Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison is an entertaining blend of werewolf horror, family tension, and relationship drama. While I may not be the book‘s target audience, I was entertained by Harrison’s great writing and ability to keep me guessing.
A young woman in need of a transformation finds herself in touch with the animal inside in this gripping, incisive novel from the author of Cackle and The Return.
Rory Morris isn’t thrilled to be moving back to her hometown, even if it is temporary. There are bad memories there. But her twin sister, Scarlett, is pregnant, estranged from the baby’s father, and needs support, so Rory returns to the place she thought she’d put in her rearview. After a night out at a bar where she runs into an old almost-flame, she hits a large animal with her car. And when she gets out to investigate, she’s attacked.
Rory survives, miraculously, but life begins to look and feel different. She’s unnaturally strong, with an aversion to silver–and suddenly the moon has her in its thrall. She’s changing into someone else–something else, maybe even a monster. But does that mean she’s putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside of her the key to acceptance?
Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison set out to what it was supposed to do, entertain, though it may not deliver the intense scares one might expect from a werewolf story. While I found myself hoping for a more chilling and terrifying story, the balance Harrison strikes between Rory’s transformation into a werewolf and the family drama is well done.
Admittedly, I may not be the novel’s intended audience, its tone and themes seemed a bit more targeted towards those interested in interpersonal and romantic drama. I feel if this book were to be adapted for screen, I could envision it as a series reminiscent of those previously aired on the CW. This is far from a negative thing–in fact, the book’s lightly angsty vibe, similar to Teen Wolf, is likely what made it such a hit with its target readers.
One of Such Sharp Teeth‘s strongest aspects is the ability to keep me guessing. Harrison had me turning the pages as I tried to figure out the mysteries surrounding Rory’s attack and who might know her secret. However, the only real story critique I have is how easily Rory accepts her new reality of being a werewolf. The quick to accept her reality felt a bit jarring and pulled me out of the story at times.
Such Sharp Teeth does shine as a solid werewolf story with compelling family drama and relationship struggles. Rachel Harrison may not of had a 39-year-old dude in mind when crafting this novel, but it was still an entertaining read either way. Definitely would recommend for fans of angsty dramas such as Teen Wolf or even Vampire Diaries.
Such Sharp Teeth is available at bookstores everywhere from Berkley. The audiobook, narrated by Kristen Sieh, is available at Libro.fm!
