The Howl

By Kiss and Claw #1

by Melissa Haag

Book 1 of the By Kiss and Claws series

Most parents want their kids to grow up to be something respectable like a doctor or a lawyer. My mom wants me to become a man-eating ho. I, Eliana Barchim, vow to never follow in my mother’s footsteps.

Eliana’s determination to never be the succubus her mother wants her to be starts faltering when her mother unexpectedly interferes. It doesn’t help that a local shifter with a cute dimple is trying to help cheer Eliana up when her best and only friend leaves town. With her control slipping, Eliana resorts to something drastic to get rid of her mom.

However, Eliana’s fear of ruining the one person she can trust to stand by her side might be the thing that brings her carefully composed control to its knees. Nothing can withstand a starving succubus’s hunger.

Warning: Contains a reluctant succubus, a well-meaning mom who thinks monogamy is a dirty word, and a brownie who can't stop touching himself. Recommended for mature teen readers and up.

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Urban Fantasy, New Adult

310 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2019

About the author

I love to write! Sharing the worlds I've created is beyond amazing . Want to read a book for free? Check out my website at:
http://melissahaag.com/free-ebook/

Connect with me on:
https://twitter.com/MelissaHaag
https://www.facebook.com/author.MelissaHaag

I also write adult books under the pen name M.J. Haag. Happy reading!

Reviews

[naz]

update dec 7:
i enjoyed it but i wish there were more interactions between eliana and fenris.. and we didn't even get to witness a kiss?? i'm upset.

____________________________________
i have to wait a year for fenris???? pls don't do this to me

[Annette]

I was really excited to start this book! Eliana was one of my favorite characters from the Fury trilogy and I’m really glad Haag decided that Eliana deserves her own story. So when I found my paperback in the mailbox last night when I came home after the Christmas party we had at work, I already knew what I was gonna read today: The Howl, the first book in the Of Kiss and Claw trilogy telling Eliana’s story.

And what a wonderful and pleasant read was this! Being in Eliana’s head is everything I had hoped it would be and it’s such a joy watching her grow and learn, although, not much growing and learning is going on in this book, but I’m sure that will come. Eliana’s character and species clearly don’t match at all. And that totally sucks for Eliana, but it makes for a very interesting read, a read about balancing all those different sides of yourself, about fighting expectations and trying to break free from the grip others have on us.

Besides Eliana’s struggles there are also a few subplots. They didn’t really play a big part in this book, but I’m fairly sure we’re gonna see far more of those in the next book. What I really love about Haag’s stories is how she uses cases and mystery to help her characters grow and develop. I don’t doubt that Ashlyn’s disappearance will lead to an amazing adventure and will help Eliana to grow and discover who she wants to be.

And then there’s Fenris. He’s absolutely and totally the kind of boyfriend I’d wanna have. He’s understanding, patient (and Eliana doesn’t even know half how patient he is), respectful and honest. He’s the calm in the storm, a rock Eliana can build upon and a shoulder she can lean and cry on. I totally understand why Eliana tries to keep her distance, but I really really can’t wait to see them falling more and more for each other.

Because I totally don’t doubt that will happen. I can’t wait for the next book. I’m all ready!

[Jo]

Loved seeing Eliana start to come into her own and how amazing is Fenris?! Can't wait to see what happens next!

Favorite Quote:
“Not now, she-devil,” I snapped. “You can ruin my life some more tomorrow. I’ve hit my quota for the day.”

[Teri]

3.75 ish stars

[Sara Oxton]

The Howl by Melissa Haag a five-star read with bite, this is number one in the by kiss and claw series and well what a start, it will warm so much more than your heart. This led us to the next story so well, the whole will they, won’t they between Eliana and Fenris will keep you hooked, and simply Eliana while she struggles to become who she truly is, will astound you, there is something about her struggle that bites back just like she should. I must say though, a certain little Brownie called Piepen adds a little sparkle to this story, no pun intended honest. This was simply sublime like the succubus that is the main character, but she isn’t the only one in this story and that is what makes this sublime.

[Genieinachanelbottle]

I love The Howl Melissa Haag has taken  side characters that stole the show in her Of Fates and Furies series N made a spin-off series into a star studded headliner full of suspense, drama, magic N mystery!  


This story is a Howling hot N sugary sweet treat with a healthy dose of humor a sprinkle of sass N a delicious dash of snark! Eliana N Fennris are my new guilty pleasure I'm absolutely addicted, the level of passion waiting to be unleashed between them is hella fierce! 


I never thought I would liked a Succubus but I love Eliana she is a reluctant one not wanting to be anything like her seriously messed up mother that wants her daughter  to be a Super Sex Vamp lol Eliana is constantly fighting her nature to protect others, she is the cutest little Rebel ever, loving, whip smart, sassy N caring a gentle beauty who can be a total badass when she needs to be!  


Fennris is deep fried sexy on a stick dubbe dipped in chocolatey goodness, he's a wickedly funny Werewolf, who is marvelously mischievous, protective, N an absolute sweetheart, get ready to fall hard for UR new book boyfriend! I really hope we get some of his POV in the next book! 


#TeamFeliana4TheWin #WayHotWerewolf #SweetLittleSuccubus 


5 Sizzling Stars all the way I'm ravenous for more of the By Kiss and Claw series! 

💋💋🐺

[BlueBug]

This book brings us back to Uttira for Eliana's story. She's a succubus whose only wish is to be as much unlike her mother as possible and to escape the caged city of Uttira as quickly as possible. But as each day goes by, her cravings get stronger, and being around Fenris isn't helping. He's her werewolf friend and the only person she trusts inside this bubble. But there's more to this story than that, and you'll have to read it to find out what.

Eliana isn't the only one with problems. Fenris has many unspoken ones, too. How the two wade through this time together is an intricate dance that holds moments that are heartbreaking and moments of comic relief that had me laughing out loud. It was fun getting back to Uttira and seeing this small, hemmed-in world from another character's point of view, one that had me sympathizing with her in so many ways. She didn't ask for her fate, and I can't imagine living as she is being forced to live. She's such a sweet person with a kind heart, and yet she's expected to live in a fairly opposite manner.

This was such a great book and easy to read. The author's characters are so colorful and a joy to get to know. I don't know how she's going to resolve Eliana's situation, but I look forward to finding out where the author takes her next.

[Booklovingmummy]

This book is delicious!!

The Howl takes us back into the world of Uttira where we get to follow Eliana and Fernis in their journey as they try to navigate between the life they want to lead and the life others are trying to control for them.
These characters are wonderful and you feel like you are living through what they are as their emotions are so strong but there are lots of humour, tension, frustration and action thrown into the mix to keep you on your toes, especially from a little cheeky adolescent brownie who will have you laughing out loud and shocking you with his behaviours. The world and characters that @author.melissahaag has created are brilliant and I can’t wait to read more of the By Kiss and Claw series! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Jennifer]

Insert heart eye emoji here! I am in love with The Howl. This book gave me all the feels. This is a spin off series and I suggest you read the other series to get the full experience, but you can read this on it's own.

I am in love with Fenris. I think I always have been. He is a great character. I have a huge girl crush on Eliana. Her personality and thoughts are refreshing. Her actions are admirable as well.

Let's just say I cannot wait for book 2. The humor in this book makes this book a five star. Seriously one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Add in the serious undertones and the sweet desserts and well YUM!

Ratings:
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Heat: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

[Jeannie]

"The Howl" by Melissa Haag is absolutely amazing!! Eliana's story is so intriguing and Melissa does a fabulous job in her creation of everything that Eliana ends up going through. Eliana, as an reluctant succubus, goes through a lot in this book and it's so emotional. She is one strong character and works so hard to fight her natural cravings. OMG the brownie, Piepen is hilarious. He definitely brought the story some great humor. It was a joy to read more from the world author, Melissa Haag had created for the series, "Fates and Fury". I'm excited for more of Eliana's story and all her friends.

[Aneesa Bhayat]

Book 1 in the new series and off to a great start!
A succubus that despises feeding of others? Weird right, well that's Eliana. She'll rather starve herself (and in the process kill herself) than feeding off others, but shifter Fenris and his gorgeous bod and beautiful personality are making this really difficult.
Eliana needs to show her teachers that she can feed before she can earn her "mark" and leave Uttira, but that's proving quite difficult!

This book had me in stitches as Eliana has to convince her bombshell mother (who comes up with all sorts of ways to get her to feed off sexual energy that are quite hilarious) that she can manage on her own. But can she?

[L.B.]

I love Melissa Haag normally. I find Uttira and the world she's built with these supernatural YA beings fascinating. I do not love that this story has little/no plot and when it does pick up, the book ends. I am fine with cliffhangers, but there needs to be some kind of arc. I waited a few days to write this review because I was frustrated and disappointed. There's so much potential with a succubus who doesn't want to be a succubus and a wolf willing to help. And ... that's all I can say because that's pretty much all that there is; it's too flat to call this a book. Wait for the next in the series and read them at once, where I hope there will be a complete story.

[Ira]

I love all of Melissa Haag's books though her Fury series is my favorite to date. Well, I should say - it was my favorite. At the moment it is a toss-up between Megan and Eliana's story. Howl is simply amazing and an absolute pleasure to read!

I fell in love with sweet tackle hugging Eliana, our sweet little succubus who doesn't want to act like a true succubus for fear of hurting her victims, right from the start in the Fates and Furies books and reading her own story now in The Howl - sigh- I love it. This book is once again keeping me on my toes with so much happening left and right, with so many awesome characters and an amazing story to boot. The whole time I didn't know whether I was rather upset with all those meddling well-meaning (Are they? All of them?) grown-ups and the way they try to run (and ruin) Eliana's life. I would have loved to hug her and I was furious and sad and seriously, I wanted so much to kick soneone's behind - yep. As I said, this book kept me on my toes.

Fenris, the werewolf, was always there, having Eliana's back and trying to help her and to support her and I loved to see that they slowly, very slowly found their way to each other. Okay, it is very slowly, so don't expect too much from these two in this book yet but I'm sure that their time will come, all signs are there!
The minor characters though, well, those are not as shy as our main characters ... Don't get me started on Eliana's mother but there's also Piepen... Piepen is hilarious, shameless and all in all a great addition - at least on paper and safely hidden in this book. I'm pretty sure that he'd drive me crazy if I'd have to deal with him in person in real life!

Amazing characters, a great story and a wonderful start to a new series - I can't wait to read the next book!

[Roxanne]

Team Fenris

The Howl was so good! In the Fates and Furies part of the series we only get to see a glimpse of what Eliana goes through as a teenage succubus. By Kiss and Claw is going to give us so much more. Fenris has been attracted to Eliana from a carefully composed distance since she moved to Uttira. Now that Megan and Oanen are in New York (this takes place during Fury Freed) he is finally able to capitalize on the friendship and spend the much desired time with her, but will it be too much for Eliana to handle? Can't wait for book 2, The Hunt!

[Sharon Hughson]

Meet the Sweet Reluctant Succubus

Eliana and Fenris are great characters I fell in love with while reading OF FATE AND FURIES. I was excited to get immersed in their story.
Sadly, this book falls short of Haag’s usual 5-star genius. Not because of the characters, though. I understand Eliana so much better now, and I still love her. That’s the reason this no- problem-resolved story still earned four stars from me.
This is much racier than Haag’s other YA books. I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone under 16 who doesn’t mind enough sexual innuendo to make anyone blush.

[Dayzee]

🐺 Fun, hilarious and flirty! 🐺
Neve a dull moment at Uttira School for the
supernaturals!! Anything goes! and then add your stubborn unique mother up on your business! Whats a hesitant succubus to do!? Eliana doesn’t want to feed the way the school wants her too and she will fight it to the end. While her best friend is miles away she finds comfort on Fenris an old friend who she thought she knew. Loved the friendship this two developed! slow burn romance and cant wait for it to blossom! If you love LOL moments, friends to lovers this one is for you!

[Anonymous reader]

Oh Fenris ❤

I enjoyed this book so much. I could feel Eliana's frustration and self loathing. I loved how Fenris, who has his own issues, shows Eliana what kind of friend he is. This book is part of the world Of Fates and Furies series so we get to catch up with characters we fell in love with in those books. What I loved most about this book was seeing Eliana grow and become a strong young woman who is able to stand up for herself. I'm excited to see where the the author takes the characters in the next book.

[Kata]

I really liked Eliana in Fury although she was a side character. So with impatience I reached for her story and ..... what a disappointment. Because it turned out that, Eliana from Fury disappeared and was replaced by this weak, immature and shallow person. With a complete lack of any responsibility (neither during the "stealing" of food nor during the "loss - disappearance" of a friend). The whole book is weak and boring, all the time the same, almost nothing happened. And if something did happen, it made me like Elian less and less.

[Pam Foster]

Fantastic read!!!

The Howl is the story of Eliana - the reluctant teen succubus trapped in a small town full of supernatural beings. I’ve never read a story were the main character is a succubus, I enjoyed Eliana’s inner dialogue and felt her struggle to be heard and understood by the adults in her life. Piepen is a hilarious addition to the story and I hope he continues to torture poor Eliana in book two lol. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book...this gets 5 stars from me!

[Heather De Los Reyes]

I feel so bad for Eliana

One would think being a supernatural creature would be the coolest thing ever but not for Eliana because she refuses to embrace what she is. I like that she doesnt want to allow anyone to pressure her to be anyone she is not or do do the things they expect her to even though she doesnt want to. Fenris has been a favorite of mine for some time, now he is even more. Great cliffhanger at the end which hadls me ready for the next book.

[Bonnie Schuster]

I found this a little sweet and a little sad! A very troubled young girl and afraid of herself! Also very misunderstood, from the wicked Council member to her Interfering Mother and classmates. Except a very patient boy who understands a little of what she’s going through and wants to be there for her and love her!
Yes, it’s a cliff hanger! Hurry up and bring out the next book! The Hunt!
4 1/2 stars!

[Michelle Graves]

It's not what I expected at all but hopefully it will get much better with the next book. I completely understand where she coming from when everyone won't stop pushing their will on then and even though it was a accident with her human friend. Fernis is awesome and I think he cares 2 much with her as a mate but is 2 scared 2 tell anyone about how he truly feels. Thank God he talked sum sense in the brownie. Lol

[Gemma]

Really good book

I've been waiting a whole year for this and it didn't disappoint, Brilliant read. Loved Eliana and Fenris from the fated and furies series and couldn't wait for the two to have their own book. The book was every good and showed that just because a person might be a supernatural all teenagers have problems with real problems. Can't wait for the next in the series.

[A.J. Skelly]

I am torn about this book. I LOVE the two main characters. Their chemistry and their particular mythological issues are clever, creative, and really well thought out. However. Piepen kind of killed things for me. He was just a little too much. He added a naughty-dirty vibe to the story that I didn't care for. I would have preferred his character to be a little less...horny.
I'd love to hear more about our hero and heroine, but less from horny brownies.

[Nicole Garcia]

Addicted. Obsessed. Enthralled.

The only fix to this addiction is more of Melissa’s writing. The Howl is a story that has you obsessed with Fenris and Eliana, and enthralled with their chaotic, tension-burning journey. Not to mention Piepen. Poor, horny Piepen. You’ll want to drown in this story and never come up again. It’s that captivating.

[Tamara]

Eliana is lost at first while her best friend Megan is away with Oanen. Fenris...is not only a wolf and a friend, but succubus Eliana is attracted to HIM. Add in a missing friend and a mother who always thinks she knows best and prepare yourself for a fantastic, entertaining story that will make you laugh aloud. I can't wait for more!

[Rebecca]

So Addicting

This book 😍 I absolutely love Melissa Haag’s writing . This is the third series I’ve read from her and just like the others I couldn’t put it down. I really want Elaina and ferris to be gather I think she’s has faded made but he doesn’t want to scare her people need to be honest and I need to know that happens next .

[Nikki]

I can’t believe how ridiculously good this book was. I couldn’t put it down and it just kept getting better and better the more I got into the story. I think I really may have enjoyed it even more than Fury Frayed. I honestly can’t tell if I want a drool-worthy hug from Fenris or book 2 more.

[Maggie]

I honestly could NOT set this one down!!! Everytime I tried, I would pick it back up! It was amazing! A completely new take, and true to style, Melissa Haag packed it with humor. It is already a new favorite, and I am not ashamed to admit I've already read it again!

[Stephanie Smith]

I'm hooked

I have read all of the "Judgement of 6" and their companion books. I have just blown thru the "Fury" series. And now this... I'm feeling a little like one of Eliana's leftovers over here. Lol. Keep them coming, girl!!!

You're killing it!