Stray By Rachel Vincent Review

Title: Stray
Author: Rachel Vincent 
Publisher: Mira Books
Publication Date: June 1, 2007

Description:

There are only eight breeding female werecats left...

And I'm one of them.

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

I'd been warned about Strays — werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back... for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever — and whoever — I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays — 'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them...

Review:

I was a little skeptical going into this. Honestly, I was a huge fan of the television show, "True Blood," and after seeing the "werecat" story line in that series fizzle after just a few episodes because of how terrible it was I didn't know if I could get into this series.

I was quickly proven wrong by the fast paced, action packed plot and snarky, smart, female main character. I enjoyed Faythe. She is a well educated werecat who grew up in a Pride full of male cats constantly watching her and telling her what to do. She decides to head off to college to get away from the pressures of being the Alpha's daughter. After 4 years she decides to stay for her Masters until she is attacked on campus and quickly pulled back to her families estate in east Texas. From there she learns about a series of kidnappings of young female werecats and learns she will be staying with her family until the mystery is resolved.

Faythe was a bit of an ass the first 1/2 of the book. She was immature, and impetuous and over the top when it came to displaying her affections for all the wrong guys at all the wrong times. She had this rebel streak that, in my opinion, was a little ridiculous for her age and education level. Honestly I found myself thinking she should have known better every time something bad happens to her in the book. 

The plot was great though. I did feel like parts were a bit overly descriptive but for the first book in a lengthy series it is important to get all the past relationships and settings established so it was understandable.

As we got more into why the tabbies were kidnapped and what was happening to them it unfolded very quickly and was a lot of fun to read. I was on the edge of my seat and was excited to be there. The love interest had some good history and back story but I did feel like she jumped back into a complicated situation too quickly.

Overall, I love it and will be continuing the story sometime in the near future. If you are a person who enjoys paranormal romance/urban fantasy then you will really love this series. I heard they only get better from here and I can't wait to find out!

My Star Rating:

4 out of 5

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