Coyote Non Grata by Lena Austin
Apr. 19th, 2009 01:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reviews_and_ramblings
First of all, sorry if I seem shallow, but have you seen that cover? This is the classical example of a very simple cover that catch my eyes. It's nothing of exceptional, probably it's a stock photo, but guys, I like it! It's perfect for the story and it's very nice.And now let's talk about this novella. Rody is a coyote shifter who is kicked out his pack for a very stupid reason... actually at first, the fact that he is gay, and the only gay inside the pack, is not part of that reason: the pack in which Rody lives is not a mature and progressive pack, like some unbelievable packs of other paranormal romances. The members of the pack live almost all the time in shifted form, and rarely they shift in their human form; when they do that, they are naked both literally than figuratively: they are not used to the human lifestyle, they even have problem to communicate.
So when Rody is kicked out, he directs toward a "human" cabin, knowing that there he will find easy food, since he is wounded and unable to hunt. Rody behaves mostly as a stray dog, stealing food trying to not be catch by the owner of the cabin, but Jeff is too clever to be fooled. A Native American of Comanche heritage, Jeff is aware of the existence of the shifter people, even if he believed they were extinct; so when he finds Rody, he knows who he has in front of him, and it's not "only" a scared coyote.
The relationship between Rody and Jeff start till the beginning respecting some basic rules: Rody is not a leader, he is a beta male who is not used and able to live alone, he needs an alpha male; Jeff is not used to the pack rules, but he has enough character to be that alpha male for Rody. Both Rody than Jeff are gay, so there is no much question on how their relationship will evolve, and truth be told, being both gay it's not even the main reason for that development: Rody is a pack animal, even in human form, and when he finds a man that he can consider a leader, for him it's natural to let the leader have all of him. Their relationship is based more on instinct than feeling.
This is only a novella, and I believe that, if it will have a good welcome from readers, the author is thinking to write more. I would be not against the idea to read more, Rody's character is exactly in the middle between a coyote and a human, and I wouldn't mind to read how his relationship with Jeff will evolve, if he will lean more on his human side, or if he will remain a being in the middle.
http://www.changelingpress.com/index.php?u
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
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no subject
Date: 2009-04-19 04:53 pm (UTC)Oh - that bit really appeals, as it isn't something I've come across much in any fiction. I'm sure I've bookmarked this one (I do like werewolves!), but had I noticed that little snippet, I would have bought it immediately.
Thank you, Elisa!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-19 04:56 pm (UTC)Thanks for the Review
Date: 2009-04-29 01:01 am (UTC)Yes, I do plan to write more in this world. Your comments have actually helped me formulate some of the characterizations. I love it when readers and reviewers do this.
Sorry it took me so long to answer. I've been very ill.
Lena
Re: Thanks for the Review
Date: 2009-04-29 07:27 am (UTC)The Sequel is Coming
Date: 2009-06-20 10:02 am (UTC)Well, it's official. "Wild Thing" has been contracted. While it focuses on another member of the pack, this does weave into the underlying story of the first. I promise, there will be a reason. (wink) While I know the reason, the characters refuse to reveal all to me. (Typical!)
Lena
Re: The Sequel is Coming
Date: 2009-06-20 10:22 am (UTC)