Half Wild by Sally Green

 

Half Wild by Sally Green

Pub: 3/24/2015

Pgs: 400

ARC received by Edelweiss

 

I almost didn’t like this novel, but then bam Green made me do a double take.  The readers find Nathan out on the lamb, trying to survive being hunted by the Hunters and Black Witches.  His friend Gabrielle has been missing so he is relatively alone, along with adjusting to his 3 gifts he received by the end of the third novel.  One gift that is predominately being shown to him is the ability to change into an animal; much like his father and that is scaring him.  Just when he thinks he only has to worry about Hunters and figure out a way to save Annalise from Mercury without killing his father, someone shows up claiming that he know where Gabrielle is and the Fairborn, and that his boss would like a trade.  Nathan is then whisked to a Black witch, who basically lets him know that there will be a rebellion and he would be the main player in that rebellion to bring down the White Witches and the Hunters, along with Black Witches who do not want to see a change in the crazy discriminatory world Nathan belongs to.

After that things actually got interesting.  It seems like the beginning would be interesting because the first book begged you to pay attention, begged you to love it, and you just did; however, in the second book Half Wild I found myself completely bored until about the time Nathan makes out with Gabrielle—wicked hot—also confusing because during this time they are also trying to rescue Annalise, and Nathan has pretty much bored the audience to death for about 35% just describing how awesome she is and her skin… kind of creepy… Now before I was miffed that the author had spent so much time boring me to death instead of giving me more awesomeness, much like the first book; however, by the end I am glad she made me dislike the mention of Annalise—to quote a fellow Goodreads reader “Eff Annalise.”  Now only does Nathan end up saving the girl but there is some decent time spent with his father and learning about the past.  I do have to say, people in the story HATE Marcus, but I really actually love him.  He is the perfect crazy mixed with logic, and any character that has logic in this story is by far a favorite of mine.  By the end of the book I wanted to actually keep reading, the high I received after reading the incredible first book, Half Bad, was back and I was in love with the series again. 

What works for this novel is that this branches away from regular supernatural stories out there that try to depict hierarchies/caste systems that exist within that world.  This really does delve deeper, it’s grittier, dirtier, and more politics than you can shake a stick at.  If anything this is a good allegory of racial discrimination/discrimination in general, set in a way that wouldn’t necessarily be an attack on anyone political or cultural discrimination.  Now I cannot wait until the next book comes out and Annalise gets to eat crow.

 

4.5 stars.  Thanks Edelweiss.