Lonely Werewolf Girl: Addicting

Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar

Lonely Werewolf Girl is a thick, intimidating tome but when you actually start reading, it goes down smoothly. What stands out most in this novel is Martin Millar’s writing style. Not only does he use simple language and set a quick pace, but his chapters are very short and most of them end on just the right beat. Millar doesn’t spend much time describing unnecessary details, instead focusing on the motivations, action, and dialog of the characters. Millar is someone who manages to break the “show don’t tell” rule and make it work.

As for the story itself, Millar surrounds his comedy with tragic and deviant characters such as an anorexic protagonist and cross-dressing werewolves. The plot starts out simple — an outcast is on the run from her family — and soon spirals into a complex tale of politics that later evolves into a supernatural sitcom of sorts.

Lonely Werewolf Girl was an addicting read and easy to follow despite the huge cast of characters. Each character has a distinct voice and remain consistent throughout the entire novel. My only complaint is that some of these characters aren’t as sympathetic as I’d like (you can only take so much whining) — although Millar does make them compelling.

While Millar gives us closure at the end, there are still some threads left open for a sequel. Lonely Werewolf Girl isn’t exactly the great literary novel, but it is a funny and enjoyable read that remains exciting throughout. Anyone can pick it up, but don’t let the page count fool you — you’ll finish Lonely Werewolf Girl in no time.

FanLit thanks Charles Tan from Bibliophile Stalker for contributing this guest review.