Leaving the Pack By David J O'Brien

Released: May 2014
ISBN: 9781311587855
ASIN: B00KCYJA78
Kindle US, Kindle UK
Smashwords
Apple, Kobo, Nook

LEAVING THE PACK
Series: Silver Nights Trilogy, #1
Author: David J. O'Brien
Length: Novel
Genre: Urban Horror
Price: $2.99

WHAT THE REVIEWERS ARE SAYING

Amazon US - Amazon UK - Goodreads

Nobody believes in werewolves.

That's just what Paul McHew and his friends are counting on.

They and their kind roam our city streets: a race of people from whom the terrible legend stems; now living among us invisibly after centuries of persecution through fear and ignorance. Superficially Caucasian but physiologically very different, with lunar rhythms so strong that during the three days of the full moon they are almost completely controlled by their hormonal instincts, you might have cursed them as just another group of brawling youths or drunken gang-bangers. Now at the point of extinction, if they are to survive their existence must remain restricted to mere stories and legend, but, paradoxically, they also must marry outside their society in order to persist.

The responsibility for negotiating this knife-edge is given to Paul, who runs the streets with his friends during the full moon, keeping them out of real trouble and its resultant difficult questions. Having succeeded for years, he finds his real test of leadership comes when he meets Susan, a potential life-mate, to whom he will have to reveal his true identity if he is ever to leave his pack.

10% of the author's royalties will be donated to WWF, the World Wildlife Fund.

Listen to the author read chapter one

Excerpt

“God, I love this town!” Paul McHew said. He gazed from the window of his sixth-floor apartment out across the city and the foaming sea beyond. The sun was setting and the rooftops of the neighboring buildings were cast in shadow, their grime and decrepit state obscured. Farther off, the skyscrapers that housed the downtown banks and financial institutions were bathed in the last crimson rays of sunlight. Behind the city, sitting just below the eastern horizon, a pale yellow moon was slowly rising up over the sea into the darkening sky.

Unseen, between the run-down constructions that spread out from Paul’s ancient redbrick building and the better kept houses and shops a mile off, the Wilneff River ran south, narrow and fast as it rushed from the mountains far behind his loft apartment. It turned east to the sea and was now visible as a dark line devoid of street lights, widening as it flowed into the harbor. It separated the tall business district on the south bank from the lower warehouses and factories that spread out from the riverside docks on the north side. These merged with houses near the shore, a few miles north of his vantage point and closer to the river before it curved east, while south of downtown, shopping malls turned to apartment blocks and suburban housing estates nearer the coast.

Clad only in black jeans, he’d opened the chipped and rotting wooden window frame to feel the warm wind rush across the skin of his muscular torso and dry the last of the water droplets from the shower he’d just taken, which clung to the thick mat of coarse hair that covered his body. The gusting air played with his damp, shoulder-length hair as it forced its way into the loft, but it showed little tendency to take up much more moisture. It was already almost saturated. Paul could smell the rain that was on its way. The clouds were quickly building up as the air temperature dropped after a sultry day.

On the brick windowsill, a few white flakes of paint had fallen from the frame, as they did every time he slid up the window. As he deeply inhaled the humid breeze, the bits were blown onto the corrugated iron roof of a dilapidated lean-to in the dingy back yard five floors below.

The sight of the rising moon exhilarated him. As he put his head and torso outside the window and let out a long, ear-piercing howl, he felt his heartbeat begin to quicken, ever so slightly. When he could exhale no more, he banged the glass above his head and grinned.

He gulped another lungful of air, sucking in the feeling of the coming night, and reveled in the excitement of what would happen when the sun died completely.

It had been many years since his first foray into the silver light that would soon bathe the streets before him. Uncountable nights under the full moon, striding up and down each street and thoroughfare, exploring every alley and back parking lot, he’d spent the hours of darkness searching out sensations. He’d seen so many sights, snatches of lives, experienced a host of situations, heard unutterable whispers, caught looks and felt touches from a multitude of inhabitants and new arrivals to the city, that some would have forgotten most of them. Paul kept them all within easy reach of his memory, catalogued chronologically, as if his strolls through the city were a story – one which kept him orientated within its walls. Some things had changed over time, as even in eternal cities they are wont to.

Top Reviews

interesting take on the werewolf mythology
It was great to read a book that was different from the rest of the genre. A werewolf that doesn't actually turn into a wolf- clever, well written. I hope there's a sequel eventually. ~ Terry B, Amazon

• • •

Quality writing and a great story
An interesting take on the werewolf legend, it gives the reader plenty of opportunities to re-think the scores of paranormal romances out there, and lends a new voice to the “pack” . . . There are stories that you finish, and, well, that's it. It was good and then it was over. Then there are the stories and the characters that stay with you. Happily, I can include Leaving the Pack in this second category. It is a good thing this is so. . . there are two more stories in the trilogy. . . a good thing I want some more! ~ Kate, Amazon

• • •

Fascinated by the out of the ordinary! Well Put together!
This book was entirely new to me in terms of genre , typically do not go for fantasy books seeing as how many of them took off in pop culture . But this novel was far more different than the ones that are like it such as "Twillight" . The plot of the story kept my attention for the most part I read the novel in my leisure time but became more captivated by the creativity of the author. As a college student this really took me away from my regular readings and put in somewhat of an escape when I took time out to read this book. I would definitely recommend this piece to anyone who has not familiarized themselves with such fantasy novels. With the expansion of these types of writings it has the potential to take off and possibly be part of the mainstream culture as long as it is kept original. In my personal opinion this is "On the edge of your seat" type reading. ~ Fritz Paillant, Amazon

• • •

Different but good
I worried that this book might be too much fantasy for my tastes, but I absolutely enjoyed every page. Once I became connected to Paul's character (about midway through Chapt 1), I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I was rooting for the characters till the end and I felt very connected and invested in them.
Yes, it's about werewolves. But it's not. It's a realistic and artfully told story about people and relationships. The werewolf thing? It really just serves to up the intrigue and sexiness. And yes, it's a good bit sexy. ~ Kaitlyn E. Wante, Amazon

• • •

Excellent read, I'd highly recommend this book.
I found this book extremely enjoyable. The characters were very realistic, you really become immersed in their world.
The plot was exciting and fast paced, I was turning the pages to find out what happened next. I am really looking forward to the next chapter of this action packed trilogy. ~ Sheila, Goodreads

• • •

This is the best and most believeable werewolf novel
This is the best and most believeable werewolf novel this reader has ever read! It makes sense that some people can be more affected by the full moon than others. The characters were wonderful and the reader will enjoy getting to meet the entire pack, as well as Susan's best friend Jenny. The pack is very clever at getting one another out of trouble when something really bad happens to a pack member. This novel has some very high points as well as some very low points, but they all make it an excellent read! This reader would recommend anyone, even those not into paranormal, to read this novel, it is so well and cleverly written. ~ Belinda Wilson, Amazon

• • •

Different
This story is a little different than most shifter books I have read. They way O'Brien writes this story and the characters makes it believable. He gives just enough detail to keep you interested and wanting more. This is the perfect start to a trilogy. I look forward to reading more. If you've not read this, you should! ~ minde1397, Amazon

• • •

Leaving the Pack will appeal to a variety of readers. As a horror romance with urban-gothic undertones, David hits it on the first strike with a gritty thriller running right along side an emotional romance. This story is more than romantic suspense, more than horror with a minor love interest, more than a contemporary paranormal. It's all those things, and then some. David uses his poetic voice to pull readers into the story quickly through instant imagery which continues throughout the story. His characters are very well developed, leaving you wondering, do werewolves really walk among us? And that's the point of a really good story . . . to make you wonder, even as you close the book, right? Leaving the Pack is a fabulous start of the Silver Nights Trilogy. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us in book two. ~ Heart of Fiction

• • •

What a great book, well written and had you captivated by the characters from the first few pages , loved the story and didn't want it to end .cant wait for the next one. ~ Karen McGregor, Amazon

• • •

This fast-paced novel is utterly compelling from the first sentence. Well written; the science grounds this book about werewolves firmly in reality. ~ Sinead Burt, Goodreads

• • •

This is the story of a huge romance that must unfold with the reality of horror diluted by the truth. David O’Brien paces the conflict perfectly and it all reads like a light-hearted, passionate romance tinged with some darkness. It seems like a wonderful beginning to this horror-romance trilogy and it has just the right amount of passion and intrigue to keep the reader avidly flipping the pages! Nicely done, David O’Brien – looking forward to the next novel! ~ Viviane Crystal, Goodreads

• • •

Amazing story great characters. It catches your attention from the very beginning. Nothing to do with others novel about werewolves. This one is much better. It is a must. ~ Angela, Goodreads

• • •

This story is a little different than most shifter books I have read. They way O’Brien writes this story and the characters makes it believable. He gives just enough detail to keep you interested and wanting more. This is the perfect start to a trilogy. I look forward to reading more. If you’ve not read this, you should! ~ Bittersweet Book Reviews, Goodreads

HOME • AUTHORS • BOOKS • SUBMISSIONS • NEWSLETTER • TIRGEARR