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Thinning the Herd
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Rush of Wings and The Maker’s Song series, a humorous, action-packed urban fantasy about a werewolf pack and an animal control officer in way over his head!
Someone is picking off fortune tellers and hippies in Oregon, snatching them out of their Birkenstocks mid-stride. And when the legend himself, Hal Rupert, Animal Control Officer, gets a whiff of the mystery, he knows he’s the man to solve it. In between proudly wrangling out-of-control cats and dogs, he’s noticed a peculiar uptick in another sort of animal…werewolves.
Hal infiltrates the country fair to investigate the disappearance of the flower children. But his real priority is protecting the love of his life, Desdemona Cohen, whose long purple tresses and black-glossed lips captured his heart the moment he first saw her standing behind the register at Hot Topic. Desdemona may have nicknamed Hal “Creep,” but he’s determined to win her heart. And, you know, save everyone else, too.
Someone is picking off fortune tellers and hippies in Oregon, snatching them out of their Birkenstocks mid-stride. And when the legend himself, Hal Rupert, Animal Control Officer, gets a whiff of the mystery, he knows he’s the man to solve it. In between proudly wrangling out-of-control cats and dogs, he’s noticed a peculiar uptick in another sort of animal…werewolves.
Hal infiltrates the country fair to investigate the disappearance of the flower children. But his real priority is protecting the love of his life, Desdemona Cohen, whose long purple tresses and black-glossed lips captured his heart the moment he first saw her standing behind the register at Hot Topic. Desdemona may have nicknamed Hal “Creep,” but he’s determined to win her heart. And, you know, save everyone else, too.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2016
7 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Phoenix
18 books929 followersAdrian Phoenix writes urban fantasy and is the author of The Maker's Song series, (currently working on book 6) and the Hoodoo series, the third book, Black Moon Mojo and the forthcoming Sons of Darkness series. Her humorous paranormal Thinning the Herd was released January 2016.
She lives in Springfield, Oregon in a zombie-free home (except when meeting deadlines) with three cats, Keats, Emily, and Raven and has two sons, three grandchildren and three granddogs.
She loves to read and see movies, enjoys hiking with her granddog, Cielo, (immortalized in Black Dust Mambo and Black Heart Loa), and hanging out with friends.
She also loves creepy things and yearns to go on a paranormal investigation. She also hopes to do a haunted tour one day.
She also loves, loves, loves music – and anything by Trent Reznor is high on the list. She also loves to hear from my readers and fans, So please feel free to contact her!
Website: http://www.adrianphoenix.com
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adrian...
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/adriannikolasp...
She lives in Springfield, Oregon in a zombie-free home (except when meeting deadlines) with three cats, Keats, Emily, and Raven and has two sons, three grandchildren and three granddogs.
She loves to read and see movies, enjoys hiking with her granddog, Cielo, (immortalized in Black Dust Mambo and Black Heart Loa), and hanging out with friends.
She also loves creepy things and yearns to go on a paranormal investigation. She also hopes to do a haunted tour one day.
She also loves, loves, loves music – and anything by Trent Reznor is high on the list. She also loves to hear from my readers and fans, So please feel free to contact her!
Website: http://www.adrianphoenix.com
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adrian...
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/adriannikolasp...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 8, 2016
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.
I wouldn't want to binge read this particular kind of book because the humour would get old fast, but as an occasional break from the norm, it's a good pick. The story is told from Hal's seriously skewed POV with blips from other characters (i.e. reality) he comes into contact with, and the outcome was gosh darned funny! The flow was somewhat disjointed though which made it confusing at times. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to check out the next installment if Adrian Phoenix decides to turn this into a series.
THINNING THE HERD revolved around a farfetched mystery peppered with cartoon-like personalities, and a stalkerish romantic thread. In other words, the author set out to exaggerate every component of this novel to high hell, and she absolutely owned it! If you approach this title with a go-with-the-flow attitude, and just look at it as pure entertainment, then you'll find the experience rewarding, but if you don't fall into that category you might want to back away now.
I really enjoyed shadowing Oregon's Animal Control Officer at his day job; he's definitely in his own little bubble, and it was a riot seeing the world through his rose coloured glasses. Hal is under the impression that he's this big league superhero, everyone knows his secret identity, and that peps purposefully "pretend" they're oblivious *wink-wink nudge-nudge*. Also, according to Rupert, he & Desdemona are super tight when in truth she's actually seconds away from filing a restraining order against him. Aaah, young love.
Nick, the werewolf, and Galahad, the yōkai (cat shifter), were lively sidekicks, and the plot was pretty decent too until it seemed to get away from Phoenix for a bit. The protagonist up and went for a walkabout while the secondaries were fighting for their next breaths, and the leaps between possible Big Bads and their motivations were overly unchained for my tastes. I understand that the story was intended to be cray-cray; however the core structure still needs to be sound IMO.
THINNING THE HERD is best served with wine and lotsa CHEESE. ~3.5 Stars
I wouldn't want to binge read this particular kind of book because the humour would get old fast, but as an occasional break from the norm, it's a good pick. The story is told from Hal's seriously skewed POV with blips from other characters (i.e. reality) he comes into contact with, and the outcome was gosh darned funny! The flow was somewhat disjointed though which made it confusing at times. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to check out the next installment if Adrian Phoenix decides to turn this into a series.
THINNING THE HERD revolved around a farfetched mystery peppered with cartoon-like personalities, and a stalkerish romantic thread. In other words, the author set out to exaggerate every component of this novel to high hell, and she absolutely owned it! If you approach this title with a go-with-the-flow attitude, and just look at it as pure entertainment, then you'll find the experience rewarding, but if you don't fall into that category you might want to back away now.
I really enjoyed shadowing Oregon's Animal Control Officer at his day job; he's definitely in his own little bubble, and it was a riot seeing the world through his rose coloured glasses. Hal is under the impression that he's this big league superhero, everyone knows his secret identity, and that peps purposefully "pretend" they're oblivious *wink-wink nudge-nudge*. Also, according to Rupert, he & Desdemona are super tight when in truth she's actually seconds away from filing a restraining order against him. Aaah, young love.
Nick, the werewolf, and Galahad, the yōkai (cat shifter), were lively sidekicks, and the plot was pretty decent too until it seemed to get away from Phoenix for a bit. The protagonist up and went for a walkabout while the secondaries were fighting for their next breaths, and the leaps between possible Big Bads and their motivations were overly unchained for my tastes. I understand that the story was intended to be cray-cray; however the core structure still needs to be sound IMO.
THINNING THE HERD is best served with wine and lotsa CHEESE. ~3.5 Stars
December 12, 2015
To look at Hal is to see an ordinary man and some might say he's a bit of a creep! By day ( or night depending on his shift pattern !) Hal is a dog catcher but he is something a little bit more heroic then that when not at work . Hal is a hero, the last bastien between humans and the monsters, or is he? Hal is many things truth be told and some might say he is a bit of a fantasist . In his mind he is feted by many but those who see his greatness protect his secret but is he completely sane? He talks to shifters both those ruled by the moon and even those whose essence is controlled by the power of the sun. Yet in his travels Hal notices all manner of things and a distinct shortage of hippies in the area is just the beginning !
Well this was unexpected I must admit. I got this book expecting typical urban fantasy and yet it's so much more than that. It's a quirky read with a very perculiar hero but I admit he did grow on me. Fabulous supporting characters with truly laugh out loud moments . I hesitate to say too much but a wolf and a cat partnership has to be read to be believed! Add in Hal's obsession with Desdemona a goth girl who really isn't that enamoured by the creepy guy who keeps showing up and you start to see that this book will take you on a very unexpected ride. Is Hal really as good as he thinks he is? Or is he just a legend in his own lunchtime? Either way it's completely different and whilst normally I'd recommend to those like myself who enjoy urban fantasy or even paranormal stories this time I'm thinking if you enjoy the off the wall work of Terry Pratchet then this might be just up your street! Unique, quirky and chock full of entertaining ideas
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
Well this was unexpected I must admit. I got this book expecting typical urban fantasy and yet it's so much more than that. It's a quirky read with a very perculiar hero but I admit he did grow on me. Fabulous supporting characters with truly laugh out loud moments . I hesitate to say too much but a wolf and a cat partnership has to be read to be believed! Add in Hal's obsession with Desdemona a goth girl who really isn't that enamoured by the creepy guy who keeps showing up and you start to see that this book will take you on a very unexpected ride. Is Hal really as good as he thinks he is? Or is he just a legend in his own lunchtime? Either way it's completely different and whilst normally I'd recommend to those like myself who enjoy urban fantasy or even paranormal stories this time I'm thinking if you enjoy the off the wall work of Terry Pratchet then this might be just up your street! Unique, quirky and chock full of entertaining ideas
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
January 10, 2016
Between 3.5 and 4.0 stars....
I've enjoyed Adrian Phoenix's Hoodoo and Maker series so I was very excited to get my hands on a review copy of Thinning the Herd. I was not disappointed. In fact, Thinning the Herd was a pleasant surprise full of quirky characters in hilarious situations.
Hal Rupert is an Animal Control Officer, though sometimes the animals he wrangles aren't necessarily the usual lost kitty or rabid dog. Instead, he controls some of the shifter population in his town. When someone starts kidnapping hippies, Hal goes to work accompanied by his shifter pals Nick and Galahad.
Hal is hilarious. His unrequited love (and possibly stalking) for the lovely but Goth Desdemona made for some humorous exchanges.
Thinning the Herd was an fun read. I'm hoping to read more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Threshold Pocket Books for a review copy of this book.
I've enjoyed Adrian Phoenix's Hoodoo and Maker series so I was very excited to get my hands on a review copy of Thinning the Herd. I was not disappointed. In fact, Thinning the Herd was a pleasant surprise full of quirky characters in hilarious situations.
Hal Rupert is an Animal Control Officer, though sometimes the animals he wrangles aren't necessarily the usual lost kitty or rabid dog. Instead, he controls some of the shifter population in his town. When someone starts kidnapping hippies, Hal goes to work accompanied by his shifter pals Nick and Galahad.
Hal is hilarious. His unrequited love (and possibly stalking) for the lovely but Goth Desdemona made for some humorous exchanges.
Thinning the Herd was an fun read. I'm hoping to read more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Threshold Pocket Books for a review copy of this book.
December 6, 2015
3- stars (or thereabout)
A humorous urban fantasy tale featuring Hal Rupert, an Animal Control Officer as the unsung hero. With the help of his yōkai friends, Galahad Jones the tabby cat and Nick the wolf, Hal maintained peace in Eugene, Oregon. Armed with his lethal catch pole, he patrolled the town.
It's entertaining and not a little exasperating how Hal thought himself well-known to everyone on his "heroism". He's also oblivious that attention and love he bestowed to a quirky bewitching girl was initially not fully welcomed. A bit delusional, our Hal the catch-pole hero.
The book introduced yōkai and lycan which ruled by moon and sun; the groups Hal helped keep in line while living side by side with one-shaped humans.
But what's more entertaining for me was the bromance between Gally and Nick, both in furry forms and two-legged. There was no history on how these two met and got close to Hal though. I wouldn't mind if their POV appeared earlier on pages than simply cramped in middle chapters.
I'm not particularly happy with the plot over how the evil plans unveiled. Given this was a standalone - I assumed it's a standalone book - the master minds and reason behind the bloody gory murders seemed not fitting. That, and the sudden add-on of guidance on Hal's side; made the whole story felt as an "let's see how this goes", "hoping for the best", "oops, wrong move; let's try another way" approach.
Which was why I considered this book as chirpy, comical read and focusing on the amusing banters instead. I had a good laugh.
ARC is kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the exchange of a fair and honest review.
A humorous urban fantasy tale featuring Hal Rupert, an Animal Control Officer as the unsung hero. With the help of his yōkai friends, Galahad Jones the tabby cat and Nick the wolf, Hal maintained peace in Eugene, Oregon. Armed with his lethal catch pole, he patrolled the town.
It's entertaining and not a little exasperating how Hal thought himself well-known to everyone on his "heroism". He's also oblivious that attention and love he bestowed to a quirky bewitching girl was initially not fully welcomed. A bit delusional, our Hal the catch-pole hero.
The book introduced yōkai and lycan which ruled by moon and sun; the groups Hal helped keep in line while living side by side with one-shaped humans.
But what's more entertaining for me was the bromance between Gally and Nick, both in furry forms and two-legged. There was no history on how these two met and got close to Hal though. I wouldn't mind if their POV appeared earlier on pages than simply cramped in middle chapters.
I'm not particularly happy with the plot over how the evil plans unveiled. Given this was a standalone - I assumed it's a standalone book - the master minds and reason behind the bloody gory murders seemed not fitting. That, and the sudden add-on of guidance on Hal's side; made the whole story felt as an "let's see how this goes", "hoping for the best", "oops, wrong move; let's try another way" approach.
Which was why I considered this book as chirpy, comical read and focusing on the amusing banters instead. I had a good laugh.
ARC is kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the exchange of a fair and honest review.
March 11, 2016
It was silly but mostly fun. I went back and forth the whole time trying to figure out if Hal was totally deluded for thinking he was so awesome, to thinking he had a point, he could be pretty great. He's quite a mixed bag, not the everyday hero. He was definitely delusional, there's no doubt about that. Just look at his obsession with Desdemona, his "girlfriend" who called him creep, jerkwad and fruitcake and he loved it, convinced himself that even though she didn't even know his name that those were her terms of affection for him. The other characters weren't really developed, typical sidekicks, whether they liked the idea or not (a discussion was had about it). But he isn't an anti-hero either. He was different, complex.He wasn't the jerk he seem to be at first, but he sure wasn't the typical strong-jawed perfect leading man, and that was interesting. I also liked the author's shifters concept. Yōkai are shifters who are ruled by the sun. They are animals who are in their True Form at night and in human form during the day. Lycans are shifters who are ruled by the moon, humans who are in their True Form during the day and animal form at night. They both shift for one week out of the month starting with the day/night of the full moon.
I'm still not so sure how I feel about Hal being a clueless stalker though, or Desdemona encouraging him near the end by being nice and kissing him when he went off to be super heroic and risk his life to save the day. She had to know by then that he was actually the creepy stalker she'd thought he was before she got to know him a little during this adventure, even if he was actually also heroic. That he wasn't in touch with reality when it came to her. And the author is clearly setting it up for trouble in the next book because Hal is even more obsessed with her, based on nothing but his own ideas, and now she has a flirtation or attraction or something right at the end with Galahad, Hal's best friend. I'm not sure what benefit to the story Hal being that kind of an idiot had. It was a way of showing that he's out of touch with reality, like him thinking that everyone on the bus knows that he's a hero but is playing along with his desire to keep a low profile. That constant back and forth for the reader of trying to figure out if the guy is nuts or if he's really cool and on the ball. Like when I saw that people in the shifter community really did think he was a big deal and had a lot of respect for him, it emphasized that tension again, is he nuts or is he right? It certainly made for an interesting character, that's for sure. I guess it should just be labeled with a trigger warning. Some people will not enjoy this story or see the humor in this guy. Some will think he's clueless and hope that he's able to accept the truth when he gets his face rubbed in it, thinking that he's basically a good guy underneath. Others will fear that if he was a real guy, the kind of guy who was already prone to violence as demonstrated by his "heroics", if he found out that "his girlfriend" was seeing another guy, or even suspected it… well, it's kind of scary to let my thoughts go there. I doubt that's what the author intends to do with the story, I think this is essentially a good-hearted but somewhat delusional guy. We'll see where it goes, she's an author I trust enough to wait and find out.
So the whole story was a little nuts, frantic and wild and a bit silly but also fun and exciting as well. The writing wasn't really comparable to her Maker series or the Hoodoo series, but it's a fun, quick read with a little more going on below the surface than just the silliness. Not a lot, it's mostly just a fun read, but there was some genuine love and devotion, and a few interesting characters that I hope to see more about in the next story, if there is one. I hope there will be.
I'm still not so sure how I feel about Hal being a clueless stalker though, or Desdemona encouraging him near the end by being nice and kissing him when he went off to be super heroic and risk his life to save the day. She had to know by then that he was actually the creepy stalker she'd thought he was before she got to know him a little during this adventure, even if he was actually also heroic. That he wasn't in touch with reality when it came to her. And the author is clearly setting it up for trouble in the next book because Hal is even more obsessed with her, based on nothing but his own ideas, and now she has a flirtation or attraction or something right at the end with Galahad, Hal's best friend. I'm not sure what benefit to the story Hal being that kind of an idiot had. It was a way of showing that he's out of touch with reality, like him thinking that everyone on the bus knows that he's a hero but is playing along with his desire to keep a low profile. That constant back and forth for the reader of trying to figure out if the guy is nuts or if he's really cool and on the ball. Like when I saw that people in the shifter community really did think he was a big deal and had a lot of respect for him, it emphasized that tension again, is he nuts or is he right? It certainly made for an interesting character, that's for sure. I guess it should just be labeled with a trigger warning. Some people will not enjoy this story or see the humor in this guy. Some will think he's clueless and hope that he's able to accept the truth when he gets his face rubbed in it, thinking that he's basically a good guy underneath. Others will fear that if he was a real guy, the kind of guy who was already prone to violence as demonstrated by his "heroics", if he found out that "his girlfriend" was seeing another guy, or even suspected it… well, it's kind of scary to let my thoughts go there. I doubt that's what the author intends to do with the story, I think this is essentially a good-hearted but somewhat delusional guy. We'll see where it goes, she's an author I trust enough to wait and find out.
So the whole story was a little nuts, frantic and wild and a bit silly but also fun and exciting as well. The writing wasn't really comparable to her Maker series or the Hoodoo series, but it's a fun, quick read with a little more going on below the surface than just the silliness. Not a lot, it's mostly just a fun read, but there was some genuine love and devotion, and a few interesting characters that I hope to see more about in the next story, if there is one. I hope there will be.
January 14, 2016
2 Stars
WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST READ???
Thinning the Herd caught my attention because:
1. The premise sounds unique and promising
2. The cover with tentacle (no, it's not that I hope this will be tentacle-hentai or something like that)
3. I had read Adrian Phoenix's Maker Song series (just book 1, tho) and enjoy it a lot
What I read is a BIG MESS, over and over. I can't grab the world building, also the main hero, Hal Rupert is BIG CREEP with stalking tendencies and have delusional grandeur. I think at first, this is just a persona, a mask to keep his real identity and attitude hidden. But till' the end, Hal still act like creep, like his ladylove Desdemona said to him before that. I don't get why Phoenix write a character like this, a complete and total loco. I appreciate a quirky and weird character, but Hal is too WEIRD, I can't sympathize with him, rolling my eyes each time he try to be Animal Control Officer with his freakin' catch pole and wish to bang my head on desk every times he has this delusion about his relationship with Desdemona.
The story is quite simple tho. A world domineering ala Bond villain, a world where shifter exist yada yada yada. What make me confused is, there was no explanation about why Hal know the existence about the shifter. I think that the human don't know about shifter and all shifter remain hidden. Yet, Hal know about them and there's no history why he know about it. At first, I also think that Hal is not ordinary person, maybe a god or magician or shifter (too) in disguise. But, naw, he remain mortal and it's irked me that he's so strong as mortal with just a catch pole for a weapon. Hal himself make me can't enjoy this story like what I want to be. A big disappointment, indeed.
What make me give this 2 stars, because the secondary characters are better than Hal. I especially liked the tabby youkai, Galahad Jones and his partner, the wolf youkai, Nick. Galahad have more personalities compared to Hal, and it fitting him to be the hero rather than Hal. His banter with the villain is funny and his bored demeanor (since he's a cat!) make me smile. Without Galahad, I'm so tempted to DNF-d this one.
While I said the story is a big mess, actually it did make sense when nearing the end, especially when the story told from Galahad perspective. Phoenix explain why there was so many murder around Hal's city and why Hal&co had targeted. Alas, it's marred by the ending, for again Hal back into his delusional grandeur and creepy personalities!! Dang, why not write this story by present Galahad instead? :(
I don't know if I want to recommend this one. On the other side, I really enjoy the Maker Song series, so you may want to check it. The first book, A Rush of Wings is MUCH MUCH better than Thinning the Herd.
Favorite quote:
The scarecrow, scythe in hand, walk away, bedraggled limbs still full of deadly grace. "Coming soon to a theater near you," he whispered to Galahad in passing," Gruesome Revenge."
"On a double-feature bill with Plucked Buttonless," Galahad murmured.
WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST READ???
Thinning the Herd caught my attention because:
1. The premise sounds unique and promising
2. The cover with tentacle (no, it's not that I hope this will be tentacle-hentai or something like that)
3. I had read Adrian Phoenix's Maker Song series (just book 1, tho) and enjoy it a lot
What I read is a BIG MESS, over and over. I can't grab the world building, also the main hero, Hal Rupert is BIG CREEP with stalking tendencies and have delusional grandeur. I think at first, this is just a persona, a mask to keep his real identity and attitude hidden. But till' the end, Hal still act like creep, like his ladylove Desdemona said to him before that. I don't get why Phoenix write a character like this, a complete and total loco. I appreciate a quirky and weird character, but Hal is too WEIRD, I can't sympathize with him, rolling my eyes each time he try to be Animal Control Officer with his freakin' catch pole and wish to bang my head on desk every times he has this delusion about his relationship with Desdemona.
The story is quite simple tho. A world domineering ala Bond villain, a world where shifter exist yada yada yada. What make me confused is, there was no explanation about why Hal know the existence about the shifter. I think that the human don't know about shifter and all shifter remain hidden. Yet, Hal know about them and there's no history why he know about it. At first, I also think that Hal is not ordinary person, maybe a god or magician or shifter (too) in disguise. But, naw, he remain mortal and it's irked me that he's so strong as mortal with just a catch pole for a weapon. Hal himself make me can't enjoy this story like what I want to be. A big disappointment, indeed.
What make me give this 2 stars, because the secondary characters are better than Hal. I especially liked the tabby youkai, Galahad Jones and his partner, the wolf youkai, Nick. Galahad have more personalities compared to Hal, and it fitting him to be the hero rather than Hal. His banter with the villain is funny and his bored demeanor (since he's a cat!) make me smile. Without Galahad, I'm so tempted to DNF-d this one.
While I said the story is a big mess, actually it did make sense when nearing the end, especially when the story told from Galahad perspective. Phoenix explain why there was so many murder around Hal's city and why Hal&co had targeted. Alas, it's marred by the ending, for again Hal back into his delusional grandeur and creepy personalities!! Dang, why not write this story by present Galahad instead? :(
I don't know if I want to recommend this one. On the other side, I really enjoy the Maker Song series, so you may want to check it. The first book, A Rush of Wings is MUCH MUCH better than Thinning the Herd.
Favorite quote:
The scarecrow, scythe in hand, walk away, bedraggled limbs still full of deadly grace. "Coming soon to a theater near you," he whispered to Galahad in passing," Gruesome Revenge."
"On a double-feature bill with Plucked Buttonless," Galahad murmured.
October 18, 2015
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. Hal Rupert is an animal control officer, and a legend in his own mind. A bad-ass with a catch pole, Hal feels it's his duty to protect the citizens of Eugene and surrounding areas. Lately, Hal has noticed more lycans, and less hippies. He can tell something is amiss and he will find out what it is. This was a fun book. The characters are great, and I couldn't wait to read more. The combination of magic, ass kicking, and humor made this a great read. I hope there will be more books in this series.
January 5, 2016
Fortune tellers and hippies are dying in large numbers in Oregon – only noticed by one man. A man sworn to protect the city, a hero in his own mind, a man who knows the secrets of the supernatural
Hal, a Dogcatcher, And he wields a mean catchpole.
I just… can’t even begin to express my opinions about the protagonist, Hal. On so many levels he’s a parody of awfulness. He’s clueless, arrogant and ridiculously full of himself and his abilities and his roles. He is also skilled, talented, brave and in some ways every bit the hero he thinks he is. At the same time, while he’s an appalling joke, he’s constantly treated as that – he’s often terrible and ridiculous but, at the same time, I think we’re fully expected to see him as that. He’s awful, but I don’t think we’re meant to ignore the fact – hence his constant abuse of poor cyclists for example. I don’t think we’re expected to see his truly epic fighting skills and not think that he’s also totally a cool person which he clearly isn’t.
And I can’t deny that he’s funny. His interactions with the people around him, his ridiculous belief that he’s not just a superhero but that everyone fully knows about it. His firm refusal to deal with reality, his happy poking of corpses… it’s funny, it’s really really funny.
I just don’t know with this guy. I alternate being repelled and amused by him – and I think that’s intentional
It helps that some of the characters around him – especially the two other main characters: Nicka and Galahad - is pretty amazing and hilarious. They are both yokai, kind of reverse were-animals, animal that become human during the day. So we have a cat, with all the immense sarcasm that requires, and a wolf – who can easily be distracted by a well thrown squeaky toy (of course, the cat can easily be fascinate by a bell as well).
The three of them make for a hilariously combination. And I like the idea if were animals that aren’t you classic human-to-animal because why not have both? I’m not so sure about calling them “yokai” though, especially in a setting that has no Asian characters.
I also like what Hal is, an animal control officer. I like the idea of a world setting where the supernatural is hidden and the question has to be asked, who would know? Who would know the reality of the world and, yes, a dogcatcher is a good example of someone who would probably know.
I hate the relationship between Hal and Desdemona. In some ways it starts well. Yes, is creepy and a stalker – and he is labelled as that. I actually liked how we repeatedly see him be revolting and disgusting to Desdemona and she keeps calling him. He’s ridiculous and awful and stalkery and disgusting and she treats him appropriately for that – insulting him, rejecting him, trying to drive him away. In a genre – and media in general – where this kind of creepy, stalkery, disgustingly predatory behaviour is repeatedly held up as romantic.
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Hal, a Dogcatcher, And he wields a mean catchpole.
I just… can’t even begin to express my opinions about the protagonist, Hal. On so many levels he’s a parody of awfulness. He’s clueless, arrogant and ridiculously full of himself and his abilities and his roles. He is also skilled, talented, brave and in some ways every bit the hero he thinks he is. At the same time, while he’s an appalling joke, he’s constantly treated as that – he’s often terrible and ridiculous but, at the same time, I think we’re fully expected to see him as that. He’s awful, but I don’t think we’re meant to ignore the fact – hence his constant abuse of poor cyclists for example. I don’t think we’re expected to see his truly epic fighting skills and not think that he’s also totally a cool person which he clearly isn’t.
And I can’t deny that he’s funny. His interactions with the people around him, his ridiculous belief that he’s not just a superhero but that everyone fully knows about it. His firm refusal to deal with reality, his happy poking of corpses… it’s funny, it’s really really funny.
I just don’t know with this guy. I alternate being repelled and amused by him – and I think that’s intentional
It helps that some of the characters around him – especially the two other main characters: Nicka and Galahad - is pretty amazing and hilarious. They are both yokai, kind of reverse were-animals, animal that become human during the day. So we have a cat, with all the immense sarcasm that requires, and a wolf – who can easily be distracted by a well thrown squeaky toy (of course, the cat can easily be fascinate by a bell as well).
The three of them make for a hilariously combination. And I like the idea if were animals that aren’t you classic human-to-animal because why not have both? I’m not so sure about calling them “yokai” though, especially in a setting that has no Asian characters.
I also like what Hal is, an animal control officer. I like the idea of a world setting where the supernatural is hidden and the question has to be asked, who would know? Who would know the reality of the world and, yes, a dogcatcher is a good example of someone who would probably know.
I hate the relationship between Hal and Desdemona. In some ways it starts well. Yes, is creepy and a stalker – and he is labelled as that. I actually liked how we repeatedly see him be revolting and disgusting to Desdemona and she keeps calling him. He’s ridiculous and awful and stalkery and disgusting and she treats him appropriately for that – insulting him, rejecting him, trying to drive him away. In a genre – and media in general – where this kind of creepy, stalkery, disgustingly predatory behaviour is repeatedly held up as romantic.
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January 1, 2016
Thinning the Herd by Adrian Phoenix is a damned fun book. You're going to want to read this one. Before I tell you why, let's start with the back of the book description:
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Rush of Wings and The Maker’s Song series, a humorous, action-packed urban fantasy about a werewolf pack and an animal control officer in way over his head!thinning
Someone is picking off fortune tellers and hippies in Oregon, snatching them out of their Birkenstocks mid-stride. And when the legend himself, Hal Rupert, Animal Control Officer, gets a whiff of the mystery, he knows he’s the man to solve it. In between proudly wrangling out-of-control cats and dogs, he’s noticed a peculiar uptick in another sort of animal…werewolves.
Hal infiltrates the country fair to investigate the disappearance of the flower children. But his real priority is protecting the love of his life, Desdemona Cohen, whose long purple tresses and black-glossed lips captured his heart the moment he first saw her standing behind the register at Hot Topic. Desdemona may have nicknamed Hal “Creep,” but he’s determined to win her heart. And, you know, save everyone else, too.
So first of all, you can tell from the tone of the description, that this is a tongue-in-cheek sort of romp. It's entertaining as hell with a lot of fun stuff going on. First of all, Hal is a dog-catcher and his weapon of choice is a catchpole. At first I thought, oh, dear, this could go horribly awry. I should have known better. It's so fun. Hal is partially a Walter Mitty, slightly delusional and believing he's a secret superhero, and he's also a secret superhero saving the world from terrible evil. The mix of his own delusions overlaps with reality in a lovely way. All the characters are well drawn and--I know I keep repeating this--they are so fun. There's snark and wit and silly jokes and reversals and seriously, you're going to want to read this one. It releases on January 4th, and right now the electronic version is only $1.99. I'm telling you, give it a grab. You won't regret it.
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Rush of Wings and The Maker’s Song series, a humorous, action-packed urban fantasy about a werewolf pack and an animal control officer in way over his head!thinning
Someone is picking off fortune tellers and hippies in Oregon, snatching them out of their Birkenstocks mid-stride. And when the legend himself, Hal Rupert, Animal Control Officer, gets a whiff of the mystery, he knows he’s the man to solve it. In between proudly wrangling out-of-control cats and dogs, he’s noticed a peculiar uptick in another sort of animal…werewolves.
Hal infiltrates the country fair to investigate the disappearance of the flower children. But his real priority is protecting the love of his life, Desdemona Cohen, whose long purple tresses and black-glossed lips captured his heart the moment he first saw her standing behind the register at Hot Topic. Desdemona may have nicknamed Hal “Creep,” but he’s determined to win her heart. And, you know, save everyone else, too.
So first of all, you can tell from the tone of the description, that this is a tongue-in-cheek sort of romp. It's entertaining as hell with a lot of fun stuff going on. First of all, Hal is a dog-catcher and his weapon of choice is a catchpole. At first I thought, oh, dear, this could go horribly awry. I should have known better. It's so fun. Hal is partially a Walter Mitty, slightly delusional and believing he's a secret superhero, and he's also a secret superhero saving the world from terrible evil. The mix of his own delusions overlaps with reality in a lovely way. All the characters are well drawn and--I know I keep repeating this--they are so fun. There's snark and wit and silly jokes and reversals and seriously, you're going to want to read this one. It releases on January 4th, and right now the electronic version is only $1.99. I'm telling you, give it a grab. You won't regret it.
November 2, 2015
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/10/2...
Publisher: Pocket
Publishing Date: January 2016
ISBN:9781451645354
Genre : Fantasy
Rating : 3.7/5
Publisher Description : Someone is picking off fortune tellers and hippies in Oregon, snatching them out of their Birkenstocks mid-stride. And when the legend himself, Hal Rupert, Animal Control Officer, gets a whiff of the mystery, he knows he’s the man to solve it. In between proudly wrangling out-of-control cats and dogs, he’s noticed a peculiar uptick in another sort of animal…werewolves.
Review : Hal (the hero) read like Ash Williams in Army of Darkness where he has a grandiose idea of who he his and backs it up. With his cat and wolf shifting friends and his would be love, Goth Girl, Desmedona they take on a supernatural threat to the people of Eugene/Springfield.
I had a good time reading this. The characters were well built and developed well with the story line. Definitely not to be taken seriously as it is fairly glib and at times has very pointed humor. The only fail when describing firearm operation was that a guns trigger is not cocked, the hammer is.
Publisher: Pocket
Publishing Date: January 2016
ISBN:9781451645354
Genre : Fantasy
Rating : 3.7/5
Publisher Description : Someone is picking off fortune tellers and hippies in Oregon, snatching them out of their Birkenstocks mid-stride. And when the legend himself, Hal Rupert, Animal Control Officer, gets a whiff of the mystery, he knows he’s the man to solve it. In between proudly wrangling out-of-control cats and dogs, he’s noticed a peculiar uptick in another sort of animal…werewolves.
Review : Hal (the hero) read like Ash Williams in Army of Darkness where he has a grandiose idea of who he his and backs it up. With his cat and wolf shifting friends and his would be love, Goth Girl, Desmedona they take on a supernatural threat to the people of Eugene/Springfield.
I had a good time reading this. The characters were well built and developed well with the story line. Definitely not to be taken seriously as it is fairly glib and at times has very pointed humor. The only fail when describing firearm operation was that a guns trigger is not cocked, the hammer is.
November 26, 2015
Thinning the Herd by Adrian Phoenix
I'm not sure if Urban Fantasy as a genre is normally funny or if it is just coincidental with the ones I have read. This book has it's tongue in it's cheek so deeply I imagine it reaches the ears. Hal Rupert, an animal control agent, is the main protagonist and his main weapon is his catch pole. His sidekicks are shape changers and his love interest is a purple hair, black lipstick goth chick.
Phoenix definitely has a strange sense of humor. She sacrifices hippies and urban chic on the alter of strangeness. Rupert has a major hero complex and no lack of confidence while being apparently oblivious to the distain he seems to encourage from the common citizens he claims to be defending.
The book has an amusing plot with casual violence. It was entertaining.
I recommend.
Site: http://adrianphoenix.com/
I'm not sure if Urban Fantasy as a genre is normally funny or if it is just coincidental with the ones I have read. This book has it's tongue in it's cheek so deeply I imagine it reaches the ears. Hal Rupert, an animal control agent, is the main protagonist and his main weapon is his catch pole. His sidekicks are shape changers and his love interest is a purple hair, black lipstick goth chick.
Phoenix definitely has a strange sense of humor. She sacrifices hippies and urban chic on the alter of strangeness. Rupert has a major hero complex and no lack of confidence while being apparently oblivious to the distain he seems to encourage from the common citizens he claims to be defending.
The book has an amusing plot with casual violence. It was entertaining.
I recommend.
Site: http://adrianphoenix.com/
February 18, 2016
"A dangerous life, this hero's life, but one he'd ever refuse." Hal is a cocky animal control warden who armed with his trusty catch pole, combats the shifters and lycans in Eugene. Only lately there have been a lot of missing hippies and fortunetellers as well. As he and his trusty companions investigate, they find a dangerous person who wants to summon ancient gods and destroy the world as he knows it - and that will not happen on his watch!
An extremely fun adventure with wonderfully engrossing descriptions and imagery.
An extremely fun adventure with wonderfully engrossing descriptions and imagery.
Want to read
October 19, 2015There are tentacles on the cover!
February 9, 2016
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
THINNING THE HERD was quirky and weird which is why I picked it up as a break from the more serious books I've been reading in urban fantasy. Hal Rupert, the main character of this story, is an animal control who protects the citizens of his city from shifters and other paranormal creatures. He's is an odd fellow. I thought it was amusing how Hal walks around town like everyone knows he is some big hero when all they see is some animal control guy who hits people with his pole a lot. At times I began to doubt whether the paranormal creatures he encountered were real or figments of a deranged mind. Considering he is mostly defending people who don't believe the paranormal creatures exist I could have very well believed it to until the monsters started appearing.
When the monsters appear and we begin to see the shifter world hidden among the humans is when we really get to see Hal in action. He really knows how to use his animal catching pole. I loved the build up to the big bad Hal battles. It starts out with a few missing hippies and evolves into a massive conspiracy involving old gods, a shifting of power balance in the world, and some interesting shifter mythology.
I did have a major issue with this otherwise humorous story. Hal seems to interpret any interaction between himself and another person as a positive experience due to his massive ego. It's really amusing to see how his view of what is really happening diverts so much from reality. One big issue I had with Hal was his 'relationship' with Desdemona. He's stalking her. He interprets his stalking and her dislike of him as them keeping their relationship a secret for reasons. I could not get past the stalking part which was probably the point as this man is seriously delusional. A good fighter but delusional. I was actually glad when the story shifted perspective to some of Hal's shifter friends and Desdemona because we got a short break from the warped mind of Hal.
THINNING THE HERD was a decently comical story with an entertaining plot revolving around shifters, a small town, and world domination. It's not your typical light urban fantasy read.
Sexual content: N/A
THINNING THE HERD was quirky and weird which is why I picked it up as a break from the more serious books I've been reading in urban fantasy. Hal Rupert, the main character of this story, is an animal control who protects the citizens of his city from shifters and other paranormal creatures. He's is an odd fellow. I thought it was amusing how Hal walks around town like everyone knows he is some big hero when all they see is some animal control guy who hits people with his pole a lot. At times I began to doubt whether the paranormal creatures he encountered were real or figments of a deranged mind. Considering he is mostly defending people who don't believe the paranormal creatures exist I could have very well believed it to until the monsters started appearing.
When the monsters appear and we begin to see the shifter world hidden among the humans is when we really get to see Hal in action. He really knows how to use his animal catching pole. I loved the build up to the big bad Hal battles. It starts out with a few missing hippies and evolves into a massive conspiracy involving old gods, a shifting of power balance in the world, and some interesting shifter mythology.
I did have a major issue with this otherwise humorous story. Hal seems to interpret any interaction between himself and another person as a positive experience due to his massive ego. It's really amusing to see how his view of what is really happening diverts so much from reality. One big issue I had with Hal was his 'relationship' with Desdemona. He's stalking her. He interprets his stalking and her dislike of him as them keeping their relationship a secret for reasons. I could not get past the stalking part which was probably the point as this man is seriously delusional. A good fighter but delusional. I was actually glad when the story shifted perspective to some of Hal's shifter friends and Desdemona because we got a short break from the warped mind of Hal.
THINNING THE HERD was a decently comical story with an entertaining plot revolving around shifters, a small town, and world domination. It's not your typical light urban fantasy read.
Sexual content: N/A
January 7, 2016
Mon avis en Français
My English review
It’s been a long time since I had not read a novel by Adrian Phoenix but I liked many of her series a few years ago (besides I need to continue them…), so I was curious to discover this first new novel. But I think that in the end I expected maybe a little too much and the novel was not necessarily what I wanted. It must be said that this first volume is unique and completely atypical compared to what we usually can find.
Our hero, or rather anti-hero, Hal, is a character that is not recognized or only in very specific circles. This is an animal control officer but he also keeps the peace between the border between humans and supernatural creatures (although he is not well known for this). His girlfriend (although he is the only one aware of that fact) Desdemona is a young woman that we like to see the interactions with. If she says he is a stalker, a monster or threat of gutting him, it’s not because she does not like him, they are just affectionate and doing cute names. It was pretty funny to see that he does not realize at all that he is completely different from the person he believes he is. And it’s true that their meetings are quite impressive to see when you realize that Hal interprets everything and anything in his favor. Yes, because of his ego issues, it must be said that he is quite bloated and he considers himself as a hero or a human legend and does not hesitate to tell it to everyone.
But a new terrible problem appears and he is determined to understand what is happening. Indeed, many disappearances occur and hippies, as well as fortune tellers, volatilize without a trace and Hal wants to understand the end of the story. Yet the history will be complicated when he is the victim of a plot intended to kill him or when his friends are found themselves in danger and that Desdemona is also in this situation.
It was a nice book but I admit that I did not necessarily adhered to the story as much as I thought … however it was a pleasant and different discovery and I wonder what the author will present thereafter.
My English review
It’s been a long time since I had not read a novel by Adrian Phoenix but I liked many of her series a few years ago (besides I need to continue them…), so I was curious to discover this first new novel. But I think that in the end I expected maybe a little too much and the novel was not necessarily what I wanted. It must be said that this first volume is unique and completely atypical compared to what we usually can find.
Our hero, or rather anti-hero, Hal, is a character that is not recognized or only in very specific circles. This is an animal control officer but he also keeps the peace between the border between humans and supernatural creatures (although he is not well known for this). His girlfriend (although he is the only one aware of that fact) Desdemona is a young woman that we like to see the interactions with. If she says he is a stalker, a monster or threat of gutting him, it’s not because she does not like him, they are just affectionate and doing cute names. It was pretty funny to see that he does not realize at all that he is completely different from the person he believes he is. And it’s true that their meetings are quite impressive to see when you realize that Hal interprets everything and anything in his favor. Yes, because of his ego issues, it must be said that he is quite bloated and he considers himself as a hero or a human legend and does not hesitate to tell it to everyone.
But a new terrible problem appears and he is determined to understand what is happening. Indeed, many disappearances occur and hippies, as well as fortune tellers, volatilize without a trace and Hal wants to understand the end of the story. Yet the history will be complicated when he is the victim of a plot intended to kill him or when his friends are found themselves in danger and that Desdemona is also in this situation.
It was a nice book but I admit that I did not necessarily adhered to the story as much as I thought … however it was a pleasant and different discovery and I wonder what the author will present thereafter.
November 18, 2015
Review originally published here: http://thelinseyverse.blogspot.com/20...
Hal Rupert fancies himself the hero of Eugene, Oregon. Too bad he's just works for animal control. However, his fellow townspeople are unaware that he keeps them safe from werewolves and other supernatural creatures running a muck. When hippies and fortune tellers start turning up dead, Hal is convinced its his job to save the day and to protect his true love, Goth goddess, Desdemona from harm. It's just too bad she thinks he is a creepy, loony stalker.
What I liked...
Thinning the Herd is an interesting take on the urban fantasy genre. There are certainly humorous moments which are highlighted by the author's character development. I rather liked the sidekicks, Galahad and Nick, more than the protagonist. Nick--a werewolf obsessed with squeaky toys is a riot. The setting is unique as is the 'magic' surrounding the supernatural groups introduced.
What I didn't like...
I realize that Hal's quirks are meant to be humorous and endearing; however, I just found him irritating and still rather creepy. If a man acted like this toward me in real life, I'd call the police and file a restraining order. It's not cute. It's alarming. Furthermore, I just couldn't take Desdemona's about face toward his behavior and that they end up actually entangled in some sort of romantic relationship.
Plot wise the novel felt all over the place and rather disjointed. While reading, I felt as if I was in the middle of the series, oblivious to important world-building details. This bothered me since Thinning the Herd is the first in a new series. When the 'big bad' is revealed I found myself saying, "Huh?" It all just doesn't seem to fit together. Now, maybe it will since events are probably going to have greater consequences in other books. Either way, I felt like there were too many supernatural elements going on.
Final rating: 3 out of 5 stars (just because of Nick and the hilarious bicyclist)
#netgalley #adrianphoenix #thinningtheherd #urbanfantasy #UF #bookreview #werewolves
Hal Rupert fancies himself the hero of Eugene, Oregon. Too bad he's just works for animal control. However, his fellow townspeople are unaware that he keeps them safe from werewolves and other supernatural creatures running a muck. When hippies and fortune tellers start turning up dead, Hal is convinced its his job to save the day and to protect his true love, Goth goddess, Desdemona from harm. It's just too bad she thinks he is a creepy, loony stalker.
What I liked...
Thinning the Herd is an interesting take on the urban fantasy genre. There are certainly humorous moments which are highlighted by the author's character development. I rather liked the sidekicks, Galahad and Nick, more than the protagonist. Nick--a werewolf obsessed with squeaky toys is a riot. The setting is unique as is the 'magic' surrounding the supernatural groups introduced.
What I didn't like...
I realize that Hal's quirks are meant to be humorous and endearing; however, I just found him irritating and still rather creepy. If a man acted like this toward me in real life, I'd call the police and file a restraining order. It's not cute. It's alarming. Furthermore, I just couldn't take Desdemona's about face toward his behavior and that they end up actually entangled in some sort of romantic relationship.
Plot wise the novel felt all over the place and rather disjointed. While reading, I felt as if I was in the middle of the series, oblivious to important world-building details. This bothered me since Thinning the Herd is the first in a new series. When the 'big bad' is revealed I found myself saying, "Huh?" It all just doesn't seem to fit together. Now, maybe it will since events are probably going to have greater consequences in other books. Either way, I felt like there were too many supernatural elements going on.
Final rating: 3 out of 5 stars (just because of Nick and the hilarious bicyclist)
#netgalley #adrianphoenix #thinningtheherd #urbanfantasy #UF #bookreview #werewolves
May 12, 2016
If you are looking for a serious business sort of read this book is not for you. If you are expecting shape shifters who are blood thirsty and savage this is not the story for you. I’ve only read her maker’s song series and I can say wholeheartedly that this book is nothing like it.
This story is highly entertaining. It takes a good amount of the tropes for most PNR/UF books and smacks them with the satirical stick. Hal, he is just, so freaking silly at times and oblivious to the max. However he *is* the hero and can beat the crap out of bad guys with his handy catch pole. Oh, and yeah he is a dog catcher, has no problem riding the bus, and sleeps on a sleeping bag in his apartment which is also his office. He is very serious about fighting crime and saving the world from rabid pets and rogue shape shifters.
The supporting characters were also good additions to the story. Nick and Galahad were the typical cat/dog combo. One being easily distracted with his squirrel squeaky toy and the on/off switch of a flashlight. The other part of the pair would get obsessed over a bicycle bell. Hal’s true love, the Goth girl Desdemona, was pretty funny at times and had her moments. Della’s inventive and convoluted ways to not advise Hal, because her type in stories always gets killed, were amusing
I pretty much loved reading this book. It was a nice surprise with its colorful characters, silly situations, and well it was just funny, okay? I’m not too sure that I would read a series with these characters and setting, because if it’s not handled right it could get pretty boring to me. I’m not that big a fan of the silly or quirky sort of stories, such as the Stephanie Plum series or the Queen Betsy series. So I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed a book that might be categorized under “quirky.”
This story is highly entertaining. It takes a good amount of the tropes for most PNR/UF books and smacks them with the satirical stick. Hal, he is just, so freaking silly at times and oblivious to the max. However he *is* the hero and can beat the crap out of bad guys with his handy catch pole. Oh, and yeah he is a dog catcher, has no problem riding the bus, and sleeps on a sleeping bag in his apartment which is also his office. He is very serious about fighting crime and saving the world from rabid pets and rogue shape shifters.
The supporting characters were also good additions to the story. Nick and Galahad were the typical cat/dog combo. One being easily distracted with his squirrel squeaky toy and the on/off switch of a flashlight. The other part of the pair would get obsessed over a bicycle bell. Hal’s true love, the Goth girl Desdemona, was pretty funny at times and had her moments. Della’s inventive and convoluted ways to not advise Hal, because her type in stories always gets killed, were amusing
I pretty much loved reading this book. It was a nice surprise with its colorful characters, silly situations, and well it was just funny, okay? I’m not too sure that I would read a series with these characters and setting, because if it’s not handled right it could get pretty boring to me. I’m not that big a fan of the silly or quirky sort of stories, such as the Stephanie Plum series or the Queen Betsy series. So I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed a book that might be categorized under “quirky.”
January 22, 2016
DNF at 35% DNF at 35%, unlikable, delusional character, not enough set up.
I had to give up at 35%. I couldn't figure out if this book was just bad or a paranormal version of Don Quixote which fell flat for me. Hal, the animal control officer main character, seemed to be delusional. His internal thinking is that he's some sort of super hero able to protect the city with his catch pole, doing pole vaulting leaps over moving cars (and not bothering to see who is trying to kill him with the car because it may be a clue to the crimes). He also believes he has a relationship with Desdemona, a bondage store worker jewelry making goth girl who really dislikes him. Why is Hal like this? He has two side kicks, a domestic cat and wolf yokai (animals which turn into humans during the day). Adrian, at 35%, doesn't develop these characters beyond giving them animal gestures. How is Nick, the wolf, a detective? Does he work for a paranormal security group, the regular police or as a PI? At 35%, he does no detecting (it's Hal) but merely assists as a blood hound. The cat, Gallahad, is supposed to be Nick's assistant and the more human acting (always telling Nick to stop doing animal gestures/actions) yet he seems to lead Nick and does as many animal gestures like licking his human hand and running it over his head. It doesn't make sense with the minimal information we're given.
The mystery of who is killing hippies and psychic tarot readers has potential, but the character development is a mess. I didn't find any of it humorous.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I had to give up at 35%. I couldn't figure out if this book was just bad or a paranormal version of Don Quixote which fell flat for me. Hal, the animal control officer main character, seemed to be delusional. His internal thinking is that he's some sort of super hero able to protect the city with his catch pole, doing pole vaulting leaps over moving cars (and not bothering to see who is trying to kill him with the car because it may be a clue to the crimes). He also believes he has a relationship with Desdemona, a bondage store worker jewelry making goth girl who really dislikes him. Why is Hal like this? He has two side kicks, a domestic cat and wolf yokai (animals which turn into humans during the day). Adrian, at 35%, doesn't develop these characters beyond giving them animal gestures. How is Nick, the wolf, a detective? Does he work for a paranormal security group, the regular police or as a PI? At 35%, he does no detecting (it's Hal) but merely assists as a blood hound. The cat, Gallahad, is supposed to be Nick's assistant and the more human acting (always telling Nick to stop doing animal gestures/actions) yet he seems to lead Nick and does as many animal gestures like licking his human hand and running it over his head. It doesn't make sense with the minimal information we're given.
The mystery of who is killing hippies and psychic tarot readers has potential, but the character development is a mess. I didn't find any of it humorous.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
December 24, 2015
Thinning the Herd is not your average urban fantasy novel. It is a wild, laugh-a-minute ride that pokes fun at all of your favorite fantasy adventure stereotypes. I can easily imagine the novel being made into a movie – a B movie of course.
Hal Rupert, Animal Control Officer is the Hero, yes with hero with a capital H. Skillfully wielding his catch-pole, he protects the citizens of his town from things that go bump in the night. That includes werewolves drunk on ducks and other more nebulous threats. He maintains the balance between humans and weres/yokai. The people who ride the same bus may pretend not to know who he is (they don't) but they know he is their Hero tried and true (they don't).
Hippies and fortune tellers are disappearing, and the only clue is a single, bloody birkenstock. Something is taking them, and the upcoming county fair is a tempting target. Hal infiltrates the fair both to protect residents and his Goth-clad beloved Desdemona.
Soon however, Hal realizes he is facing his biggest challenge ever, and he will need more backing him up than his trusty catch-pole.
Thinning the Herd is a fun parody, perfect for fans of horror/comedy or urban fantasy. Be prepared to laugh and occasionally groan while reading this outrageous novel.
4/5
Thinning the Herd is available for preorder and will be released January 4, 2016.
I received a copy of Thinning the Herd from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Hal Rupert, Animal Control Officer is the Hero, yes with hero with a capital H. Skillfully wielding his catch-pole, he protects the citizens of his town from things that go bump in the night. That includes werewolves drunk on ducks and other more nebulous threats. He maintains the balance between humans and weres/yokai. The people who ride the same bus may pretend not to know who he is (they don't) but they know he is their Hero tried and true (they don't).
Hippies and fortune tellers are disappearing, and the only clue is a single, bloody birkenstock. Something is taking them, and the upcoming county fair is a tempting target. Hal infiltrates the fair both to protect residents and his Goth-clad beloved Desdemona.
Soon however, Hal realizes he is facing his biggest challenge ever, and he will need more backing him up than his trusty catch-pole.
Thinning the Herd is a fun parody, perfect for fans of horror/comedy or urban fantasy. Be prepared to laugh and occasionally groan while reading this outrageous novel.
4/5
Thinning the Herd is available for preorder and will be released January 4, 2016.
I received a copy of Thinning the Herd from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
March 18, 2016
This book was a fun read. It has a lot of elements that I love from my quick reads. There's a strong sense of humor, an oddball hero, a disinterested damsel, a silly puppy and a sassy cat (thought don't tell the puppy I called him that). The characters in this book are quite interesting and I'd love to read more stories from this world. I found the dialogue to be quite natural and the progression of the story easy to follow. I loved how Hal, Nick (dog) and Galahad (cat) go from one investigation of missing hippies and fortune tellers and land in the middle of something so much bigger.
There were a couple things I didn't like. There were a handful of minor editing errors that took me out of the book. The biggest thing, however, was Hal's interest in Desdemona. I get that he doesn't realize "creep", "loon" and the middle finger are insults and legitimate "go away" signs, but he is genuinely stalking her. Though his intentions are pure, it goes from kinda funny and cute to creepy after just a few paragraphs. Also, I feel that the poor biker got a lot more than he deserved.
Still, I do appreciate that Desdemona is a strong character in her own right. I love that Hal has his own sense of reality when it comes to his work. I especially love Galahad and Nick and their interactions with the one-shapes (humans) in their lives.
This is a good book for a quick read that is almost guaranteed to get you laughing.
There were a couple things I didn't like. There were a handful of minor editing errors that took me out of the book. The biggest thing, however, was Hal's interest in Desdemona. I get that he doesn't realize "creep", "loon" and the middle finger are insults and legitimate "go away" signs, but he is genuinely stalking her. Though his intentions are pure, it goes from kinda funny and cute to creepy after just a few paragraphs. Also, I feel that the poor biker got a lot more than he deserved.
Still, I do appreciate that Desdemona is a strong character in her own right. I love that Hal has his own sense of reality when it comes to his work. I especially love Galahad and Nick and their interactions with the one-shapes (humans) in their lives.
This is a good book for a quick read that is almost guaranteed to get you laughing.
June 29, 2016
Hal is a dog catcher but recently he’s not so much been catching dogs as he has werewolves. On a routine shift he finds a Birkenstock which leads him to believe that something is happening to the hippies in the area. Hal’s biggest worry is that something will happen to his lady love Desdemona even if she has nicknamed him Creep. With the help of his companions it will be for Hal to track down and find out what is really happening to the missing hippies and who is behind the disappearance. Will they find what is going on or will it be to late?
I like Hal he’s a good guy who has been tossed into the supernatural world but that’s to be expected when you live near a werewolf pack. I like that he has accepted his supernatural world even embracing it working with two unique companions. I find his relationship with Desdemona interesting if nothing else.
I’ve had this one on my to read list for a while based on the cover alone and on my kindle of a while. I found the story interesting and unique the idea of a dog catcher that doesn’t catch your typical dogs was fun. I also really liked Hal he was easy to connect with and I enjoyed that he was teamed up with a shifter. My only complaint is that story isn’t long enough I want more of Hal’s world and hope that that we will see more. I enjoyed the author writing style the story just flowed alone it was easy to read in one sitting. A quick captivating paranormal story that captured my imagination.
I like Hal he’s a good guy who has been tossed into the supernatural world but that’s to be expected when you live near a werewolf pack. I like that he has accepted his supernatural world even embracing it working with two unique companions. I find his relationship with Desdemona interesting if nothing else.
I’ve had this one on my to read list for a while based on the cover alone and on my kindle of a while. I found the story interesting and unique the idea of a dog catcher that doesn’t catch your typical dogs was fun. I also really liked Hal he was easy to connect with and I enjoyed that he was teamed up with a shifter. My only complaint is that story isn’t long enough I want more of Hal’s world and hope that that we will see more. I enjoyed the author writing style the story just flowed alone it was easy to read in one sitting. A quick captivating paranormal story that captured my imagination.
December 29, 2015
We have a kickass dog catcher, Hal and his 2 friends Galahad a cat shifter and Nick a wolf shifter. They are working together to find out why the hippies are disappearing from the markets.
They are in for more than just hippies been murdered, can they fight the evil that is in their town before they lose their lives.
Hal will do anything to keep his one love Desdemona safe even if it means giving up his own life.
Can Hal find his friends before they are killed by enemies unknown?
There is evil and they want to bring forth the ancient ones as they want to take over the town and create a new species.
I found it very hard to keep track of everyone in the book as there were so many different characters and I think that some of them could have been left out, that is my feeling.
I still think that Hal is a stalker there is more to the story between him & Desdemona as it seems pretty strange to me. This book has lycan,cats,werewolves, scarecrow and even a cougar. Who knew that a dog catcher with his catch pole could save the day. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
They are in for more than just hippies been murdered, can they fight the evil that is in their town before they lose their lives.
Hal will do anything to keep his one love Desdemona safe even if it means giving up his own life.
Can Hal find his friends before they are killed by enemies unknown?
There is evil and they want to bring forth the ancient ones as they want to take over the town and create a new species.
I found it very hard to keep track of everyone in the book as there were so many different characters and I think that some of them could have been left out, that is my feeling.
I still think that Hal is a stalker there is more to the story between him & Desdemona as it seems pretty strange to me. This book has lycan,cats,werewolves, scarecrow and even a cougar. Who knew that a dog catcher with his catch pole could save the day. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
January 3, 2016
There is some doubt in the beginning that Hal is anything more than fantasizing his abilities and role in the safety of the city. I also had a little trouble suspending disbelief at his ability to communicate with animals and shapeshifters in animal form, like Doctor Doolittle. There is just no explanation for it.
That being said, I enjoyed the book. I liked the characters. It was a fun read. I liked watching the character of Hal grow some under the pressures he encounters.
If you are looking for a quick read and enjoy "B" movies, you will probably enjoy this book. I give it 3 stars out of 5.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
That being said, I enjoyed the book. I liked the characters. It was a fun read. I liked watching the character of Hal grow some under the pressures he encounters.
If you are looking for a quick read and enjoy "B" movies, you will probably enjoy this book. I give it 3 stars out of 5.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 24, 2016
It's always such a treat when one of my favorite authors releases a new book and I must say this was absolutely one of my favorite Adrian Phoenix books.
With just the right blend of quirk and humor, spectacular adventure and mystical mystery, this story knocked my socks right off.
I absolutely fell in love with Hal and his dog catching stick and his cocky bravado. He was delicious. And I closed the final pages definitely wanting to read more about Hal.
I loved this book and I can't wait for another installment in Hal's world.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read the Arc of this book.
With just the right blend of quirk and humor, spectacular adventure and mystical mystery, this story knocked my socks right off.
I absolutely fell in love with Hal and his dog catching stick and his cocky bravado. He was delicious. And I closed the final pages definitely wanting to read more about Hal.
I loved this book and I can't wait for another installment in Hal's world.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read the Arc of this book.
May 10, 2016
This book was rather silly! I enjoyed the tale of the Catchpole Hero, winning his secret love and living in a secret world full of shifters. It was an enjoyable romp through fantasy that I will read again! It's great for when you need a break from the seriousness of the world. I hope there is more...because their was a tiny piece of the plot left to mystery. It sounds like now there may be a hero for hire with a gang and a girlfriend to help! Very creative world, and I love the little differences the author put in, like animals shifting into humans for instance!
I was given a copy from Netgalley and all opinions are my own!
I was given a copy from Netgalley and all opinions are my own!
November 7, 2015
Set in the Pacific Northwest, there is something unusual going on. Hal, the local dog catcher is loading more werewolves into his truck than dogs. With his trusty catchpole, he is keeping his town safe, especially the love of his life (in his mind), Desdemona. When an ancient is unleashed, Hal and his trusted friends fight to save the hippies and fortune tellers from becoming the ancient's next meal. Funny and weird this is for someone who likes humor with their paranormal.
June 20, 2017
This is a very entertaining book. Hal is part Mr. Bean, part Walter Mitty - happily oblivious to the true feelings of the people around him and very much the hero in his own mind. The humor comes in unexpected ways and running gags. The story settles down a little when narrated by others but even those perspectives and interactions are fun. I would absolutely read any further adventures.
March 22, 2016
I hated this book when I started it. I really disliked the main character and could feel no connection to him. I was just about to put this into my DNF list, when I decided to give it one more try. The story got better. I began to enjoy the absurdity of the situations... so I finished it... and I still do not really like the main character.
November 16, 2015
Most entertaining. Love the shape shifting animals!
January 22, 2016
Bless his heart..
Nothing bad to say about it.
Nothing bad to say about it.
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