AustLit

After the death of her mother, twenty-two-year-old woman Tommi Grayson with bright blue hair flies across the world from Dundee in Scotland to New Zealand to confront the past: she has never known anything about her father except he raped her mother.

Shortly after arriving on the North Island, she notices she can run much faster than normal, but thinks this odd at the worst. Then, one fateful day and without much of a plan she takes a taxi to a house she believes is where her father lives. The front yard is overgrown, but most striking are the pou whenau, expertly carved Maori totem poles. She is drawn to the house where she pretends to be interested in buying a carving. Eventually, she is invited in and discovers Jonah, her father, is dead. Looking around the room, though, she realises that the Ihi family members have her eyes. She admits to her true motives and is eventually scrutinised by an old man who announces: ‘She is who she says. […] She is Jonah’s daughter. She is almost, most definitely, a werewolf.’ At this, she tries to fight her way out of the house – unsuccessfully.

Meanwhile, in New York, the incredibly handsome Lorcan is sent by a special supernatural organisation called the Treize to find out what he can about Tommi, who has only just come to their attention. They are concerned that a new Alpha has not yet been selected for the Ihi pack, the strongest in New Zealand, and they don’t know Tommi’s intentions. On Lorcan’s judgement, she is to either be assisted to become a kahuatairingi (lone wolf) – or 'put down'.

Meanwhile, back in New Zealand, Tommi has been chained up in a shed. She is visited by several of the Ihi family members, one of whom challenges her mother’s story. The worst is a visit by one of her brothers, Steven, who tries to rape her. This triggers a partial transformation – much to Steven’s surprise – and she manages to fight her way out and flees.

Terrified, she runs through the forest and jumps from a cliff into the sea, safe for the time at least. At first, she enjoys the power her transformation gives her, and even kills a deer for food – although she surprisingly still has human thoughts. Eventually, she makes her way cautiously back to her hotel and is confronted by Lorcan whom she senses is dangerous. When the chance arises, she escapes him too. Intent on returning to Scotland, she realises she will not make it back before turning to a werewolf on the plane. In the meantime, then, she takes herself to a deserted island on Lake Taupo where she is unlikely to harm anyone. It is here Lorcan finds her and eventually she returns to Scotland unharmed and a bit more knowledgeable about what is happening to her.

Lorcan accompanies her, helping Tommi to adjust and avoid harming her friends. However, she is not happy when he inveigles himself into the lives of her friends and even manages to move into the spare room with Tommi and her flatmates. He gradually wins her trust, though, and they even starts to fall for each other. Unexpectedly, the peace is shattered one night when they arrive home and Steven is in the flat. Then, during the opening night of an art exhibition organised by Tommi, Steven kidnaps two of her friends. The scene is set for a dangerous showdown…

This novel is marketed for new adults and contains content likely to appeal to older teens and twenty-something adults who love paranormal romance and stories about werewolves.

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