Lonely Werewolf Girl (Kalix MacRinnalch, #1)

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Lonely Werewolf Girl (Kalix MacRinnalch #1)

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 1,871 ratings · 361 reviews

While teenage werewolf Kalix MacRinnalch is being pursued through the streets of London by murderous hunters, her sister, the Werewolf Enchantress, is busy designing clothes for the Fire Queen. Meanwhile, in the Scottish Highlands, the MacRinnalch Clan is plotting and feuding after the head of the clan suddenly dies intestate. As the court intrigue threatens to blow up int...more

Paperback, 599 pages

Published by Piatkus Books (first published February 28th 2008)

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Nov 17, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com

The first thing that hit me about this book was the richness of backstory and the sheer size of the cast of characters.

Although the plot centers around the titular lonely teen werewolf, Kalix MacRinnalch, she lives in a rich world populated with numerous other characters whose actions interfere with or drive important developments in the story. Fifteen-year-old Kalix is the youngest daughter of the Thane of the MacRinnalch Clan of werewolves. She's...more Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com

The first thing that hit me about this book was the richness of backstory and the sheer size of the cast of characters.

Although the plot centers around the titular lonely teen werewolf, Kalix MacRinnalch, she lives in a rich world populated with numerous other characters whose actions interfere with or drive important developments in the story. Fifteen-year-old Kalix is the youngest daughter of the Thane of the MacRinnalch Clan of werewolves. She's strong and she knows it, and she doesn't get along well with others--she escapes from the clan stronghold in Scotland and makes her way to London after almost killing her father in a fight. Addicted to laudanum and in poor shape, she is set upon by members of her own Clan who think she should pay for what she did to her father. Her older sister and London-based fashion designer, Thrix, helps her as best she can, but when Kalix sells the protective amulet Thrix gave her, she's easily discovered by other werewolves trying to hunt her down.

Kalix's attempts to escape the members of her clan who are trying to kill her lands her squarely in the path of Daniel, a normal university student in London who's never thought about anything like werewolves before. He and his roommate, Moonglow, do their best to protect Kalix and convince her that there are things worth living for, but outside forces intervene and place Kalix directly in the middle of MacRinnalch Clan politics.

This sprawling narrative can be unwieldy at times, and the large numbers of characters and situations initially may seem disjointed, but when the plots begin to intertwine and work together, the many different storylines coalesce into a whole that is better than the sum of its parts.

The beginning of the novel works to set up all of the information necessary for the reader to understand the world that Kalix and her friends and enemies move in, preparing the reader for the meatier middle scenes. The occasional rapid-fire scene shifts and point of view shifts were initially difficult, but these problems ironed themselves out as the ook progressed.

I was really impressed by the different characters portrayed throughout. Kalix is by no means the only one with depth; some of the other werewolves, paranormal creatures, and humans that she runs into are equally well-drawn, with their little quirks and amusing habits. Thrix, Kalix's older sister, is the werewolf enchantress, and yet she enjoys designing clothing, some of which appeals to buyers from alternate dimensions. Malveria, one of these customers, begins as what appears to be a comic character but ends up having a real impact on the plot later on. The politics of the MacRinnalch Clan are carried out by a large array of characters, each with their own distinct motivations and machinations.

LONELY WEREWOLF GIRL is not a simple read, but the complexity is part of the pleasure of reading this book.
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Feb 20, 2008 William Owen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really need to reread this, because I wanted to takes some notes while I was going through it, possibly make a paper or something out of it, because these are these are the kinds of books I like to keep my critical teeth sharp on. Anytime you have characters who most people would think unlikely to be interested in fashion, that is typically where you will find me writing critical analysis.

So fashion-obsessed fire elementals practically pull the harbrace handbook off the shelf while the cross-d...more

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May 15, 2008 Deana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Neil Gaiman loves this guy. Need I say more?

Perhaps not but I will anyway. I must admit that when I walked into Elliot Bay I was drawn initially to the cover of the book and then I realized it was an author I'd previously enjoyed.

I loved Millar's "The Good Fairies of New York" for its irreverent take on the fair folk. "Lonely Werewolf Girl" doesn't disappoint. It was good balm for my psyche after getting sucked into the world of "Twilight."

A couple things to keep in mind:
1. It's laugh out loud...more

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May 28, 2008 Tammy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Neil Gaiman fans

I picked up this book after seeing a bit of praise from Neil Gaiman about the author.

The story focuses on Kalix, an addict, a teenager, and an outcast, hunted member of werewolf royalty. First and foremost, Kalix is a teenager. She's emo; she cuts (although this is not a major theme in the book, it does occur for those wishing to avoid anything triggery). She whines and complains.

She also can't read or write particularly well, wishes Joan Jett was her mother, and thinks Sabrina, the Teenaged Wit...more

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Jun 21, 2008 Sean rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, non-us

I've never read any Millar before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Neil Gaiman gives him the highest praise, but then he also praised Jody Scott, whose I, Vampire left me almost completely cold. But not to worry! Lonely Werewolf Girl is brilliant, disjointed, hilarious, convoluted and whimsical. The characters are all a little crazy, the overlapping love triangles are somewhat labyrinthine and the family relations are dysfunctional, but it all makes for a very good read, the kind that kept me...more

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Jan 24, 2011 Cathy marked it as did-not-want-to-finish · review of another edition

Shelves: urban, fantasy, paranormal, great-cover, magic-users, werewolf, series-reminder

When I found myself avoiding picking it up today I thought it was because my back hurts and it's such a big book. Then I chose a 600+ page hardback to read next (using my wonderful book stand) and realized that that wasn't the problem. I don't dislike the book. There are a lot of things I like about the book. But I don't really care about it. It'a too big, too slow, too full of detailed family history and politics that I don't care about. It's kind of like a clever and more original version of a...more

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May 21, 2013 sj rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to sj by: Mariel

Shelves: yorwtfiw, faeries-dragons-and-or-magic

Kalix MacRinnalch is a 17 year old runaway (who happens to LOVE the Runaways and wishes Joan Jett were her mom). She's clinically depressed, she's addicted to opiates (laudanum, really), she cuts herself...and she's a werewolf princess.

Really, Martin Millar's Lonely Werewolf Girl shouldn't work. It has an unwieldy cast numbering in the dozens (with almost as many PoVs), the main character is sort of an emo-Mary Sue - she's got this long gorgeous hair, when she's not starving herself everyone not...more

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Jun 19, 2008 Nathan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Kurt Vonnegut

Recommended to Nathan by: Neil Gaiman

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

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Mar 12, 2008 Adrian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great fun, and very compulsive reading - raced through this :)
I love his stories, because they are very familiar - lots about London, and students, and bands playing gigs - but they also manage to include all sorts of strange stuff (werewolves for instance) that seem to fit in so well with the rest of it I can almost believe that I've met werewolves too.

However, one thing irked me about this book - it seems as though proof reading consisted largely of running a computer spell check since there w...more

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Jul 21, 2008 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone

Recommended to Laura by: Neil Gaiman

Shelves: fantasy, english

This is an odd book. None of the characters are truly likable (for any character, pick two or more of the following: crazy, violent, criminal, pathetic, annoying, stupid, or heartless). And yet they and their story captivated me.

Lonely Werewolf Girl is also well-written from a literary standpoint. Characters are hardly described at all; all the characterization stems from other sources (action or dialogue). An incredible number of characters and plot threads are woven together in a seamless and...more

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Aug 09, 2008 Erika (YA or GTFO) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thefantastic

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The idea was entertaining and I liked the pacing and off beat feel of it. BUT I got really annoyed with the whole Thrix/fashionista sub-plot mostly because I didn't give a damn and got really bored with the constant repetition of Malveria or whatever her name was throwing the exact same fit over and over again. Also, the constant reiteration of how thin all the main females were got pretty old. I understand that in some contexts it was some form of mockery, but come...more

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May 08, 2011 Debora rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fisicamente_posseduto

Che dire, Millar è stato una rivelazione! Devo dire che il 2009 è iniziato proprio bene! Ho notato questo libro qualche mese fa ma al momento ne avevo altri in lista così mi sono limitata a segnarne il titolo... poi finalmente è arrivato Natale e mi sono mossa e... per fortuna! Sono un'accanita lettrice di vampiri e streghe ma non di licantropi. Errore! Questo libro a mio avviso farà breccia anche fra i più scettici! Coinvolge subito, non ti fa attendere, ti prende e ti spinge a divorare pagina...more

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Apr 28, 2013 kat rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, avventura, lupi, love

Questa volta più di tutte le altre, mi pento di non tenere un blocchetto di post-it su cui scrivere tutte le cose che mi piacciono o non mi piacciono e poi attaccarle alla pagina in questione, così vado meglio a commentare.
Tuttavia, ho le idee abbastanza chiare lo stesso.
Kalix (e buona parte della sua famiglia, Sarapen per primo) è insopportabile. Patetica, piagnucolosa, tendente all'emo e con sbalzi d'umore che neanche il distubro bipolare. Per non parlare di quanto è testarda e cocciuta e ri...more Questa volta più di tutte le altre, mi pento di non tenere un blocchetto di post-it su cui scrivere tutte le cose che mi piacciono o non mi piacciono e poi attaccarle alla pagina in questione, così vado meglio a commentare.
Tuttavia, ho le idee abbastanza chiare lo stesso.
Kalix (e buona parte della sua famiglia, Sarapen per primo) è insopportabile. Patetica, piagnucolosa, tendente all'emo e con sbalzi d'umore che neanche il distubro bipolare. Per non parlare di quanto è testarda e cocciuta e ritardata solo perché le va.
Malveria, la Regina del Fuoco, fa morire dal ridere. Effettivamente è anche un po' stronzetta per via del patto che fa con Moonglow, ma pazienza.
Moonglow ha dei momenti in cui anche lei è insopportabile, e poi studia troppo. cavolo, hai un lupo mannaro che gira per casa e ti preoccupi della scrittura sumerica?
Daniel è abbastanza cretino, è quello che nei film dice sempre agli altri di scappare e poi finisce che sta lì impalato.
Sarapen, è odioso. Non vedevo l'ora che qualcuno lo facesse fuori, anche se effettivamente temo che tornerà perché la principessa con quel nome impronunciabile si è portata via la salma.
Butix e Delix (oddio, come fai a mettere dei nomi del genere alle tue figlie?) inizialmente sono da orticaria, poi migliorano.
Gawain non l'ho capito tanto. Voglio dire, più o meno tutto quello che fa non ha molto senso. E puro caso, succede sempre che i morosi lontani arrivano esatamente nel momento in cui vedono la morosa che bacia un altro, e giù a tagliarsi le vene. Fa troppo film.
Quelli della Corporazione Avenaris sono una manica di cretini presuntuosi, perché dopotutto chi sono loro per arrogarsi il diritto di ammazzare dei lupi mannari, che sembrano quasi più simpatici da lui che da umani? Il cacciatore serbo (era serbo? Non ricordo xD) poi era una pigna nel didietro. Anche lui, come Sarapen, era uno di quelli che non vedevo l'ora fossero ammazzati.
Il fatto è che, nonostante gran parte dei personaggi sia insopportabile, il libro è bellissimo, ti dici che ne leggerai solo un'altra pagina e poi alzi gli occhi alle tre di notte pensando che effettivamente è un po' tardi, sì. Per tutti quelli che simpatizzano per i lupastri, è da leggere assolutamente.(less)

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Dec 25, 2012 Trak rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fantasy-sci-fi, horror, humour

I had read the Good Fairies of New York and was suitably impressed to go looking for the Lonely Werewolf Girl and I am glad I did.
The characters are rich, the history is layered, deep and non-intrusive and the story is intriguing. There is also some really light humourous moments in the book that certainly balanced things out.
What was really good about this book was that after the plethora of paranormal romance novels that for me has debased the mythology of these characters. This book brings b...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Kavita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sex, drugs, werewolves, fire elementals and rock and roll. That pretty much sums up this book. Kalix is an impulsive teenaged werewolf, addicted to the drug laudanum and exiled from her royal family of the MacRinnalch clan. Born in the form of a werewolf (as opposed to the human form) she is one of the most vicious of her clan but sadly depressed, uneducated, illiterate and has terrible anger management issues. Protected by her sister (also a werewolf) but coincidentally a sorceress/fashion desi...more

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Apr 12, 2012 gashley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In a market saturated with supernatural romance novels (Barnes & Nobles has an entire section devoted to the teenage version of this), it's nice to see something that doesn't quite fit the mold. Martin Millar's Lonely Werewolf Girl fits into that category - I actually found it in the Horror section before Borders went belly up, so maybe it just missed being shoehorned into the previously mentioned section.

Though the book is titled after only one character, there's actually a very wide cast....more In a market saturated with supernatural romance novels (Barnes & Nobles has an entire section devoted to the teenage version of this), it's nice to see something that doesn't quite fit the mold. Martin Millar's Lonely Werewolf Girl fits into that category - I actually found it in the Horror section before Borders went belly up, so maybe it just missed being shoehorned into the previously mentioned section.

Though the book is titled after only one character, there's actually a very wide cast. The 'main character' is Kalix MacRinnalch, a werewolf born on the night of the full moon. As with most female main characters in a paranormal setting, due to the circumstances of her birth, she's special. Kalix is a berzerker, a werewolf who can harness her rage into intense and powerful battle skills. However, the downside is that she can't control it, and in the environment that she's raised (distant, cold mother and a physically abusive father), it makes for a volatile mix. She is the youngest daughter of the Thane of the MacRinnalch clan, the current leader, and as such there are dozens of rules and expectations forced on her from birth.

The story picks up as Kalix has fled Scotland due to having attacked her father in a rage and put him on his deathbed. Kalix's brothers are gathering supporters in an election for who will be the next Thane; her sister, Thrix (a powerful werewolf enchantress), is busy trying to stay out of family politics and run her clothing design business while trying to figure out who is stealing her designs and cater to a meddlesome fire elemental; and then there are the humans, Daniel and Moonglow, who bring all of this insanity into their lives by helping Kalix out through giving her a place to stay.

What really sets this book apart from the usual fare is Millar's writing style. At first I found it incredibly flat and simplified, with very little description or elaboration. But it works for this story: since there's just so much going on, simplfying the writing style allows the reader to keep tabs on all of it. Because then there's Kalix's brother Markus, who's a cross dresser. And her banished boyfriend, Gwaine. Kalix's cousins, Beatix and Delix (yeah, there are a lot of Xtreme Kool Letterz at play here), who are wannabe rockstars and are eventually brought to heel by Dominil. And Dominil has a connection to Sarapen, Kalix's other brother. And all of that is just the werewolves: the fire elementals have their own issues, all of which eventually intermingle with the werewolf drama.

But that isn't to say that the writing doesn't have a poetry of its own. The book is full saturated with gory fighting scenes, and the simple writing allows for the reader to picture the image clearly in their mind, all with their own details to be added. It allows for interpretation and participation by the reader, which is never a bad thing. And watching the characters grow is fun in itself, along with seeing the completion of all of the plot lines. If you're looking for something that's different than Twilight, but not as heavy and potentially mentally scarrying as The Exorcist, I'd definitely reccommend Lonley Werewolf Girl.(less)

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Jan 19, 2012 Themistokeles rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Inhalt: Die junge Werwölfin Kalix entstammt dem herrschenden Clan der Werwölfe, da sie jedoch ihren Vater und Fürsten angegriffen hat, wurde sie aus dem Clan verbannt und lebt seitdem in London. Dort lebt Kalix auf der Straße und wird von depressiven Anfällen geplagt, nimmt Drogen, isst nichts und wird von Mitgliedern ihrer eigenen Familie sowie von Werwolfjägern verfolgt. Die einzige Möglichkeit sich zu schützen, hatte Kalix durch ein Amulett, das sie von ihrer Schwester Thrix hatte, jedoch ver...more Inhalt: Die junge Werwölfin Kalix entstammt dem herrschenden Clan der Werwölfe, da sie jedoch ihren Vater und Fürsten angegriffen hat, wurde sie aus dem Clan verbannt und lebt seitdem in London. Dort lebt Kalix auf der Straße und wird von depressiven Anfällen geplagt, nimmt Drogen, isst nichts und wird von Mitgliedern ihrer eigenen Familie sowie von Werwolfjägern verfolgt. Die einzige Möglichkeit sich zu schützen, hatte Kalix durch ein Amulett, das sie von ihrer Schwester Thrix hatte, jedoch verkaufte sie es für weitere Drogen. Als zwischen den Werwölfen eine Fehde um die Nachfolge als Fürst zwischen den beiden Brüdern von Kalix aufkeimt, wird auch sie mit in diese hineingezogen. Unerwartete Unterstützung erhält Kalix durch die Studenten Daniel und Moonglow, auf die sie zufällig trifft und die ihr aus unerfindlichen Gründen helfen. Auch Thrix bekommt wieder mehr mit Kalix zu tun, jedoch hat sie dafür eigentlich gar keine Zeit, da sie Kleider für Malveria, eine launische, modebessesene Feuergöttin, entwerfen muss.

Meinung: Die Geschichte um Kalix wird einem auf über 700 Seiten in über 200 Kapiteln erzählt und während man sie liest hat man das Gefühl, dass sich einfach alles wiederholt und eigentlich keine richtige Storyline hinter der Geschichte steht. Hauptsächlich geht es allein darum, wie schlecht sich Kalix fühlt und ihre psychischen Probleme durch Drogen, Selbstverletzung und Magersucht in den Griff zu bekommen. Auch wenn sie durch das Verhalten immer fertig aussieht erzählen ständig alle, dass sie wegen ihrer langen Haare ja so schön sein, was mich beim Lesen deutlich irritiert hat, denn niemand macht wirklich etwas gegen die Probleme und versucht wirklich zu helfen. Es wirkt eher so, als wäre ihr Verhalten im Allgemeinen akzeptabel. Zudem wird einem vermittelt, dass der Glaube, dass Sex die Lösung aller psychischen Probleme ist und es einem danach immer besser geht, auch eindeutig propagiert. Auch das fand ich eindeutig ziemlich komisch.
Neben diese Dingen geht das Buch hauptsächlich nur noch auf die Kleidersucht von Malveria ein, sodass nur von ihre Kleidung, ihr Verzweifeln über nicht perfekte Kleidung und diverse Zusammenbrüche weil die Kleidung nicht fertig wird oder ähnlichem erzählt wird. Die eigentliche Geschichte um die Fehde zwischen den Werwölfen bleibt einfach nur flach und hätte locker in 200 Seiten abgehandelt werden können und wäre deutlich interessanter als die immer wiederkehrenden Lamentationen über Kleidung und psychisch gestörte Werwölfin. Die ganzen Charaktere bleiben ebenso flach wie die Haupthandlung und man fragt sich irgendwann wirklich, wie der Autor darauf gekommen ist, ein Buch mit so wenig Handlung zu schreiben. Manche Charaktere sind vom Grundgedanken sehr interessant, jedoch entwickelt sich keiner der Charaktere und es gibt zudem noch so viele Nebencharaktere, bei denen man sich auch die Frage stellen kann, wozu die gut sein sollten.
Man könnte es noch als annehmbares Jugendbuch sehen, würden nicht das vollkommen normal sein von Kalix vielen Problemen und zudem Sex als Lösungsmittel aller Traurigkeit propagiert werden, so jedoch finde ich das Buch sowohl als Jugendbuch, als auch als Buch für Erwachsene deutlich ungeeignet, da weder Story noch ein Appell vermittelt werden.(less)

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Nov 29, 2011 Maduck831 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“She needed to find some private place. The waves of depression and her vision was blurred. She searched right and left for an alleyway to crawl into.” (63) “In revenge, they were writing songs about her (Dominil). Evil White-Haired Slut was already completed, and Stupid Werewolf Bitch was coming along well.” (279) “Bravo!” cried the Fire Queen. “You have had sex!” (289) “You slept with Markus? How did that happen?” (327) “Then she felt hungry. She was still in her werewolf shape and the wolf ne...more

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May 08, 2011 Lesley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Only Martin Millar's name on the jacket could have persuaded me to buy a book with 'werewolf' in the title (I'm totally jaded with the whole current vampire/werewolf obsession). I've been a great fan of Millar's novels for about 20 years - which make me feel old though his stories are as fresh as ever. The Good Fairies of New York is up there on my Top Ten list and I think Lonely Werewolf Girl has just joined it. This book is an absolute delight!

Teenage werewolf Kalix MacRinnalch is an amazing c...more

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Jan 04, 2011 Larisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Allegra

Recommended to Larisa by: Deborah

I received this book as a gift. After the first page I thought "Really? A book about a depressed, anorexic, teenage junkie werewolf? Why would my friend send me this?" But I kept going, and was soon engrossed and laughing. This novel was a delightful, escapist romp. It has family intrigue, colorful characters (werewolf, human, and other), a great sense of humor, a nice balance between bloody battles and sheer silliness. I would set out to read for a half-hour before bed and before I knew it, two...more

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Jul 22, 2010 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kalix MacRinnalch is an unhappy werewolf. She has been for a long time, but it’s even worse now that she’s run away from home. Well, she had to; after brutally attacking her father, the Thane, and leaving him in a precarious state of health, the rest of the clan wanted her dead as well. On the run, Kalix has managed to survive, but barely with her anxiety, anorexia, and an addiction to laudanum. The last thing she expects to find in London is a friend, but that’s exactly what she is rescued by t...more Kalix MacRinnalch is an unhappy werewolf. She has been for a long time, but it’s even worse now that she’s run away from home. Well, she had to; after brutally attacking her father, the Thane, and leaving him in a precarious state of health, the rest of the clan wanted her dead as well. On the run, Kalix has managed to survive, but barely with her anxiety, anorexia, and an addiction to laudanum. The last thing she expects to find in London is a friend, but that’s exactly what she is rescued by two college students. Even though Kalix hardly knows how to deal with this new kind of relationship, she finds herself relying on these two humans more than ever, especially when the Thane dies and a bitter dispute over the next leader of the clan threatens a civil war among clan members. It seems there will never be rest for Kalix MacRinnalch.

Lonely Werewolf Girl is a novel of many interwoven plots and subplots, eccentric characters, and sometimes ridiculous situations. Millar seems to have taken a page out of Christopher Moore’s books (though not quite literally) as his storytelling is much in the same spirit. This is definitely a compliment, considering I absolutely loved Moore’s Bite Me, and it works rather well for Millar too. I loved reading about cross dressing Markus, the fire elemental fashionista Queen Malveria, fashion designer and Enchantress Thrix, and angsty Kalix. Each character’s personality brought so much flavor to the story, especially through the rotating points of view. Lonely Werewolf Girl also has its fair share of action and danger as a more thrilling complement to the story’s quirky characters. My only complaint with this book is that it was long. This usually never bothers me, because with a good story, I usually can’t tell. However, towards the middle and end of the book, I started to feel that everything was being drawn out too much. Though I enjoyed the entire story, I do appreciate having things a bit more concise sometimes.

Lonely Werewolf Girl appeals to fans of Christopher Moore and The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott. I look forward to reading this novel’s sequel, Curse of the Wolf Girl.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Aug 16, 2009 Megan rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, werewolves, not-mine-library

The thing is, this was actually a good story ~ I liked the ideas, the history, and some of the characters. Had this story been written better and perhaps organized a little differenlty, it could have easily been a captivating series of two or three books. But the writing was awful!!! Really, really, awful. It's a shame.

Before starting Lonely Werewolf Girl, I read a few reviews on Goodreads and found it curious that so many people said this book read like a first draft, or that it needed a better...more The thing is, this was actually a good story ~ I liked the ideas, the history, and some of the characters. Had this story been written better and perhaps organized a little differenlty, it could have easily been a captivating series of two or three books. But the writing was awful!!! Really, really, awful. It's a shame.

Before starting Lonely Werewolf Girl, I read a few reviews on Goodreads and found it curious that so many people said this book read like a first draft, or that it needed a better editor. I mean, how can you tell? But the more I read, the more I understood. As many people have pointed out, this book is insanely redundant. So much time is wasted describing scenes, emotions, actions that have already described. Towards the end, I skimmed much more than I actually read.

In addition to the poor writing,the pacing was off. Many of the chapters are incredibly short (only a page or two) and end on a cliffhanger. At first it did inspire me to read on... but after 500+ really long pages that technique grew old fast. The more engrossed the reader becomes in a story, the author should reward the reader with longer passages, right? Instead, even at the climax of the story the reader is forced to suffer action that jumps back and forth between multiple story lines and points of view. Bad, bad, bad. Really bad.

As many others have mentioned, the characters are not likeable or even easy to sympathize with. In the hands of a better writer, this wouldn't be as much of an issue. But to read a poorly written book with unlikeable characters ~ I just feel like I was cheated twice. We don't know anyone's true motivation for feelings, thoughts, or actions. All of the characters are very two dimensional. There is very little growth or self-reflection; the bad guys remain bad guys throughout and the good guys always make the right choices. We always know what each character feels because Millar tells us what that character is feeling. Which is a pet peeve of mine. Shouldn't a talented writer be able to let the reader know how the character is feeling though that character's thoughts, words and actions? If Kalix wears old, torn black clothes, starves herself, cuts herself, and takes enough drugs/alcohol to pass out every time she is stressed... do I really need Millar to mention how depressed and hopeless she feels? No. And I really don't need him to tell me over and over again.

It took me about 3 weeks to get through this mess. Most books I finish in a few days at most. Ugh. Millar may be endorsed my Neil Gaiman, but I will never waste time on any crap he spews ever again. (less)

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Jul 05, 2009 Kali added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ghosts-or-monsters, humor

Kalix is a lonely werewolf girl. She’s seventeen and angst-filled, not to mention drug-addicted, antisocial, and lovesick. She’s attacked her father, the Thane of the powerful MacRinnalch werewolf clan, and is on the lam in London. And no one is going to leave her alone. Her brothers Sarapen and Markus are fighting each other for the throne but they both want Kalix dead, her sister Thrix is too busy designing a fashion wardrobe for the Fire Queen Malveria to be bothered with her little sister’s...more

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Jun 09, 2009 Ana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Unexpectedly, this got off to a shaky start for me. I had assumed I'd simply fall in and enjoy. Neil Gaiman has enthusiastic blurbs on it; a good friend had recommended The Good Fairies of New York. But somehow, the exposition and introduction of the major characters struck me as eye-rollingly clunky. (Like why, if Kalix can barely read, is she so determined to keep a journal? And why do we have to try to read more than one of her clumsy attempts to write?) Luckily, the story gained momentum, an...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Sally added it · review of another edition

I'm very glad to have finished this. I'm pretty ambivalent about it as the story was good but the writing was dreadful.

Not only was it written in tabloid journalism style of very short sentences for the quasi-illiterate; it told us everything and showed nothing. It also employed that horrific device of explaing again with a "which means that ..." on a very regular basis, just in case we were too thick to get it the first time. I find that excruciatingly frustrating.

All of that said, the story wa...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Philomela997 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kalix, giovane ragazza lupo fuggita dalla dimora scozzese del proprio clan, vaga per le vie di Londra inseguita dai cacciatori e dal ricordo del suo amore perduto. Anoressica e tossicodipendente (si procura il laudano da un mercante la cui etica professionale è quanto mai dubbia) viene “salvata” da due giovani umani che si prendono cura di lei nonostante il suo caratteraccio intrattabile.Con l’evolvere della narrazione, Ragazze lupo (titolo originale: Lonely warewolf girl) presenta una serie di...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Pythia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vampiri-ecc, follia, preferiti

O Millar è un genio, o il suo pusher ha roba davvero buona. Propendo per la prima alternativa, anche se visti i contenuti anche la seconda non sembra così improbabile.
La trama è avvincente proprio per la sua assurdità, una Londra invasa da lupi mannari con grossi problemi di identità: chi affoga i propri dispiaceri nel laudano, chi cerca di dimenticare la famiglia gettandosi nel mondo della moda, chi è talmente sballato da non ricordarsi nemmeno di essere un lupo mannaro. Sullo sfondo di una lot...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A clan of Scottish werewolves is in turmoil because the leader was attacked by his 17-year-old daughter, Kalix (laudanam addicted and now banished), and died. Now who will lead? Eldest son Sarapen is more of a traditional werewolf and is assumed to be the favorite but younger Markus (with cross-dressing tendencies)is also vying for the leadership. Kalix has more troubles, as she is a teenager and angsty over her lost lover and seems to be ready to die - then she meets hapless and kind students M...more

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May 26, 2008 Tashie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a meh kind of read. I was expecting more when I got it. I don't think it was intended to be a book for a young adults but that was how the writing came off some of the time. The character development was interesting but the dialogue kind of made you cringe at times. In a who-the-hell-says-that? kind of way. And the ending was not kind exactly what I was expecting so that was refreshing. A good read by the pool with an en duble margarita.

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Sep 11, 2012 Rinn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: supernatural, ya, read-2012, reviewed, europe

Wow. Whatever I was expecting when I picked this book up, it was not this.

From first glance, I thought it looked like a typical YA paranormal novel, admittedly I didn't really read the blurb properly. What it actually is, however, is a witty, paranormal YA novel filled with black humour and pop culture references, that cleverly and effectively weaves the supernatural into our world. I mean, what's not to like about the idea of a family of aristocratic Scottish werewolves sat around in a draughty...more Wow. Whatever I was expecting when I picked this book up, it was not this.

From first glance, I thought it looked like a typical YA paranormal novel, admittedly I didn't really read the blurb properly. What it actually is, however, is a witty, paranormal YA novel filled with black humour and pop culture references, that cleverly and effectively weaves the supernatural into our world. I mean, what's not to like about the idea of a family of aristocratic Scottish werewolves sat around in a draughty castle in Scotland, having family meetings in drawing rooms in their werewolf forms? Whilst nursing glasses of fine whiskey, I hasten to add.

The McRinnalchs are a beautifully dysfunctional family. Kalix has been exiled for attacking her father, the Thane, her sister owns a fashion house in London and designs for the queen of the fire elementals, one brother is hell bent on revenge and becoming the next Thane, and the other harbours a secret desire to dress in women's clothing. Their mother schemes and seems to care little for her children. You would think this would make them a rather despicable family, but no. There was also a rather interesting section on the background of the family's history.

I especially thought I would dislike Kalix. She is a very troubled character, who relies on laudanum, alcohol and self-harm to get her through the day. She mopes and sulks, but I just couldn't help but feel sorry for her. The more you read, the more you realise that Kalix is so innocent (despite, you know, the whole werewolf attacking people thing...) and shy, and is practically still a child, despite being on the edge of adulthood. She was never taught how to read properly, and when she learns - through a computer program designed for children, that involves rescuing animals - I honestly just found it so cute. The way she was written, I could immediately sense how empty and lonely her life was, which immediately made me warm to her.

Millar really got some humourous moments in, including Thrix, the fashion designer werewolf, contemplating on how awkward it is to type with werewolf paws. For me however, the best character and frequent comic relief, was Malveria, the queen of the fire elementals. I actually can't describe how much I loved her! One sentence states how proud she is after mastering the art of ringing the doorbell - because of course she is unused to human ways - and like Kalix, she is another childish character, but in a different way. Instead of innocence, she has inquisitiveness. She constantly appears in Thrix's office, insulting her and saying that Thrix has ruined her, but is easily distracted by shiny new dresses or accessories, like a little puppy. She also develops a love for pop-tarts. Moonglow and Daniel, the two students who become entwined in the lives of the McRinnalch clan (or more accurately, the other way round), also add comic relief, and a touch of reality to the story. They are perhaps a little too over-stereotyped, the goth and the metalhead, but are pretty genuine characters all the same.

Overall, I enjoyed the book so much more than expected, it was a real surprise. Millar has created a rich collection of characters, who despite their 'typical' YA character traits (in some cases) are surprisingly refreshing. It was also nice to read a werewolf story with no vampires involved (although there are also fire elementals and fairies). I did notice a couple of typos in the final printed version, but there weren't too many, nor were they too major.

I would recommend this to any fan of paranormal fiction, be it YA or adult - the paranormal themes and dark humour make a fantastic mix that should appeal to many. Apparently book two was published in 2010, which makes me wonder if that's it or if there'll be any more - I will be looking out for the second one!

This review is also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.(less)

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About Martin Millar

Martin Millar is a critically acclaimed Scottish writer from Glasgow, now resident in London. He also writes the Thraxas series of fantasy novels under the pseudonym Martin Scott.

The novels he writes as Martin Millar dwell on urban decay and British sub-cultures, and the impact this has on a range of characters, both realistic and supernatural. There are elements of magical realism, and the feelin...more

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Curse of the Wolf Girl (Kalix MacRinnalch, #2)

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“The pyjamas have cats on them. I am informed that these cats belong to an organisation called Hello Kitty.” — 25 people liked it

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