Improbables

by Jonathan Charles Bruce

Abigail Wren's new life fresh out of college is dull, even with her (almost) dream job at the local newspaper. The only real excitement she can get is found between the pages of an endless stream of paranormal romance novels she can't help but love. Then, on a snowy night in December, Abigail catches a glimpse of what could only be described as a werewolf. Enamored with the possibility, her investigation leads her to discover a paranormal population-improbables-harmoniously living in the midst of humanity. Between making eyes at a perpetually grumpy werewolf and hanging out with a vampire with a lust for life (and liquor), Abigail's life takes a shaky step out of the ordinary and into the fantastic. Just outside of the sleepy town of Whitewater, however, a force of rage is building. Born of hate and delusion, a living cataclysm threatens to devour everyone in its path-human or improbable.

Genres: New Adult

336 pages, Paperback

Published January 29, 2016

About the author

Author of Washed Hands, Project Northwoods, and Improbables, Jonathan Bruce began writing what amounted to terrible Star Trek: The Next Generation fan fiction when he was four... provided that you accept that "forcing other people to write what he said" is the same thing as "writing". Although the original manuscripts are lost (or perhaps destroyed), we can rest assured that his prose has improved significantly since then. After high school, he began writing and directing plays which gradually improved depending on whom you ask. He discovered his love of a good fight scene after writing a Dracula knock-off which took a 19th century classic and made it less about Victorian yearning and 300% more about stabbing things in the jugular.

He has a Master's Degree in History, thanks largely to his thesis focusing on MUSIC, a Milwaukee-based school desegregation campaign during the 1960's. He also enjoys discussing/making fun of pop culture of the 20th century and reading books of a non-historical nature. In his off moments, you can catch him writing for fun or making inane movies about nothing in particular.

Reviews

[Alex Kinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Improbables is a third person, supernatural story mostly about one girl, Abigail, and the friends she makes along the way. I don’t want to give too much away because it’s one of those stories that has a plot that’s best discovered as you read instead of summarized in a synopsis.

First of all, I got to the first page and was a little discouraged that it was third person because I’m primarily a romance reader and most of my favorite romances are first person narratives. But I kept reading and the writing was so good and witty that at points I couldn’t put the story down.

I liked this book a lot. In fact, if it becomes a series I intend on reading every single edition and I’m going to list the reasons why below:

Diverse MC:I assume we’ve all seen the hashtags on Twitter. We do indeed need diverse books and this is a diverse book. I’m not going to lie, I saw a pic of the author, Jonathan and I hesitated. Do I really want to read his perspective of a black woman? Yes, I’m a cynic and yes, I’ll still be cynical but Improbables is the exception to my cynicism.

Abigail was smart and had a delightful, sarcastic wit and social awkwardness that I could relate to. She addressed some of the minuscule thoughts and issues that I, as a black woman experience and it led me to wonder how the author was so knowledgable on some of the subjects. What black woman’s brain has he been in? Hopefully not mine.

Weird Shit: I’m cool with the vampers and the werewolves but I enjoyed reading about diverse, imaginative species. (Side Note: I’d be interested to see an illustration of Stevie)

The Parallels: While this book had original elements, at some points it seemed like fanfic (no offense) and at others it seemed like a parody of the more popular paranormal reads that we all know of but it also had it’s own thing. A thing that could be compared to a lot of other things but still existed in its own little thing. That surely didn’t make sense but basically Improbables may initially seem kinda like a bunch of books that you may have read before but it’s really not.

Now that I’ve talked about what I liked, here’s what I didn’t like:

The Romance: Again, I’m primarily a romance reader and it was just….eh… There wasn’t a ton of development in that area.

Double-Edged Race Sword: I understand the racial resentment Abigail had but sometimes it popped up at the most random times that it did take me out of the story and start to think about the writer’s choices. I think he had good intentions but there were one or two times the racial tension felt slightly unnatural and forced.

Seriously though, try this book. It’s great. Improbables was a well thought out, well-written, entertaining and hopefully thought-provoking novel that deserves a read.

Overall: 5/5
Hawtness: 0/5

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was provided to me by the author and his team in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 3.5/5

Improbables originally sparked my interested due to the fact that it is a paranormal romance novel. Paranormal romance novels are what made me fall in love with reading way back when I was an angst ridden pre-teen. I mean we all had one of those phases right? What I enjoyed about this book was that our main character, Abigail, is pretty relateable. She’s fresh out of college looking to start a career in journalism and in her free time she enjoys reading books about the supernatural. However unlike someone characters in this genre, Abigail isn’t a Mary Sue nor is she the clumsy girl who needs constant saving. That trope is found a lot in paranormal romance novels so it was refreshing to find such a headstrong, diverse character. I feel like parts of her personality, and what make her Abigail, will resonate with many readers. I will say though, that she isn’t necessarily a 100% likable character, she definitely had some moments where she grated on my nerves.

There was one aspect of the novel that I wasn’t too keen about. As stated, this is a paranormal romance novel. There are vampires, werewolves, secret societies, etc, but at the same time the author seems to make fun of all the things that make the genre. At times I couldn’t tell if Bruce was trying to innocently poke fun at the genre, and certain popular books, or if this was intended to be a satire novel. I did find the supernatural elements of the story to be original and very interesting, I just wasn’t too crazy over the fact that the book seemed to make a joke out of the genre which is why I took off half a star. I don’t know if others felt that way or not, but that’s just my opinion.

As for the reason why I took off a whole star. I was kind of disappointed with the lack of romance. I mean it is a paranormal romance novel after all, so my expectations where high in that regard. I felt like it was more action than romance. There was some slight tension throughout the novel between Marley, the female vampire, and Abigail but Abigail seemed pretty oblivious to it. I just wanted something more in terms of romance.

I will say that the writing was very good! I enjoyed the dialogue towards the end of the book. To me, it’s always important that when you have a book written in third person, especially a romance novel, the dialogue needs to be strong. There were some funny and witty moments which I really enjoyed and kept the book interesting.

I would recommend this to readers who are looking for a little more diversity in paranormal books.

[Jada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I'm not even sure where to begin. I thoroughly enjoyed Improbables by Jonathan Charles Bruce from beginning to end. I found the main character, Abigail, to be amusing, endearing, relatable, witty, and refreshing. I loved that she was a kick a$$, ask questions later type of woman. And I also loved that she had vulnerabilities and insecurities despite her strength. She was human, and so much more than the sum of her parts. The supporting characters were well fleshed out, and contributed much to the story, with the exception of one or two who could have been removed and it would not have changed the overall tale. I enjoyed the originality of both the plot, and some of the characters (Cat!). And the literary tropes (or mocking thereof)! I absolutely giggled out loud at the allusions to many known YA/Paranormal Romance stories. Hilarious! The book ended well with sufficient resolution, but not just a pat ending with everything tied up all neat with a bow. There were sufficient mysteries within the main story that left some questions open - just enough to intrigue, but not so many to annoy. Those unanswered bits DO make me want to read the next book. Thank you, Mr. Bruce for your great contribution to the genre!

[Amy Hannagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not finish this book, as it was just not my type reading material. It in no way reflects the writing, which was fantastic. I just did not get grabbed by the story telling style. Someone looking for a highbrow read that will be fun and make you think should enjoy this book. Again I will say the writing is beautiful and the author took a lot of time in the prose but it was just not for me.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find more of my reviews at my blog Books and Stars.

3.5 stars

**I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way.**

After freshly finishing up a degree in journalism, Abigail Wren takes a job in the small town of Whitewater. Though she's a heavy fantasy and paranormal reader, she doesn't expect anything to happen in the small town...until she discovers the paranormal books she loves to read are, in some aspects, real. But as she investigates more about the world, something dark begins forming, and Abigail finds herself caught up in something beyond her world...

I immediately latched onto Abigail's character at the beginning. As a student studying English at the post-secondary level, I completely got what Abigail meant about English major friends saying they read fantasy or paranormal books as a "distraction," and how they would always be able to apply a critical lens to it afterwards to undermine paranormal or fantasy books. It's demoralizing, so it was so nice to read about a character who understood the feeling. I also particularly liked her take on the world, how she would have an overreactive imagination. Her character was so very well-written, and her reaction to her discovery of the Improbables is the closest to what mine would be. I really liked her personality, her spunk, her methods to handling sticky situations both paranormal and human, everything. Plus, she was 100% human, nothing special, which made her even more relatable.

The world of the Improbables was quite creative in a very realistic way. Improbables as simply people who just happen to have a supernatural ability--it's like a gene, nothing spectacular, just normal. It felt like obsessing over Improbables was as ridiculous as obsessing over people with different coloured eyes: not common, but not unheard of, and nothing to ogle at. It really gave me a different perspective of things. However, I did think the discovery of world seemed to fall right into Abigail's hands a little too easily, and her acceptance of it too. There wasn't some big reveal or shock, but I think that was part of the point, that there sometimes just isn't anything particular interesting about being paranormal.

The plot was interesting to follow, but didn't quite pick up until mid-way through the book. Though it didn't bother me too much, it was noticeable, and I felt like I was constantly waiting for something exciting to happen in the beginning. I also would have liked a bit more information about the world of the Improbables, as well as the other Improbable characters, just because some of them were quite intriguing to read about. What can they do? What do they do to blend into society, if at all?

This book wasn't very heavy on romance, much to my relief. The majority of NA books I've read have all contain a more mature romance aspect to it, so this was such a relief to read and a break in everything I've read. But on the topic of romance, I found this book exceptionally well done in terms of LGBQT. It's done in a very light manner, nothing to make a fuss about--as all real life LGBQT should be. It's not a big deal whether you're straight or gay or transgender, but the world insists on making it a big deal, like how you discover it, or how you reveal it. It's personal, and it shouldn't have to be the shocker we expect it to be! Similarly, the author delved into issues of race, and of the difference between positive and negative work relationships using some very realistic cases. It's sad to think these things are happening to real people, but the way Abigail handed everything was definitely something to admire!

All in all, a very interesting idea mixed with some great social issues! Worth a read if you're looking for something different in terms of paranormal stories!

[Bayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The wolf, facing her, was lost in a black haze save for its yellow eyes and dark-grey muzzle. The haze itself towered upward but ultimately swept behind a body. A human body.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the first book in a really long time that I've read that took an original spin on vampires, werewolves, and anything else supernatural.

Improbables focuses on Abigail Wren, a journalist that moved to a tiny town in Washington because she couldn't get any other job offers anywhere else. There, she finds out that the town's loner is a werewolf. For me, the book was going pretty well up until that point. When Abigail got it in her head to go approach him about his wolfiness. He spilled the beans so fast and easily that it threw me off. Anyone with a secret to keep wouldn't spill it that fast. The author also used one too many twilight references for my preferences. Though, the first part of the book felt more like he is making fun of the genre. He also used many big, technical sounding SAT worthy words that could have been easily switched for a normal word without it sounding repetitive.

That being said, I felt like there was so much that could have been utilized in this book that wasn't. Abigail said she had friends and family although her parents have hardly any dialogue until halfway through the book and one friend (outside of Marley) is mentioned once. There was no connections to her past life, nothing to keep her feeling real. Anyone she claimed to be friends with in college must have completely ditched her behind. Abigail is also, supposedly, a paranormal reader even though it is only mentioned until she discovers the improbables. If the author had taken her experiences with reading paranormal and applying it to how she was going to approach the supernatural in her town then it would have been interesting. Instead, it was just used as a character quirk for a handful of chapters. Also, there is hardly any romance in this book. I am not a reader that needs romance to get into a book. However, the story needs to be detailed and interesting enough to fill that void of something I can cling onto. Since the actual plot took half of the book to actually come into play, there were chapters where nothing happened and I wondered why it was even mentioned in the first place. Abigail had her moments, but a lot of the time I was wondering why she was being such a jerk to people.

The idea was very original and I felt that it could have gone so much better, but it was lacking something to make it truly great. Because it is one of the more original ideas within the paranormal genre I've read in a long time, that is what is bumping up it's rating so much for me.

I would recommend this if you are looking for a light, original paranormal read.

2.5/3 Stars

[Jhanielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was provided a review copy of the novel by the author, Jonathan Charles Bruce, and his team in exchange for an honest review.

It has been so long since the last time I have read a novel that included vampires and werewolves, which is part of the reason why I have accepted to review Improbables - and I have to admit that I am glad that I agreed to read this novel! I did find myself enjoying this book more than I thought I would - probably because it felt a little bit more realistic (?! I don't know how I can explain this point!!). It was also a refreshing read as it is written in the third person - which is a format I feel like I have lacked in my reading as of late.

I loved reading the novel, especially with characters as witty (and awkward) as Abigail, I found myself constantly laughing at the things that transpire in the book. Bruce created three-dimensional characters, who are living and breathing and not some two-dimensional wishy-washy stereotype.

The book also takes on a parodical twist on the paranormal romance tropes - it is simply fantastic, as to how Bruce managed to write a novel with creatures-of-the-night and write it in a way that engages the reader, allowing them to relate to the characters' feelings and point of views. It doesn't take on a YA Paranormal Romance, where the most important aspect of the novel seems to be the love triangle! Furthermore, this book isn't just about romance, or the paranormal, or the heroine saving the day - it discusses more pressing matters than the main character's love interest. No, it talks about what is going on in our society today - from cyberbullying to sexism, to racism. I think it is important for any book to be able to address these social issues - no matter the genre, in a way it is making people aware of the things that are going on around them. So, I appreciate this aspect of the novel.

Overall, I think that Improbables is a great novel and I truly enjoyed reading Abigail and her Improbables friends' stories. If you are looking for a novel in the paranormal genre, I highly recommend that you pick up Improbables by Jonathan Charles Bruce as it is a fantastic story that isn't only about the romance!

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abigail has just finished school with a journalism degree and has moved to the small town of Whitewater. Abigail has always found paranormal romance stories to fit the best with her and discovers there is more to Whitewater than first appears. Those creatures from her stories are alive, along with many others, and live alongside humans and call themselves Improbables. The Improbables live a quiet life but there are others outside of Whitewater that want nothing more than to remove them from the world. Abigail is going to get more than she planned on just by knowing about the Improbables.

I love the paranormal and some romance stories are good without being over the top and that is why I loved Improbables. Abigail is a strong woman that doesn’t need saving. She is very accepting of the Improbables which I think I would have been too after reading so many paranormal stories.

I liked the different creatures and others that you have not heard of, I really would to have learned more about those. I also liked the satirical look at the other paranormal romances on the market. I was laughing away at that.

The only thing that I had a problem with is that the book drug the first half. It took a while to get to the story then it took off. Beyond that I really enjoyed the book and hope that it might be a series. I would love to follow along to the difference characters.

I received Improbables from Ari at Candid Book Reviews for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. The premise was great and very well done but I had a really hard time getting into the story, and then once I was almost there, I had a hard time following the story. There were a lot of pieces that came together skillfully but in the beginning, it was too much to follow. It was also distracting that various characters went off on various rants that had little to do with the rest of the story. Overall, there was a lot of detail and the characters were extremely well written, but it did not feel cohesive until the very end, which wrapped everything up too fast relative to the rest of the story. I felt as if I was finally putting the pieces together in a way that made sense, and then it was over. Now that I have read it once, I may go back and try again, but as a first read, I did not enjoy this book as much as others. That is not to say that Bruce didn't have some fabulous writing. I was very impressed with the style and the thoughts that went into this book, and it was very engaging in certain parts. But overall, it was too busy, and then too rushed for me.

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer : I received an ARC of this book in exchange of a review. Wasn't too sure about this one but it ended up being quite entertaining. It was fun and smart and very 2016 self-aware (or as some may say "woke"). Abigail was a great lead female character, a very realistically portrayed millenial. My second favourite was Winston, and then Cat and Stevie. Marley was ok too, if not a tad too perfect in all her cool heroic badassery. I wish we had gotten to know Collins more, he was the less well developped character IMHO (and the cover is SO misleading!).

Another weak point was also the "explanation" about how the villain got to be and do what he was and did. The "deux ex machina" at the end hinted at something bigger at play, but it felt a bit like a cliff hangery cop out. And for all its pretense to NOT be like other typical paranomal romance book, this one still had to have multiple suitors for the heroine (*eye-roll*) who got caught up into some type of relationship angst (although in this case, it was quite understandable and realistically portrayed).

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Improbables was an absolutely thrilling paranormal book. This book was awesome and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved the story line. It was so original, inventive, and creative. I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Abigail just graduated from college with high honors and got her dream job of being a journalist, just not in a very newsworthy area. While covering a sports event, she sees a wolf and decides to take its picture, only to discover that it wasn't a wolf at all, but rather a werewolf. After confronting the werewolf, she finds out there are more paranormal improbables living in the world among humans. This discovery turns her world upside down and it doesn't stop there. Not all improbables are good in nature, and one in particular is bent on destroying humans and improbables alike with its rage.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really keep be guessing, there was not a down time it just kept getting better. So many different characters you can't get board by them as they are so well written and easy to like. Hard to talk about a lot as not to give anything away, but I like how this was not your I'm in love with a vampire or the wolf is a sex god lol. This was so fresh that it made it great to read. Could not put this down is there more to say to that.

[Levia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had a slow start. Once it was under way it was quite impossible to set down. It was wonderful reading a book about a strong African American woman. This was a happy and sad book with a bit of romance, quirkiness, and fun. The bad guy was pretty obvious from my point of view, but that didn't take away from the story for me. I sincerely hope the author continues this as a series as it would be a fantastic read.
I received this book free for an honest review.