The Wereling: Prey

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The Wereling:  Prey
Stephen Cole
2004

The Summary
As the sequel to Wounded, Prey continues chronicling the shared story of Tom and Kate as they search for a cure.  Now, in search of a mystic named Jicaque, they have arrived in New York and become embroiled in a new mystery.

Teenagers have begun disappearing off the streets, and the werewolf community is in upheaval.

Turns out that Takapa is back - and his plans are more nefarious than ever.

The Good
Prey has many of the same elements of its predecessor:  an enjoyable story, a host of great characters, and a fast-pace.  Stephen Cole has taken the best of his previous novel and simply transplanted it into his sequel.

Cole, however, does create some new characters for his novel.  Besides the band of adorable little street urchins Tom and Kate inadvertently join, they meet a quirky doctor who claims she can cure the werewolf disease - and her claims add an interesting twist to Tom's and Kate's already complicated lives.

The Bad
By incorporating many of the same elements, this novel leaves you with a sinking sensation of familiarity - and it makes you think, time and again, "I've been here before."  I wouldn't say this is a deal breaker, but I find it predictable.

And, sadly, Blood doesn't play such a crucial role in Cole's novel this time around.

He and his accent will be missed.

The Ugly
This is not a gentle book.  Violence and cruelty will leave their mark on the most innocent and endearing characters of this novel.