Book Review for A Wolf Like Me by A.S Fitz
A Wolf Like Me, by A.S Fitz, is a supernatural thriller about a young man who is thrust into a world filled with uncertainty, chaos, and horror.
Thomas Spell, now Benjamin Ramsley, is a werewolf clumsily ambling his way through life. He works as a private pet detective, as well as a test subject, in the hopes that he could be turned back human. One night, after a series of mishaps, he finds himself as the prime suspect in a grizzly murder investigation. What’s more, a mysterious shadow begins to attack him, seemingly searching for something that belongs to it. As Thomas tries to outwit his enemies, he unwittingly drags his friends into it, and must do everything he can to protect them from dying. In this dark, fast-paced adventure, a man must navigate a cruel world entrenched in blood and madness, all the while maintaining his bittersweet sense of humor.
I had to admit, I found it sickeningly hilarious when I read about Thomas’s struggles. It was like the entire universe had something against him. First, he gets turned into a werewolf after falling in love with a girl in Paris. Then he’s stuck in a dead end job he hates, as well as chasing leads in the hopes that he might be able to turn back human. Then, after a night of chaos, he’s just become the prime suspect for a massacre. It’s a wonder why he hasn’t broken down already. Still, I can’t help but admire him. He stood his ground and fought for those he cared for. He trusted people wholeheartedly, and does feel genuine remorse when he gets them caught up in his mess. He’s even a bit romantic, despite the hard-ass demeanor he adopts. And while his past certainly does weigh him down, his reactions to said situations make him all the more thrilling to watch.
Throughout the book, Fitz draws a parallel between monsters and humans. More often than not, werewolves also have a hard time controlling their instincts, and they often succumb to their “passionate” side without any regard for anyone else. Ironically, the characters in this book are more werewolf-like than the protagonist is. The Shadow wanted its possession back. Penelope wanted to find a cure for Thomas, not just to help him, but also out of curiosity. Eric wanted to be rich and famous, and Justin wanted to explore his passions. They’re simple, human desires that allowed them to be so interesting to read, at least until they nearly consumed their characters. It isn’t a good part of humanity; in fact, there are millions of cases where our desires have ravaged us, eaten us alive until we either shut it down permanently or try to achieve said desire, often with destructive results.
However, by the end of it, it was Thomas who managed to quell all of it, who managed to accept his own wants and desires. But while he might seem like a selfish asshole, he does try to give people what they want, despite it being against his better judgement. He allows Penelope and Eric to use him as a lab rat, and he unwittingly tries doing what Celeste wants. Even so, he still manages to get back something of his; his humanity.
There were some things that the book could improve upon. The romance between Penelope and Thomas was quick, so much so I wasn’t sure if it was properly developed. Thomas’s own development, by the end of the book, was a bit iffy, with the introduction to King Arthur’s legend was more than a little weird. Still, the story has a lot of merits. From exploring humanity’s baser instincts, to the interesting character dynamics; I had a lot of fun reading this book. As such, I would give this book a 4.0 out of 5.0 stars, and would recommend it to those who love morbid adventures, thrillers, and mysteries.
