I enjoyed the book but could have done with a little less detail in some of the more gruesome scenes. Should have known as his Mr. Slaughter was pretty dark too. ( )

It wasn't perfect but I couldn't stop listening. I was ready for it to end when it did but I mostly loved the whole book. ( )

An indomitable WWII secret agent--who also happens to be a werewolf--gives a bunch of Nazis what-for. What's not to like? ( )

Every author has their bad book. Originally, with McCammon, I thought it was [b:Gone South|11549|Gone South|Robert McCammon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340796970s/11549.jpg|16692257], but I'm just a few books away from rereading that one, so I'll reserve judgement on it for now. Then, up until lately, I was convinced it was [b:The Five|10189558|The Five|Robert McCammon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327896424s/10189558.jpg|15088657]. That was a book that just kind of left me cold.

Then, I read The Wolf's Hour and, unless the Michael Corbett series turns out to be a bust, I think I can guarantee this dog is his worst.

Is it a WW II novel? Is it a James Bond type spy novel? Is it a werewolf novel? Who knows? The basic plot is set in WW II (though, when a Nazi only allowed Gallatin to eat with plastic utensils--approximately six years before they were invented--I lost a lot of confidence in the story). There's Bond-style stuff going on, with Gallatin bedding more than his fair share of women throughout the novel, and him sneaking around doing spy-type stuff.

And, the werewolf side of things? No. I'm actually going to say, despite the title, that this really isn't a werewolf novel. Don't go in expecting that--like I did--because you'll be sorely disappointed--like I was. McCammon fakes you into believing this is a wolf novel but giving you a painfully stretched out backstory of Gallatin's first years as a wolf when he was just a boy. But, strip that away (and you can, because it adds exactly zero to the main plot), then you have a few sections where you're treated to the same bone-cracking, the same spine contracting, the same fang-baring, then Gallatin goes off and sniffs something or kills a squirrel and eats it.

When it comes to the ultimate showdown with the various villains in the novel--and believe me, they seem to just crawl out of the woodwork so that Gallatin can take them all on--in virtually every case, he resists turning into a wolf, or flat out doesn't even consider it.

It's like renting a porn movie and they all resist the temptation of sex, or completely forget it and go play Scrabble or something.

And the worst part is, every time McCammon does bring out the wolf, it's very obvious that he could have found a non-wolf solution.

So, I think in the end, McCammon reeeeeaallly wanted to write a WW II novel, but then thought, aw shit, I'm known as horror guy now. I better find some sort of horror elem-- wait a minute! I'll make my spy guy a werewolf!

For all my bashing, honestly, somewhere in this bloated 600-page mess is a lean, muscular and entertaining 300-page novel. And that's the only reason there's two stars up there instead of one.

But as it stands? Yeah, I literally had to talk myself into continuing. ( )

"What is the soul of a lycanthrope in the eyes of God?"

This is so much more than a werewolf story. We follow Michael Gallatin, the tortured protagonist of this wonderful novel, from his tragic and violent childhood to his coming of age in a band of werewolves and finally through his adventures as an uniquely skilled spy for the Allies in World War 2.

Part coming of age novel, part traditional horror story, part thrilling and atmospheric historical spy thriller---it excels at all three. I found the spy story angle thrilling as I rushed through the pages just as much as I felt Michael's pain as he suffered the inevitable existential crisis at trying to find his place in the universe, straddling both worlds and the ever slippery and relativistic concepts of good and evil. The historical elements were completely believable. I felt the cold of those forests and the historical aspects were completely convincing.

What I loved about this novel is that the werewolf element never overwhelms the story. It is always the story of Michael Gallatin, the man. His lycanthropy is just an aspect of this tremendously interesting character---and this novel is full of interesting characters, both good and evil.

Fantastic story start to finish. Five stars and the highest possible recommendation.

( )