Book Review: Strays

Genre: YA Paranormal

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Werewolves are struggling to survive. Jaze and those who remain of his pack build an Academy to protect the children who endured the genocide. Alex and Cassie arrive as orphans after losing everyone they love. The twins find themselves in a new world where they have to survive the politics and dangers of being a werewolf in a world that wants them destroyed. But outside forces have found them. Can Alex protect his sister and survive the attacks of a man who wants them dead and will stop at nothing to see it happen?

Plot (5 stars): This was such a fun story. A lot of it was cliche, but there was enough originality to it that I really enjoyed it. I mean, a school for the paranormal - it's done all over the book world. Of course, this doesn't mean I love it any less. I even wrote a book with this same idea in it. It's a werewolf school though. Yeah! I think it reminded me more of the school from X-Men though. The humans know werewolves exist and they tried to live together in peace, but something scared the humans so the humans went for what they normally go for - genocide. Many families were torn apart and children left without parents. Those children needed to go somewhere and this secret school for Werewolf children was born. The reader follows Alex, who is in his 6th year at the school, as he tries to break all the borders. Amidst all this, someone keeps trying to kill Cassie and Alex and they don't care who else they hurt to get to them. By the end of the book, the reader still doesn't know why. I'm assuming we find out in the second book, which is why this isn't a 4. Hopefully I'm right.

Characters (4 stars): I loved all the characters. You had your funny ones like Pip and Amos. Your intimidating ones like Vance and Boris. Your dreamy ones like Jericho and Jaze. But then you had Cassie. Cassie is Alex's twin sister so she's one of the main characters. She's a fourteen year old girl who cries about everything and is portrayed in a way that kept making me imagine her as a seven year old girl. I kept hoping she'd leap up and attack someone and be strong, but she didn't! At all! Ever in this book. Maybe she does better in the next book. Alex coddles her, so I can see why she is that way, but it made me crazy. For that reason, and only that reason, I'm giving this category 4 stars.

Writing (4 stars): The author can write. This is a self-published book and there were quite a few writing errors scattered throughout the book. It's hard to get them all when self publishing, especially if you can't afford a professional editor, but I really wish this one had less. It wasn't so much that it was too distracting though. The story kept moving and I was able to figure out everything. The author is a great writer though. I could see everything clearly in my head and loved it.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book. I'm debating buying the second one, but I have so many to review that I'm hesitant. :) Overall, I'm giving this book 4 Stars! ****

If you are interested in purchasing your own copy of this book, feel free to click THIS LINK to Amazon.

Author: Cheree Alsop is an award-winning, best-selling author and the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with joy and laughter. She is married to her best friend, Michael, the light of her life and her soulmate who shares her dreams and inspires her by reading the first drafts of each book. Cheree is a fulltime author and mother, which is much more fun than work! She enjoys reading, riding her motorcycle on warm nights, and playing with her twins while planning her next book. She is also a bass player for their rock band, Alien Landslide.

Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, plan great adventures, and never stop dreaming. For more information, visit her website HERE.