The Last Wolf

This mixed debut evocatively depicts British werewolves in the Adirondacks, but crudely stereotypes the antagonistic relationships among the werewolves of the Pack, the independent shifter werewolves, and humans. Silver Nilsdottir, a disabled runt who was enslaved by the alpha couple of the Pack after her low-ranking partner was exiled, throws in her lot with injured shifter Tiberius Leveraux, hoping to teach him not to be such a “crappy wolf” so they can apply to the Pack for admission as a couple. Vale’s use of physical disability as a status-lowering device is lazy and thoughtless, and the derisive language used to describe Silver’s limitations is disconcerting. Human–wolf culture clash is a humorous highlight, though some scenes feel like set pieces. Sexual encounters are not centered enough in the story for many romance readers, but they strike a hot balance between human and feral. The climactic conflict between the shifters and the Pack werewolves arises and changes the mood too suddenly, and Vale doesn’t let Silver and Ti work as a team in its resolution, missing an opportunity to solidify the sense of coupledom. This is a capable work, but it does little to set up future sequels. (Feb.)