Glen Duncan (1) (1965–)

The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan is a roller coaster ride of violence, romance, action and adventure. While outlining the protocols, manners and habits of the werewolf, Duncan delivers a story of a 200 year old werewolf, weary of it all and ready to die, until he is given a reason to fight for his survival.

Relying on many of the tried and true myths of werewolf-vampire hostility, wooden stakes, silver bullets, and the lure of the full moon, the author also adds an erotic earthiness that some show more may find offensive but I felt helped to pull the reader into Jake’s lonely, persecuted life. A killer that isn’t always comfortable in the role that nature has given him, Jake journals his life in a wry and cynical manner and adds touches of philosophical musings on the nature of his existence.

This is a page turner that will have the reader laughing at one moment, being grossed out the next, and at times actually feeling empathy for this strange, angst-ridden creature. Raw, visceral, and erotic, this will not be a book for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it’s original, adult take on the werewolf legend. show less

Completely ridiculous, yet so well written I didn't care. I understood Jake. I loved Jake and I wanted him to survive. For 200 years, he's lived as a lonely, rich, sex-driven man 353 days a year. But oh, those other 12 days. The delicious details and the amazing twist revealed in the 2nd half were so good that I easily overlooked some of the over-the-top plotting (did we really need vampires thrown into the mix?!). If you've not tried literary horror, then you need to smack yourself on your show more wrist and give this a go. Too much fun! show less

“Jake Marlowe is a monster…”

Jake is also very wealthy, smokes like a fiend, has a sex addiction and is a philanthropist.
Once a month, he becomes a werewolf and since he’s been doing this for over 200 years, he is showing signs of depression and weariness.
Over the years, werewolves have been systematically tracked down and exterminated and Jake suddenly finds himself, the last of his kind. He has become a “trophy”, a tool between factions. After someone close to him is brutally show more murdered, Jake realizes he wants to survive, but the odds are quickly dwindling.
This is a terrific update to the werewolf legend: loaded with wry humor, sex and violence galore, all presented in a smart fast-paced narrative. This might not be for all readers, but if you’re willing to take a stroll on the dark side, this should fit the bill. show less

True to form, By Blood We Live is not for the faint of heart or easily disturbed. As in the other two books, the descriptions of sex and violence are extremely graphic. Mr. Duncan leaves nothing to the imagination, especially when it comes to the monthly transformation and the intense build-up to it.

Yet, for all its explicit scenes of rough sex and gory murder scenes, By Blood We Live is a love story. Love is the driving force of the novel, whether it is of lost loves, future loves, or show more parental love. Talulla is still suffering from Jake’s death, and his memory is the measurement she uses for all relationships. In everything she does, deliberately or subconsciously, she is always seeking to make him proud and live up to his legacy. Then there are her children. Aged three now, she will never forgive herself for losing her son immediately upon his birth and constantly upbraids herself for her lack of protection. There is no doubt that her love for her twins is as deep as it is fierce. Finally, there is the increasing obsession she has with Remshi. She might be a legendary creature with a penchant for evisceration and vivisection, but her heart longs for the peace and comfort a loving relationship brings to everyone.

That Talulla and Remshi are living out an ancient prophecy is just a portion of the story. The introduction of the newest human danger, the Vatican-based Christian cult bent on unmasking the creatures and disposing of them, sets the stage for an entirely new battle. While the vampires and the werewolves will always oppose each other, the world in which they skirmish is definitely changing, and it is in this new world in which Talulla must find a way to negotiate her pack to safety. Given how the story itself ends, one can only hope Mr. Duncan has at least one more novel to write to close out Talulla’s story properly.

There is something incredibly hypnotic about the entire story. Talulla’s stream-of-consciousness rants are heartbreaking in the depths of emotion they show. Her mindset when fully transformed is equally mesmerizing because of the singular focus of the Wolf. In spite of all her outward toughness, Talulla remains the lost girl she was when Jake finds her, and her self-doubt is overwhelming at times. These very human attributes help balance the violence and destruction of which she is more than capable of inflicting on anyone who may get in her way.

By Blood We Live continues to explore the meaning of being human. For all her ferocity, Talulla is incredibly fragile, and she struggles to balance her brittle feelings with the fierce killer she becomes. That she both craves and abhors her behavior on every full moon underscores her continued conscience and is proof that she has not lost her humanity entirely. Then again, her capacity for love is further proof that she is not the monster she believes herself to be. The guilt she carries around with her – guilt at surviving when Jake is gone, guilt at her son’s kidnapping, guilt at her preoccupation with something other than her pack, guilt at the people who have been bitten or killed helping and protecting her – is brutal, but it is what helps keep her tied to her humanity when the Wolf wants nothing more than for her to shed her last vestiges of her past and fully embrace what she has become. For, no matter how often she changes and kills, as long as she continues to feel guilty about it, Talulla will always be human.

The third novel in The Last Werewolf series continues Talulla’s fascinating story. Her personal battles against the Wolf, as well as the battles she fights on behalf of her loved ones, remain provocative and intense. Mr. Duncan’s writing maintains its edginess, finding beauty in the grotesque, and capturing the elegance behind the mental anguish that comes with self-doubt and self-loathing. By Blood We Live is every bit as bloody and riveting as the first two novels, and fans can only hope that we will continue to follow Talulla through her personal existential crisis and her battle for survival. show less