Customer Reviews

Ivy Cole And the Moon

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love wolves and I love the paranormal but I usually find the werewolf story tiresome - tortured soul controlled by the moon who goes around depressing everybody when he's in human form and ripping throats out of everybody he comes across when he's a werewolf. Boring.

Ivy Cole and the Moon is nothing like that. Ivy went through her change when she was a child and has worked through all that. Instead she uses her condition to cull undesirables from the human pack. Not a bad use in my opinion. But law enforcement officials in Doe Springs don't agree. When they go on the hunt for the Devil of Doe Springs hijinx ensue.

I enjoyed the whole thing. I enjoyed a werewolf who accepted her condition and even saw some use in it. I enjoyed her power and her intelligence. I also enjoyed the canine aspect - Rex, the terrier was the best character in the book as far as I'm concerned - and the true hero of the story. Read the book just so you can meet him, if anything.

I found the werewolf lore fascinating, along with the werewolf interaction.

I do think the author skipped around from viewpoint to viewpoint a little too much. And I felt there were still some questions that needed to be answered. And Melvin, the love interest, needed to get that stick out of his butt. The bad guy was thoroughly repulsive and evil - there was nothing redemptive in him. Gloria, the sheriff, was a beautiful character, so was Tee. I think the one thing I would have liked to have seen differently was letting Auf, wolf-hybrid, get more paper time with action scenes.

Now you know, I look forward to the sequel to this novel. I sure hope Rex is in it. Don't know if it will be worth reading without Rex.

This is not your typical werewolf romance. In fact, this is not paranormal romance, this is more urban fantasy. I liked the authors writing. I didn't mind the change in point of view. I enjoyed all the characters except the main character, Ivy. This woman is not to be messed with. The author is very thorough in her background on wolves and well she should be since she spent a year observing real wolves. It certainly paid off in this book. If you're looking for romance, this is not your book. If you're looking for something different and a little on the dark side, then you should enjoy it. I for one found it very entertaining.

I decided to read this book based on the fact it was a finalist for the IPPY awards for best first horror novel by a new author. I read the book straight through - something I rarely do anymore. Ivy is a different werewolf - one more like the ancient wolf strain introduced to her in the aftermath of the intial werewolf attack she endured on Christmas Eve as a child in Germany. This is a great read with likeable, eccentric characters, setting and dialogue which capture the region, unexpected twists, and the real treat - intelligent. And if you don't have an opinion about wolves - you may find you do by the end. I anxiously await the sequel!!

Ivy Cole and the Moon by Gina Farago is not the usual type of book I would pick up on my own. On the surface it seems to be of the horror genre, not one of my favorites. But this 'werewolf' book is far more than it seems on the surface. I was immediately struck by the beauty of the structure as the writer weaved her tale with flashbacks and revelations about the characters. The setting, familar to me as my own backyard, only added to my interest in the story and the names of the characters were right for the area and for the story. The fascinating theme of the story lifts the book far beyond genre fiction.

If you're looking for an interesting read with some chills but also with some depth and style, think about Ivy Cole and the Moon.

Ivy Cole believes in an eye for an eye. If someone wrongs her, she has the physical ability to enact revenge when the first full moon rises following the affront, which she does. Ivy leaves behind the mutilated remains of those she has judged and executed as a warning to others

In the North Carolina Mountains, Sheriff Hubbard and Deputy Melvin Sanders investigate the violent murder of Clifford Hughes with the early evidence pointing towards Ivy as she and the victim had a dispute just before he was found brutally murdered. As the two cops find further proof that Ivy killed Clifford, they begin to also think she is not human as a person could not have done the deeds they believe she has performed. Still to his chagrin Melvin is attracted to Ivy; so his heart and soul prays she is not the culprit while his brain believes not only she is but that she is a shapeshifter. However, soon new proof arises that indicate a second deadlier werewolf is also residing in the mountains, who might just be a rogue killer seeking Ivy.

IVY COLE AND THE MOON is a fantastic werewolf thriller starring a moralistic heroine who provides her own brand of justice to those people whom she believes is evil. Ivy is a fascinating protagonist as she goes about her monthly business while Appalachia will never seem the same as the vivid chilling descriptions of the geography (and the kills) add to the overall haunting feel of doom coming to Ivy. This powerful supernatural tale with subtle references to Hollywood insures readers will know howling in the Tarheel state has nothing to do with Dean Smith and all to do with Gina Farago proving werewolves are on the prowl.

Harriet Klausner

If you are looking for a new outlook on the 'bad guy', then this is the book for you! Ivy Cole is a cold-blooded killer that you will absolutely love. This book was cleaverly written in a way that the reader is swept away into Ivy's world and you will be right there by her side experiencing everything with her. Seeing everything, hearing everything, and feeling everything. You will get lost in Doe Springs, fearful that the warewolves are right around the corner when the moon is full. Beware!

"Ivy Cole and the Moon" is a very interesting novel. You can't help but like the title character even if she is a werewolf with a taste for blood. This is just a fun, well-researched book. It is perfect for the Halloween season! If you like murder mysteries, you will like this book.

To say this was a page-turner is a definite understatement. You don't have to be an animal lover to appreciate the detail and descriptions Farago so eloquently gives throughout the story. I enjoyed being surprised and caught off guard with the suspense and drama, because it was not expected and kept me guessing throughout the novel. Farago has mastered the difficult task of keeping her readers captivated and intrigued by this story which jumps off the page at you. There is a little bit of Ivy in all of us and I look forward to the next installment.

Gina Farago has a knack for creating characters and creating believable dialogue and banter amongst her characters. This is such a nice breath of fresh air and spin on a classic subgenre of horror. Her work is a little slice of American Gothic Applepie ala mode and would be appropriate for people in love with the Charlaine Harris series.
The book sits on my shelf and has already been recommended to many people. Many of whom express the same love for this book as I have. PLease buy this book today. You won't be disappointed.

Was a good read, enjoyed the positive spin on the werewolf lore. Starts off at a decent pace, enough for you to get comfortable with the characters and settings, There were a few slow spots but quickly picked up speed as you read on. The ending was good too, makes you wonder if there will be another book coming out.