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Who's Afraid?

(Supernatural Sisters #1)

Maria Lewis (Goodreads Author)

3.87 · Rating details · 597 ratings · 191 reviews

Incredibly exciting new voice in paranormal fiction.

This is the story of Tommi, a young Scottish woman living an ordinary life, who stumbles violently into her birthright as the world's most powerful werewolf. The sudden appearance of a dark, mysterious (and very attractive) guardian further confuses her as her powers begin to develop and she begins to understand that her ...more

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Paperback, 352 pages

Published January 12th 2016 by Hachette Australia

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Start your review of Who's Afraid? (Supernatural Sisters, #1)

Jan 23, 2017 Lynette Noni rated it it was amazing

Bad friend admission: I've been buds with the author of Who's Afraid, Maria Lewis, for nearly a year now, and I only just managed to carve out a chunk of time to read her wolfy debut.

Good friend admission: I absolutely LOVED it. I read it in one sitting and then contacted her at 1am once I was finished with a plethora of HOW COULD YOU, YOU HORRIBLE HUMAN BEING messages.

I will admit, I was apprehensive going into this book. I've read my fair share of supernatural books starring werewolves and I f Bad friend admission: I've been buds with the author of Who's Afraid, Maria Lewis, for nearly a year now, and I only just managed to carve out a chunk of time to read her wolfy debut.

Good friend admission: I absolutely LOVED it. I read it in one sitting and then contacted her at 1am once I was finished with a plethora of HOW COULD YOU, YOU HORRIBLE HUMAN BEING messages.

I will admit, I was apprehensive going into this book. I've read my fair share of supernatural books starring werewolves and I feared there would be nothing unique about this to set it apart. And since, as previously mentioned, Maria is a friend of mine, I was fully prepared to skim through the book and, if ever asked, say, "Of course I read it! Great job!" and then hurry the conversation along before I was asked for details.

But the truth is, Maria created a cast of characters who battled their way into my heart (sometimes literally—Hello, Lorcan! *insert heart eyes here*). From the protagonist who, it must be said, I WAS SO GLAD SHE HAD A SMART HEAD ON HER SHOULDERS (aside from that momentary lapse of judgement at the end), to the roommate-slash-bestie and then the other bestie who might as well have been a roommate and... gah! I could go on and on! Even the creepy bad dude is so well fleshed out that you feel actual heebie-jeebies whenever he's mentioned. And, worth stating a second time, LORCAN. (*happy sigh*)

Plus even minor characters like Wil, the self-obsessed artist, and Sue, the supernatural doctor, who may not have had much screen time, still managed to leave a lasting impression.

One of the main things I value in a book, especially a debut, is how developed the characters are. It's a mark of a truly talented author when they can make their readers connect on some level to even the most unlikely of characters. (I legit have nothing in common with the protagonist, yet I'm certain if we sat on a plane beside each other, we'd come out the other end as best friends. I'd only understand half of her pop culture references, but the other half would solidify our BFF-status for life!)

All in all, a fabulous, entertaining, heartbreaking, and overall kick-butt novel. I couldn't be prouder of this amazing author who I'm certain is going places and I'm so honoured that I'll get to watch and cheer along from the sidelines. ...more

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Jan 08, 2016 Sarah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own-kindle, netgalley, 2016-debut-author, for-review-read, read-in-2016

It's no secret that urban fantasy is one of my go to genres and I'm always excited to discover new books to cram on my overflowing shelves. Who's Afraid? is a debut novel by Australian author Maria Lewis and although it's an interesting start to a new series I did have a few issues with it.

When Tommi's mother dies she decides to travel to New Zealand to track down the father she never met but what she discovers when she meets the Maori side of her family will change her life forever. Tommi had n It's no secret that urban fantasy is one of my go to genres and I'm always excited to discover new books to cram on my overflowing shelves. Who's Afraid? is a debut novel by Australian author Maria Lewis and although it's an interesting start to a new series I did have a few issues with it.

When Tommi's mother dies she decides to travel to New Zealand to track down the father she never met but what she discovers when she meets the Maori side of her family will change her life forever. Tommi had no idea that her father was a werewolf from a powerful and dangerous family and now her life is at risk so she needs to learn how to defend herself and she needs to do it fast.

I have really mixed feelings about Tommi, she has a great group of friends and when she's around them she can be a really fun character but there were times when I just thought she was incredibly nasty. She can be very mean about people she's never met and I'm just so sick of reading about characters who think that the only way to prove they're strong and independent is to hate on other women. Why is it mainly female authors that write about women knocking each other down? Do characters have to make nasty comments on other women's looks and clothes just because those women are interested in dating their friends? It's not just women that Tommi is down on though, she makes rude remarks about artists she works with too and it just makes her look jealous and petty. I think the author has just tried too hard to make Tommi "cool" and in the end her attitude has made her pretty dislikable. Tommi does improve towards the second half of the book but I need those changes to be consistent for me to want to carry on much further with this series.

I liked the way the werewolves change is portrayed, it's painful and confusing and the first time it happened to Tommi was incredibly well written. You are right there with her feeling shocked and terrified about what is happening to her and I thought it was cleverly done. I also liked the mentoring system and the way Tommi had Lorcan around for backup and assistance when she needed him. He's an intriguing character and I think I'm actually more interested in him than I am in Tommi at the moment. I also thought that some things came a little too easy for Tommi, she is a brand new werewolf yet she manages to master some powerful abilities that would usually take years to learn so that was a bit unrealistic.

I think my biggest issue was with the portrayal of her Maori family though, I'm all for books with diverse characters and that should have been a huge selling point for Who's Afraid? but it's completely negated by the fact that every Maori character is a bad guy. The whole Maori pack is apparently evil and the way they treated Tommi certainly holds true on that but I don't like the way an entire minority group has been portrayed. I find it offensive and quite frankly a little racist.

If I'm honest I'm not sure if I'll end up continuing this series, there is potential there but it doesn't hold a candle to authors like Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews. It is only a debut though so I kind of feel like I should give Maria Lewis one more book to show me what she's really capable of. I guess I may try the sequel at some point but I'm certainly not going to be rushing out to preorder it.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ...more

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Feb 11, 2016 A. rated it did not like it

This is probably the worst book I’ve read in my life.

At its best it’s formulaic and dull. At its worst it’s offensive, and at the end of the day, it’s just badly written. It's god-awful. It took six years and 115 drafts to get to 340 pages of lazy analogies, mad-lib characters, and an unnecessary number of outfit descriptions? If this is the final product, I can only imagine that the original manuscript would have best been classified as ‘horror’.

The author, Maria Lewis, has drawn comparisons be ...more

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Oct 03, 2015 ALPHAreader rated it it was amazing

‘Who’s Afraid?’ is the debut urban fantasy novel from Australian author, Maria Lewis.

Holy guacamole, Wolverine – I loved this book. I loved it from that clever title (echoes of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Gettit?!) right to the last page that sent me on a frantic internet search to see when a sequel would be coming (Who’s Afraid Too? – no release date yet, but I’m already salivating at the very notion!). I loved this book so much that I’m actually reviewing this after re-reading it … becaus ‘Who’s Afraid?’ is the debut urban fantasy novel from Australian author, Maria Lewis.

Holy guacamole, Wolverine – I loved this book. I loved it from that clever title (echoes of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Gettit?!) right to the last page that sent me on a frantic internet search to see when a sequel would be coming (Who’s Afraid Too? – no release date yet, but I’m already salivating at the very notion!). I loved this book so much that I’m actually reviewing this after re-reading it … because it came out in January, but it’s taken me this long to really collect my thoughts and direct my enthusiasm into a halfway coherent review.

First and foremost – there was always a high chance I would love this book because werewolf stories are kinda my bag, baby. I mean – Alpha Reader is an ode to the werewolf stories that sparked my love of all things urban fantasy and paranormal romance way back when… which also means I have a pretty high-standard when it comes to my werewolf books: Patricia Briggs, Anne Bishop, Kelley Armstrong, and Charlaine Harris are the pinnacles of my werewolfish love and I’m here to tell you – Maria Lewis is now up there with them.

What made this book even better for me was getting to read the werewolf legend in a New Zealand setting – a departure from the typical North America of modernised urban fantasy, or its European gothic origins. Lewis actually ties heroine – Tommi Grayson’s – discovery of her werewolf origins to the discovery of her estranged Maori father, which had smart echoes of Mercy Thompson’s Native American shapeshifter origins for me. But Tommi hasn’t just discovered she’s a werewolf, she’s also discovered a family she never knew she had – a highly dysfunctional and dangerous family (and that’s before they grow teeth and claws!) The family element makes for a tight twist on what’s almost a coming-of-age narrative, adding a layer of psychological warfare to the werewolf origin story.

While an important chunk of the story takes place in New Zealand (and I look forward to how Maori elements present in future instalments) Tommi actually lives in Scotland, and manages to escape home – largely thanks to a mysterious guardian looking out for Tommi, a man named Lorcan. If I had any complaints about this book they’re minimal and understandable – this being the first in a series (a series that has real longevity, I can already read) means there are times when world-building comes close to info-dumping, often communicated through Lorcan’s character. But this is urban fantasy and I’m always pretty lenient for the sake of learning about this new world – especially when it’s a world as intriguing as the one Lewis has created.

Look, going into this book you should know that Lewis knows her stuff – she’s a bit of a paranormal, pop-culture connoisseur (and you should definitely follow her on Twitter btw) and she totally delivers the type of book I can only assume she herself wanted to read. The werewolf element is complex and horror-filled, there’s romance set to simmer and a gutsy, flawed heroine you’ll definitely want to follow into sequel …

One of the most anticipated urban fantasies of recent years, Maria Lewis' 'Who's Afraid' and heroine Tommi absolutely live up to the hype. New Zealand werewolves, complicated family history, romance, danger and a new paranormal world to fall in love with. It's 'Underworld' meets 'Animal Kingdom', in a taut psychological family drama, made all the more intense and captivating for the fact that this family has more than metaphorical claws and teeth. ...more

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Dec 17, 2015 Ian rated it really liked it

Shelves: a-netgalley, t-vampires-werewolves-witches, g-urban-fantasy

When Tommi travels to New Zealand to find her father she discovers two things. Her father is dead and she is a werewolf. And not just any werewolf, she is an alpha descended from the most powerful line of werewolves.

After being attacked by one of the local pack members she flees New Zealand and returns to her home in Scotland. But before long it becomes apparent that some of her problems have followed her home, a werewolf from New Zealand is stalking her and murdering the locals.

Who's Afraid? ...more

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Mar 12, 2016 MichelleG rated it really liked it

Shelves: aussie-reads-2016-bookclub, 2016-books-read

"Who's Afraid?" By Maria Lewis is the story of Tommi Grayson. A 22 year old muay-tai loving, blue haired bombshell who after the death of her mother travels from Scotland to New Zealand in the hopes of tracking down her estranged father.

What she finds is something else altogether. Although her father died only weeks before she arrives in New Zealand, she meets the rest of her extended and slightly crazy family... And learns a whole lot more than she bargained for. After meeting her new "family". ...more

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Jan 06, 2016 Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling rated it liked it

Shelves: own

My View:
For those who like their drama with a huge dollop of supernatural, full moon transformations, blood thirsty revenge scenes mingled with romance, this very adult paranormal is for you!

Maria Lewis has created a very confident, independent and as of the last full moon, very were wolf, female super hero called Tommi; blue haired, tattooed, artistic, creative, intelligent…I can see this protagonist winning lots of fans (and her “Guardian” – will inspire more than a few crushes I do think!) An ...more

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Dec 11, 2016 Ryan Buckby rated it really liked it

actual rating: 4.5

i LOVED this book it's my first book with a heavy urban fantasy feel to it and i enjoyed it not knowing what to expect. I don't read that much urban fantasy so it was a bit out of my comfort zone but nonetheless it was a very fast and action packed read.

Tommi is a seemingly normal young woman living in Scotland with her mother until one day her mother dies and she then begins her journey half way across the world to New Zealand to track down her father and discovers her trut ...more

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Mar 28, 2017 Deborah Ideiosepius rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, 2017-reading-challenge, australian-authors, fiction, urban-fantasy, supernatural

This exuberant paranormal story covers Tommi, a young woman living in Scotland who, upon her mothers death, decides to return to the country of her conception, New Zealand, to search for her unknown father. Now Tommi knows there are unlikely to be warm and fuzzy reunions at hand; her mother told her she was a product of rape and she does not really know anything about her father, even the name is a guess.... Little could she predict (though we, the readers, have more than an inkling) that while This exuberant paranormal story covers Tommi, a young woman living in Scotland who, upon her mothers death, decides to return to the country of her conception, New Zealand, to search for her unknown father. Now Tommi knows there are unlikely to be warm and fuzzy reunions at hand; her mother told her she was a product of rape and she does not really know anything about her father, even the name is a guess.... Little could she predict (though we, the readers, have more than an inkling) that while not warm, there is a fuzzy element to her adventure as she learns that through her father, she is a werewolf.

No spoilers so far, the blurb on the back will tell you that. But what the blurb may not convey is the vibrancy and charm of the main character and her life. The story is told with an exuberance that makes the journey of a young woman discovering a paranormal link entirely new and exciting. And for me at least, probably many people who pick up this book, it is a theme that has been read a lot, so the freshness or the story is a tribute to the characters and the way the author develops them.

The use of Scotland and New Zealand as settings made the story feel real to me. I liked the realism of Tommi and her circle of friends, and I mostly liked the evolving tension between Tommi and her mentor, though occassionaly I felt he was a touch underdeveloped and stereotypical. At times I loved the way we were introduced to the supernatural world: We were not given immersion, too many meaningless names, too many characters to identify or many of the other pitfalls I have encountered in other paranormal books setting up a series. At other times I felt a bit blase about the world-building: I have read a lot of paranormal, and at times I could not avoid the 'ho hum, here we go again, learning another one' feeling and I am not sure of that was just me, or that the story loses a little momentum in establishing the world.

A personal quibble of mine is books that make it clear you need to read the next one. I know, I know, lost cause, but I like books that stand alone and do not lean of past or future books. This book is definitely a #1, it is not really a stand alone book because, while one story arc ends the next begins before the final cover and the overall arc is clearly to be continued. I did like it enough that this did not bother me and that I will get the next one, probably pretty soon.

On the whole, grate book which I do recommend to anyone who likes the paranormal. ...more

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Jan 12, 2016 Tash rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites

Reviewed @ Confessions From Romaholics
Review copy kindly provided by publisher in exchange for a honest review

You know when you have a winner and you think okay I will hold off reading it until the last minute possible as you want to savour it and take time to write a review that will be in depth and all sorts of wonderful….

Instead you are getting this because lets face it, I’m a massive fan of shifter stories and the fact that is set in my home country was added bonus as it was about time I re ...more

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Dec 14, 2015 Roslyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: maybe-read

3.5

I received a free copy of this book from Hachette Australia via Netgalley.

Who's Afraid? sits firmly within the paranormal sub-genre and in any ways uses its usual tropes but it contains some original angles on well-worn themes that make it of particular interest.

There are mild spoilers ahead, but I'll only tag one bit of it as a specific spoiler as most of what I'm going to cover is already described in the book's blurb.

Warning: there is quite a lot of violence and a scene of near-rape in the ...more

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Oct 20, 2015 Kathryn rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2016, 2016-published

A new urban fantasy series begins with Who's Afraid, and it's not quite like any other urban fantasy I have read to date. Tommi is a smart, sassy young woman in her early twenties who is on her way to being a very powerful werewolf. Not that she knows that as she leaves her home of Scotland for a visit to New Zealand, where she hopes to meet the father she has never known. However once she arrives there and visits a small settlement outside Rotorua she finds far more than she bargains for. That' A new urban fantasy series begins with Who's Afraid, and it's not quite like any other urban fantasy I have read to date. Tommi is a smart, sassy young woman in her early twenties who is on her way to being a very powerful werewolf. Not that she knows that as she leaves her home of Scotland for a visit to New Zealand, where she hopes to meet the father she has never known. However once she arrives there and visits a small settlement outside Rotorua she finds far more than she bargains for. That's where she comes face to face with her heritage, and its tough.

Returning to Scotland under the care of Lorcan, a somewhat mysterious carer and saviour, she returns to her apartment. It turns out Lorcan has been sent by the powers that be to counsel and guide her through the transition of becoming what might be a very powerful female werewolf. As she trains, an attraction builds between herself and Lorcan, but can it go anywhere and who is Lorcan? What else must Tommi face?

The world building takes place gradually, the reader learns along with Tommi what it is all about. It is all nested in the ordinary every day life of Tommi and her friends. As Tommi narrates the story I not only came to invest in her but her friends as well. Will they ever know what she really is? Can she continue to exist in the world she has known up until this?

There is definite danger, someone is out to attack Tommi if they can and you know for sure they will. Yet this book is more about Tommi finding herself, who she is, what she can do. How her life is changing. She often astounds Lorcan with her abilities, what might have been expected to take months, Tommi achieves quickly. As the story moves along I just can't help but really like Tommi with her blue hair and quick thinking tongue.

There was just one part of the story I hated! It's dark! But then again I don't think Tommi liked it either.

I really liked Lorcan too, he is an ex Praetorium Guard (a warrior) and now he is a custodian. He has been sent by the Treize - the rulers to be a guide to Tommi in her new life. He is so human but so other as well. And there is beautiful attraction between himself and Tommi.

Enough let the author herself explain a little about this book. She's every bit as wonderful as her Tommi! Who's Afraid has been released in Australia and New Zealand and will be out worldwide in July.
...more

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Jan 15, 2016 Annie rated it it was amazing

What an epic urban fantasy!!! In a world of Paranormal Practitioners and Askari-the nerds of the outfit (my favourite lines of the book) comes a story about Tommi who travels to the other side of the world for information on her estranged father, only to find that her heritage is not what she thought it to be.. A carefully plotted story with creative world building and whitty dialogue, this story brings Maori culture and fantasy together.. This is a gripping story that leaves you gobsmacked on t ...more

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Jan 14, 2017 Claire rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-read-in-2017

Fast paced and full of adventure. Tommi is such a fantastic character, and she's so fleshed out that you can see every aspect of her (including her flaws) and understand why she makes every decision. Such a page turner! I struggled to put this book down. ...more

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Sep 18, 2015 Emmeline (The Book Herald) rated it really liked it

Shelves: strong-female-character, arc, romance, paranormal, 2016-release, urban-fantasy

I kindly received this ARC from Hachette Australia, Piatkus via NG in return for an honest review.

"It took me a second to realise that I wasn't screaming at all. Following me down into the unknown was a piercing howl."

Alright ladies and gents, let's hop straight into the plot!

Tommi Grayson is 22 years old, living in Dundee- Scotland,
a passionate curator and artist, an eccentric blue haired gal, mourning the loss of her mother.
Tommi decides that the only way she'll cope is if she finds h

...more

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Nov 22, 2017 Stewart Tame rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Full disclosure: I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

Tommi Grayson works for an art gallery in Dundee, Scotland. She's fierce, independent, and sports bright blue hair. Following her mother's death, she decides to track down her estranged father, which takes her to a remote corner of New Zealand. There she finds relatives she didn't know she had, and more trouble than she knew was possible. Because her family on her father's side isn't, well, human, and her life will never be ...more

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May 29, 2017 Grace rated it really liked it

Actual Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

OH MY GOSH GUYS I LOVED THIS!
It's very different from what I usually read but it was so fun yet very dark!

I feel like this is a perfect book if you're wanting to get into adult urban fantasy but do not know where to start.

Bear in mind that this is not YA, and I don't think I'd classify this as NA tbh but certainly aimed towards the adult aged range.

Tommi Grayson is such a kick ass protagonist and I adore Lorcan with a burning passion!

I do have to give a trigger ...more

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May 06, 2020 Grace rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book was recommended to me and if I’m being honest I wasn’t particularly excited about it. Finally I decided to pick it up and give it a go, and I’m so glad I did...even if it broke my heart!
Maria Lewis is a sassy queen and I stan.

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Oct 07, 2017 Jas rated it really liked it

This story was very fast paced which is definitely what I am in the mood for. I did like Lorcan but I didn't really understand the relationship between him and Tommi. For instance, Tommi said that she at first was angry with him, then annoyed, then she liked him. Tommi was angry with him one time, annoyed twice but kinda liked him throughout the whole book? I do feel like their relationship was a bit forced and I hope it doesn't turn out like Dimitri and Rose from the Vampire Academy series (Tea ...more

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Jan 03, 2016 Anika Claire rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, aussie-authors, fantasy, paranormal, romance

Review posted on Tea in the Treetops review blog in January 2016:

A society of werewolves and other paranormal creatures in Scotland, in New Zealand and around the world – sound a bit familiar? Who’s Afraid? is certainly similar to other paranormal stories in some ways, but has more heart than many I’ve read.

Tommi Grayson lives in Dundee, Scotland. After her mother dies, she decides to seek out her father in New Zealand, believing that her mother fell pregnant after being sexually assaulted. What Review posted on Tea in the Treetops review blog in January 2016:

A society of werewolves and other paranormal creatures in Scotland, in New Zealand and around the world – sound a bit familiar? Who’s Afraid? is certainly similar to other paranormal stories in some ways, but has more heart than many I’ve read.

Tommi Grayson lives in Dundee, Scotland. After her mother dies, she decides to seek out her father in New Zealand, believing that her mother fell pregnant after being sexually assaulted. What she finds there is not at all what she expected – a hostile wolf pack and her own awakening as a powerful werewolf.

When Lorcan appears as her mentor and guide, she accepts him rather quickly and begins her training. After the initial action in New Zealand, the story really slows through the middle of the book with plenty of info-dumping and explanations that didn’t really work in dialogue. Thankfully things take a few interesting turns and get a lot more exciting before the end. There is a slow-burning and rather delicious romance in this book, and I also loved the local touches with both Kiwi and Scottish slang, and the odd word in Maori.

Tommi is an interesting character – having been an independent career woman and fighter, realising her werewolf heritage really throws her off-balance. One thing that is very refreshing about this story is that there are real and lasting consequences from events that happen, and both Tommi and the people around her are noticeably affected by them. There are no holds barred with the violence – things get pretty grisly!

I had plenty of questions through the story, mostly relating to the Treize and their power over the supernatural world. Where do they live? The discussion about other supernatural creatures was kind of glossed over so we may know that ghouls and things exist, but nothing about them. I’m assuming the werewolf lore will be coming in the next installment.

I believe Maria is already working on the next book in this series and I can’t wait to see how Tommi develops her abilities next. ...more

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Dec 13, 2015 Ju Transcendancing rated it liked it

Shelves: review-copy, fantasy, awesome-female-protagonist, awwc-2016, pub-2016, paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy

An eARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Great cover and awesome title! Urban fantasy from an Australian author - I am SO there! Lots to like about this book, the friendships are great, Tommi is a fantastic protagonist who experiences her story realistically and so she comes alive in my reading of her. I really like lots of the relationships in the book – friendships and casual romance, the lead in to the ‘big’ romance and it’s realistic complicatedness ...more

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Jan 15, 2016 Crystal Oros rated it it was amazing

Werewolves are one of my many favourite mythical creatures so it's no wonder this book captivated me like it did. I couldn't help but be amazed at how the author managed to blend in street art, music and the colourful parts of everyday life so effortlessly. Tommi isn't your typical everyday woman & neither is her name, this book takes you on such a journey and I truly enjoyed how Tommi came across as such a feminine character and yet so powerfully adaptable. She has some sass about her but not t ...more

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Jan 11, 2016 Tiffany rated it it was amazing

It was BLOODY AMAZING!!!! I LOOOVVVEEEDD THIS BOOK!

Click on the link below to view a Q&A with the author and the chance to win 1 of 5 signed copies of the book!

http://www.tiffanybooks.com/home/whos...

A REVIEW ON MY BLOG IS COMING SOON! ...more

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Feb 02, 2017 Jeann (Happy Indulgence) rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal-uf

3.5 stars

Tommi Grayson is a refreshing, kickass heroine who shows that you don't have to perfect to be an inspiring role model. She's dealing with grief from losing her mum, has a potty mouth and often has impulse control and anger management issues. Yet her wit, soul and caring nature made me really connect to her as a heroine.

What I was really glad to see about Tommi, was her biracial heritage with a Maori and Scottish background. This is heavily ingrained in her personality and it was inter 3.5 stars

Tommi Grayson is a refreshing, kickass heroine who shows that you don't have to perfect to be an inspiring role model. She's dealing with grief from losing her mum, has a potty mouth and often has impulse control and anger management issues. Yet her wit, soul and caring nature made me really connect to her as a heroine.

What I was really glad to see about Tommi, was her biracial heritage with a Maori and Scottish background. This is heavily ingrained in her personality and it was interesting seeing how both sides lead to her nature. I loved how she visited New Zealand at the start of the book with her curiosity in finding out who her dad was. With most werewolf and paranormal books set in the US, I appreciated the New Zealand setting.

However, I've been made aware of the Maori representation in the book being problematic, particularly where her half-brother Steven is portrayed as villain. While I'm not the authority on this subject, I could definitely see how it could be interpreted that way and I wish the New Zealand scenes were longer.

Most of the book is set in Scotland, but there weren't that many Scottish references in this setting. Tommi's life with her best friend Mari gets disrupted when the ancient and mysterious Lorcan follows her to town and adopts the role as her trainer and mentor. I loved how Tommi constantly rebelled against him, not accepting how some strange man would come in and suddenly dictate what she should and shouldn't do. The feminism was strong in this novel which I liked.

The werewolf mythology ingrained in the Ithi tribe, the Praetorian Guard and Custodians secret society and the different paranormal species was something I really enjoyed about the novel. There was never any info dumping and it was told in an interesting way, while still keeping the novel fast paced and action packed.

Having read many paranormal novels, I did find some tropes to be rather predictable, such as the mysterious watcher who appears, the special snowflake heroine and the ensuing romance. Despite that, Who's Afraid was a fast paced, feminist werewolf romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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May 13, 2017 Emily rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017, authors-i-have-met

'Who's Afraid?' by Maria Lewis is an adult urban fantasy that follows blue haired, 22 year old, Art gallery curator Tommi Grayson. After her mum dies, Tommi and her friends (Mari and Joss) attempt to find out who her dad is. This leads her to New Zealand, where she finds out who her dad is, and that she is a werewolf.

Maria Lewis has done an amazing job in her debut novel. I love how she has incorporated heaps of pop culture references, as well as a strong feminist viewpoint. Both of these help 'Who's Afraid?' by Maria Lewis is an adult urban fantasy that follows blue haired, 22 year old, Art gallery curator Tommi Grayson. After her mum dies, Tommi and her friends (Mari and Joss) attempt to find out who her dad is. This leads her to New Zealand, where she finds out who her dad is, and that she is a werewolf.

Maria Lewis has done an amazing job in her debut novel. I love how she has incorporated heaps of pop culture references, as well as a strong feminist viewpoint. Both of these help to build the story and Tommi's character - proving that she has always been a strong, independent, lone wolf. I really like the discussion of rape and sexual assault, and how it has long term effects. I also like how Maria talks about sexual attraction, tension, and relationships. (view spoiler)

Maria has created very realistic characters, yet also mixes in the supernatural - I really like how the dominate supernatural creature is the werewolf, with the Gollum-like vampires taking the back seat. Another main character is the Praetorian Guard turned Custodian, Lorcan (view spoiler). Lorcan is sent by the Treize (who, in a way, are a supernatural government) to help Tommi learn about being a werewolf.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Jan 09, 2016 Tonile {My Cup and Chaucer} rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016-release

This post originally appeared at: http://mycupandchaucer.com/whos-afrai....

Welcome to the first book review of 2016. Hooray! While I can’t promise to review every book I read this year, I’m hoping to review at least 50%. There’s another 2016 resolution for you. Honestly I couldn’t not (soz, double negative) review Maria Lewis’s debut novel Who's Afraid?Who’s Afraid?, which hit shelves earlier this week. Prior to this week, I’d met Maria a couple of times and we have a handful of mutual friends i This post originally appeared at: http://mycupandchaucer.com/whos-afrai....

Welcome to the first book review of 2016. Hooray! While I can’t promise to review every book I read this year, I’m hoping to review at least 50%. There’s another 2016 resolution for you. Honestly I couldn’t not (soz, double negative) review Maria Lewis’s debut novel Who's Afraid?Who’s Afraid?, which hit shelves earlier this week. Prior to this week, I’d met Maria a couple of times and we have a handful of mutual friends in Sydney, plus I bloody love supporting Australian debut novels. ‘Twas really a no-brainer.

Tommi Grayson is a woman on a mission. After the sudden and unexpected passing of her mother, she leaves her home in Scotland and embarks on a journey to New Zealand in the hope of finding her biological father. Her mother never spoke of her father, and when she died she took the identity of Tommi’s father with her. Tommi, having undertaken some online investigative work to find her paternal needle in a haystack, has an idea of who she is looking for when she sets off, but she’s approaching the trip with caution; the story of her conception doesn’t feature consent, if you catch my drift. Little does Tommi know that consensual sex is only the start of the issues meeting her biological family uncovers.

Now, spoiler alert: Who’s Afraid? is an urban fantasy novel. If you didn’t know that and don’t want to know more about the story, stop reading here. I’m not going to give away massive spoilers, but it’s fairly common knowledge that Tommi’s trip to New Zealand releases a side of Tommi that has remained dormant up to this point. Tommi is a werewolf. She’s an incredibly powerful and strong werewolf, a trait she inherited from her father’s bloodline. Her family history is complicated, in a word, and for as much as her true nature comes as a shock to her, so too does her existence come as a shock to her newfound relatives. Not everyone takes kindly to her appearance, and Tommi escapes, barely, to quickly return to Scotland, a rescue mission largely possible due to the involvement of Tommi’s enigmatic guardian, Lorcan.

Lewis has created a rich and complex paranormal world, and many questions that both Tommi and the readers have are answered by Lorcan. Discovering the supernatural world along with Tommi is one of the most enjoyable parts of Who’s Afraid?, so I won’t go into detail here and spoil the fun. It’s worth noting, though, that in some cases in paranormal world-building, the author creates contrived situations where lengthy explanations are provided by one character. In other cases, authors slowly reveal important information in short and sharp conversation sequences. Lewis writes well beyond the world-building abilities of a debut novelist, and happily provides the reader with the latter.

While reading Who’s Afraid?, it can be hard at times to not picture Lewis herself as Tommi. With her bright hair and kickass spirit, Lewis, like Tommi, is a strong, brave, and admirable woman. Tommi is a heroine that paranormal fiction needed; an independent mess of a woman who is entirely relatable as she deals with absolutely impossible situations. Lewis defied original publication suggestions and refused to whitewash her heroine, instead fiercely choosing to hold onto her biracial protagonist. Instead of playing it safe and setting the novel in Australia, she listened to the advice of another author and set it overseas to broaden its international appeal. I’ve noticed a couple of Goodreads reviews that list this as a fault, albeit a minor one, of the novel, but I disagree. Lewis is driven and determined to succeed, and with potentially four more novels to follow Tommi’s journey, increasing the possibility of international interest is a wise move. With that said, the launch of Who’s Afraid? coincided with the Australian premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, and his media team were curious about the #WhosAfraid hashtag that trended higher than #TheHatefulEight on premiere night. The outcome? Tarantino now has a copy of Who’s Afraid?. (Shit yeah he does!) I don’t think getting attention for Tommi, whether here or overseas, will be an issue.

Buzz books are brilliant when they meet expectations, and even better when they exceed expectations. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Tommi, and I wish Lewis, her wonderful agent, and her fab publisher Hachette all the luck in the world with this one. For Lewis, the future looks as bright as one of Tommi’s fresh dye jobs. ...more

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Jan 14, 2016 ⭐Aimee⭐ rated it really liked it

Shelves: sent-from-publishers, read-in-2016

I received a copy of Who’s Afraid? to review from Hachette New Zealand. This is Maria Lewis’s debut novel and the first book is a series.

I hardly ever read books that are set in New Zealand. Even thought Tommi is only there for a couple of chapters (I think) it was nice to be able to read about places I’ve actually visited.

I think the last time I read a book about werewolves was the Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater and I didn’t really like them. The best book in that series was Sinner bec I received a copy of Who’s Afraid? to review from Hachette New Zealand. This is Maria Lewis’s debut novel and the first book is a series.

I hardly ever read books that are set in New Zealand. Even thought Tommi is only there for a couple of chapters (I think) it was nice to be able to read about places I’ve actually visited.

I think the last time I read a book about werewolves was the Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater and I didn’t really like them. The best book in that series was Sinner because it had more Cole and hardly any Sam. Who’s Afraid? was so much better than I was expecting. I don’t have much luck with werewolf stories but I think I’ve finally stumbled across a good one.

Tommi is such a great character. She’s strong, independent, funny and brave. When she finds out about her father’s side of the family, things go from an awkward situation to something straight out of a nightmare but Tommi manages to escape and somehow keep her sanity in the face of unbelievable truths.

Then she meets Lorcan, someone who has been sent to guide her. He’s kind of a mystery and seemed angry at the start but as I kept reading I found myself liking him. He seemed like he was keeping something big from Tommi but I wasn’t that something to be what it was.

The characters in this book were all really good. I liked Tommi and Lorcan more because they were in the book more than Mari, Kane and Joss but I still liked the others and wish they were in it a bit more.

The villain in Who’s Afraid? was really disturbing. I have no idea why he felt the way he did about Tommi because it was so many kinds of wrong. I was go happy when she was able to surprise him in the warehouse. The way he treated women was so annoying. If I could have reached into the book and punched him in the face for how he talked to his sister and treated Tommi I would. I can’t stand men like that.

I think this has to be the best werewolf book I’ve read in a long time. It had a lot more going on than a woman finding out about her family and what that means for her and her future. I can’t wait to find out what’s next for Tommi. ...more

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Jan 18, 2016 Shaz X rated it liked it

Shelves: ebooks, netgalley, hatchette

Who’s Afraid? Follows the journey of Tommi Grayson. After a trip to New Zealand in search of her non-existent father she discovers that she’s a werewolf and a very powerful one at that, thanks to her his lineage. We watch her struggles through this with the guidance of an immortal called Loren.

Tommi is a strong female character which is usually good right? However, I had a lot of trouble liking her. She works for an art gallery in her ‘normal’ life and arranges exhibitions for local artists. Her ...more

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Jul 06, 2016 Romance Readers Retreat rated it it was amazing

4.5 Stars

I am always up for trying a new Urban Fantasy series and it's been awhile since I read a really well written one with werewolves so I was quite intrigued by Who's Afraid? by Maria Lewis. The lead character, Tommi travels from Scotland to New Zealand after the death of her mother, in the hopes of finding her father. When she arrives she finds out her father had died only a few weeks earlier, but is able to meet her extended and very eclectic (moderately crazy) family. If that isn't eno ...more

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Feb 06, 2016 Alan Baxter rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror, urban-fantasy

If Buffy was a werewolf she'd still only be Tommi Grayson's sidekick. Who's Afraid? is a smart, snappy, blistering urban fantasy with a kick-ass protagonist. It wears its influences proudly and is heaps of fun. It's clearly the setup for a series and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes from here. I have a feeling it's going to get darker! ...more

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About Maria Lewis

Maria Lewis

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Maria Lewis is a an author, screenwriter, and film curator from Australia. Getting her start as a police reporter at her local newspaper when she was a teenager, her writing on pop culture has appeared in publications such as The Guardian, New York Post, Empire Magazine, Penthouse, Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily and Sunday Telegraph, Junkee and many more. A former segment producer, writer and pr ...more