardcover
Source: ARC received from publisher

Tell Me More: As a relatively new visitor to Bordertown, I thought I had a pretty decent idea of Charles de Lint's writing style. The rusty, gritty worlds he constructs are one of a kind, and yet they feel like neighborhoods we've all visited or seen. His characters are tough without falling into stereotypes, and unique enough to peak anyone's interest. In Under My Skin, de Lint brings his talent to the town of Santa Feliz, California, where Wildlings have begun to take over the population.

There are no complaints to be found when it comes to the prose--de Lint charges full-speed into a whirlwind of language. His descriptions of the town will make readers feel like they're breathing in that sea air, and the dialogue is snappy and fresh. The plot was certainly fascinating to watch unfold, even as I was able to predict what was going to happen in every chapter. If it were anyone else, I admit that I would have given up on such predictability, but I trusted that de Lint would make it a story worth reading.

I do question the necessity of dual perspectives in the novel, because it felt like a distracting concession to some readers' preference for knowing everything that happens in the story. I would have been content following Josh or Marina, but having both characters narrate some of the same scenes or overlapping scenes did get a bit tedious. This ties into my other problem with the novel: uneven pacing. Many of the urban fantasies I've read have a zip to their story, which keeps me from overanalyzing the piece and allows me to immerse myself in that world. There were moments in Under My Skin that were like watching a snail race--I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter and see some actual action. Josh and Marina were so real to me that when they got a little too whiny or difficult (as teenagers do), I did find it difficult to be as patient with them as I wanted to be.

Overall, there are about an equal number of pros and cons to the Wildlings series, which I believe will be better balanced in the succeeding books. More time with the universe de Lint has created may serve to clarify why these characters face the problems they do, and give the reader the chance to really fall in love with them.

The Final Say: Under My Skin is an explosive new addition to the YA urban fantasy spectrum, with shapeshifters that are more human than you might think. It is an excellent introduction to the genre and will delight supernatural fans all over the world.(less)

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Jun 07, 2012 Jody rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review

Summary:
Strange things are happening to the teens in small-town Santa Feliz. Without any warning or explanation, some youth are developing the ability to change into wild animals. In today’s age of cell phones and the internet, it doesn’t take long before videos of kids changing catches the attention of the authorities. Even though Josh Saunders has seen the footage of the other kids, he can’t really believe it when it happens to him. In a state of panic, Josh runs from his home and unknowingly...more Summary:
Strange things are happening to the teens in small-town Santa Feliz. Without any warning or explanation, some youth are developing the ability to change into wild animals. In today’s age of cell phones and the internet, it doesn’t take long before videos of kids changing catches the attention of the authorities. Even though Josh Saunders has seen the footage of the other kids, he can’t really believe it when it happens to him. In a state of panic, Josh runs from his home and unknowingly encounters Cory, an older Wildling who helps him get his bearings. Afterwards Josh must make many difficult decisions about who to tell and who to trust. When the FBI steps in to try and manage the situation, things get scary for the kids who have become Wildlings. While trying to accept his new life and stay under the radar, Josh meets Elzie and attention is inadvertently focused on him. Now Josh is worried about his safety, and for good reason… men in suits and dark cars seem to be following him. When things come to head, Josh is left in a perilous situation, and his friends are forced to come to his rescue despite the overwhelming odds.

Review:
Under My Skin immerses the reader in action and mythology right off the bat, and then continues to build excitement and suspense slowly over the course of the novel. The plot offers some unexpected twists, ensuring that the story is rarely predictable. While introducing us to the Wildlings universe, de Lint skilfully merges fantasy and reality in such a subtle way that the existence of these supernatural beings seems entirely plausible. It’s refreshing to find YA fantasy novel that doesn’t require the reader to suspend their belief of realty in order to accept the fantastical elements of the story. The narration shifts between the main characters’ point of view, which allows readers to get the full story, but giving Josh and Marina unique voices would have made this technique more effective. The characters in Under My Skin are interesting and likeable, although not deeply layered. I enjoyed the fact that Josh was allowed to grow into his new abilities, while slowly accepting the changes and responsibilities that went along with it. Far too often we’re forced to believe a main character as a hero before they’ve really earned the title. The ending of the book does a wonderful job of tying up the current story while setting up an exciting premise for the rest of the series.

Verdict:
I enjoyed the story more and more as it progressed, and the ending definitely made me eager to read the next installment in the series.(less)

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Apr 21, 2012 Lindsay rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, arc, own, canadian, urban-fantasy, shapeshifter, secrets, romance, danger, family, friendship, high-school, reviewed

For the past six months, something strange has been happening to the young people of Santa Feliz. Week after week, there are reports of teens transforming into wild animals. Josh has seen the news, but he's totally unprepared when it happens to him, when one moment he's arguing with his mother's boyfriend and the next standing over him with bloody claws. Trusting on his friends Marina and Desmond, he tries to return to a normal life, but an encounter with a few more Wildlings and an accidental b...more For the past six months, something strange has been happening to the young people of Santa Feliz. Week after week, there are reports of teens transforming into wild animals. Josh has seen the news, but he's totally unprepared when it happens to him, when one moment he's arguing with his mother's boyfriend and the next standing over him with bloody claws. Trusting on his friends Marina and Desmond, he tries to return to a normal life, but an encounter with a few more Wildlings and an accidental betrayal shatter his carefully constructed cover story. His friends are forced to trust other Wildings, and themselves, in order to save Josh.

Under My Skin is action-packed and thrilling, never once stopping to let the reader take a full breath before jumping right back into the story. I almost feel bad, saying that this is my first foray into Charles de Lint's writing, but everything was crafted perfectly. The setting, the characters, the fantasy world-building, all of it was amazing.

The book starts off so quickly with just a little bit of background info before Josh is standing over his mother's jerk of a boyfriend after transforming into a mountain lion and clawing him. Everything was fast-paced, and everything felt so immediate, like there was no time to stop and think about what just happened. There were small moments for Josh to try and catch his breath, to hopefully understand how he needed to hide to survive, and then something else would pop up and amp up the speed of the book.

What isn't said in the summary is that the book changes narrators, that it goes back and forth between Josh and Marina. There were a few times when it changed from a Josh chapter to a Marina chapter and I didn't notice, but it's possible that's because I got so caught up in the story. Of course, it might also have something to do with the fact that Josh and Marina felt so similar in my mind.

There have been a lot of novels just focusing on werewolves, but I found this to be a welcome change, an intriguing twists on shapeshifters and skinwalkers. The whole book had a Native American/First Nations (if you're from Canada) feel to it that I enjoyed. It's possible that I don't read a lot of books that draw on those kinds of stories, myths about coyotes and ravens, but I think I'd like to read more.

What was rather important in this book was the reaction the general public got to the teens suddenly turning into wild animals. It was important because it was the reaction that should've occurred. The fear, the distrust, the government stepping in thinking they know what's best, all of those things can be seen as a wider observation of the world in general, of the prejudices people have against those who look different or believe in different things. Human beings have this fear of the unknown and the strange, of what they don't understand, and in this book, it's only right that most of the general public would fear the Wildlings. I'm not saying it's right, just that it was what I expected. Of course, if the world was more open to change, perhaps this wouldn't have been the expected reaction. Why fear them when they had no control over the transformation?

The California setting and the different ethnicities of the characters added so much depth and life to the story. It felt so real, and the voices of Josh and Marina and everyone else felt so authentically teenager. This book is like a coming-of-age story, only instead it's more like the transformation of Josh into a mountain lion as the metaphor for the young boy coming into adulthood story. Shapeshifters, mystery and intrigue, government agents, real life or death consequences, this book was wonderful rough and gritty YA urban fantasy.(less)

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Under My Skin (Wildlings #1)

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