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WORK TITLE: Who’s Afraid?
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 10/24/1988
WEBSITE: https://www.marialewis.com.au/
CITY: Sydney
STATE: NW
COUNTRY: Australia
NATIONALITY: New Zealander
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born October 24, 1988.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, novelist, journalist, screenwriter, and television presenter. Began career as a police reporter; The Feed, SBS Viceland, presenter; Cleverfan, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), host; producer and host of the “Eff Yeah Film and Feminism”podcast.
WRITINGS
Contributor to periodicals and websites, including the New York Post, Guardian, Penthouse, the Daily Mail, Empire magazine, and the Huffington Post.
Who’s Afraid? is being adapted for television by Hoodlum Entertainment.
SIDELIGHTS
Based in Sydney, Australia, Maria Lewis began her career as a journalist and continues to work in this capacity, hosting a nightly news program called The Feed on an Australian free-to-air digital television multichannel. She also hosts Cleverfan for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. A contributor to periodicals, Lewis is also a novelist and screenwriter. In an interview for the Booked Every Night website, Lewis commented on becoming a writer, noting : “Like most writers, I think a love of reading and – in particular – a love of stories is what got me into writing in the first place. Two weeks after I finished high school I started working at my local newspaper as a cadet reporter and over the course of the next several years I covered everything from crime to pop culture.”
Who's Afraid
Lewis is the author of an urban fantasy series that begins with her debut novel Who’s Afraid?, which introduces readers to Tommi Grayson. Tommi is a young Scottish woman who works as an art curator but who will soon discover her supernatural heritage. She is also a practitioner of the martial arts specializing in Muay Thai. The blue-haired Tommi has always stood out as being different, especially since she seems to have barely controllable rage issues. Following the death of her mother, the devastated Tommi decides to try and find her estranged father. When she travels to a remote corner of New Zealand, she meets with her father’s family and learns that she is part of a werewolf clan. A half-brother tries to rape her, but she escapes and flees back to Scotland in hopes of controlling her werewolf nature with the help of Lorcan, a supernatural guardian who has the looks of a male model.
“The appeal of this novel does not lie in the werewolf aspect … but rather with its Gen Z heroine and secondary characters,” wrote AustCrime website contributor Andrea Thompson, who went on to note the “Scottish Gen Z urbanites who are all just trying to keep it together day to day and find their own levels of happy.” Finding happiness for Tommi, however, proves to be difficult as danger has followed her home. Fortunately, Lorcan is on hand to help train Tommi to fight her supernatural enemies. Still, Lorcan is hiding something from his first real pupil.
“The reader will be swept up in Tommi’s journey as she’s thrown into the middle of a centuries-old battle and a world peopled with expert warriors and vicious enemies–this is the start of a series–and a world–you will fall in love with,” wrote Pop.Edit.Lit website contributor Verushka. Calling Who’s Afraid? a “fast-paced novel,” a Publishers Weekly contributor went on to note: “Tommi is a well-crafted and charismatic-though not always likable … character.”
Who's Afraid Too?
In the sequel to Who’s Afraid?, titled Who’s Afraid Too?, blue-haired werewolf Tommi Grayson returns. Although she has refused to join her blood pack of werewolves, the Scottish Tommi is still interested in learning about her Maori roots. She ends up traveling to Berlin to find the Rogues, werewolves who run a nightclub called Phases. She hopes the Rogues can help her learn to survive outside of a pack. In addition, her best friend, Joss, is in Berlin for medical treatment. Tommi is determined not to let anything happen to Joss since her friends Mari and Kane have already met a horrible fate.
Lorcan is still on hand as Tommi’s mentor, but the two are struggling to define the feelings they have for each other. Meanwhile, one and then another baby is kidnapped while Tommi is in Berlin. Lorcan reveals that there is a supernatural element to the kidnappings, which could lead to the return of an unspeakable evil. “I did actually laugh, out loud, and more than once,” wrote a Handbag Mafia website contributor, adding: “Maria Lewis writes with a dry, quirky humour that really appeals to me!” Caroline Russo, writing for the Hush Hush Biz website, remarked: “Lewis has brought warmth, humour, and humanity to … [the novel], creating a story that’s as psychological as it is action-packed.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, June 26, 2017, review of Who’s Afraid?, p. 160.
ONLINE
AustCrime, http://www.austcrimefiction.org/ (April 27, 2016), Andrea Thompson, review of Who’s Afraid?
Booked Every Night, https://bookedeverynight.wordpress.com/ (October 26, 2017), “Interview with Maria Lewis, Author of Who’s Afraid? and New Release It Came From the Deep.”
Handbag Mafia, http://www.handbagmafia.net/ (January 19, 2017), review of Who’s Afraid Too?
Hush Hush Biz, http://hushhushbiz.com/ (July 2, 2017), Caroline Russo, review of Who’s Afraid Too?
Maria Lewis Website, https://www.marialewis.com.au (April 16, 2018).
Pop.Edit.Lit, http://editingeverything.com (January 6, 2016), review of Who’s Afraid?
Stuff, https://www.stuff.co.nz/ (March 17, 2016), review of Who’s Afraid?
Maria Lewis is an author, journalist and screenwriter based in Sydney, Australia. Getting her start as a police reporter, her writing on pop culture has appeared in publications such as the New York Post, Guardian, Penthouse, The Daily Mail, Empire Magazine, Huffington Post and many more. Seen as a presenter on SBS Viceland’s nightly news program The Feed and as the host of Cleverfan on ABC, she has been a journalist for over 13 years.
She’s the producer and host of the Eff Yeah Film and Feminism podcast. Her critically acclaimed debut novel Who's Afraid? was published in 2016, followed by its sequel Who’s Afraid Too? in 2017. Who’s Afraid? is being developed for television by the Emmy and BAFTA award-winning Hoodlum Entertainment. Her latest novel, It Came From The Deep, was released globally on October 31, Halloween, 2017.
Interview with Maria Lewis, author of “Who’s Afraid?” and new release “It Came From the Deep”
October 26, 2017
Australian authors are absolutely underrated and not talked about enough, agreed?
Today, I have the absolute privilege of sharing with you an interview I got to have with Maria Lewis, an Australian author, journalist and screenwriter. Maria has written three books: Who’s Afraid?, Who’s Afraid Too? and her latest release, It Came from the Deep.
Having heard Maria speak at the 2017 Sydney Writer’s Festival I can tell you that Maria is honest, outspoken and super funny. She’s not afraid to tell it like it is, and you should definitely check her out.
She wonderfully agreed to answer some questions about writing, reading and her new book, so check out her answers below. If they don’t make you want to pick up her new book, I don’t know what will!
What got you into writing in the first place? If there was a moment that made you become a writer what was it?
Like most writers, I think a love of reading and – in particular – a love of stories is what got me into writing in the first place. Two weeks after I finished high school I started working at my local newspaper as a cadet reporter and over the course of the next several years I covered everything from crime to pop culture. I’ve been a journalist for more than a decade now, so I guess you could say there wasn’t one particular moment that I became a writer but thousands of them throughout the years.
What are your favourite books?
That is like asking which one of my (fictional) children I love the most. There are so many, I would have to start breaking it down into specific categories and time periods. I will tell you though, my favourite book that I’ve read recently was Hamilton: The Revolution. I tend to read more fiction than non-fiction usually, but I’m obsessed with the musical Hamilton and that book was an incredible combination of history lesson, hip hop Bible and fangirl tome. Also, my GoodReads shelf is a pretty good indication of what I’m frothing over, past and present. (Having recently read Hamilton: The Revolution myself, I totally get it. Hear my thoughts on that here.)
Who is one fictional character that you would choose to have dinner with ?
Ardelia Mapp, so we could profile criminals together over a feast. (For those – like me! – who don’t know who Ardelia Mapp is, she is one of the main characters in Silence of the Lambs, a film I am yet to see!)
This year, I heard you speak at the Sydney Writer’s Festival about blogging with Mariko Tamaki. What is your biggest piece of advice for book bloggers like myself?
Having never been a book blogger, I’m not sure what advice I could impart that would be useful – I’m sure y’all know much more about it than me. But from my time blogging about film, feminism and pop culture I’d say being honest in your opinions is pretty crucial. You can never please everyone, so you have to be faithful in your voice and hopefully readers are drawn to that as well. Also, proof read everything.
If you had to give advice to any aspiring writers, what would it be?
Ask yourself, do you really want to do this? And why? The idea of having a book published can sound really cool and glamourous, whereas the reality is anything but. It’s a very tough industry to crack and can be super heartbreaking to put yourself out there and get no after no. Then again, you only need one yes.
Let’s talk about your new release. If you had to describe It Came from the Deep in 5 words, what would they be?
Reverse Little Mermaid YA mystery. (I cannot wait to read this book!)
This is the third solo book that you are publishing which is really exciting. What has been the most surprising part of the publishing process?
I guess having readers that connect with your stories is always eternally surprising and delightful. You write books in a void and it can be a very lonely process, so you often forget that at some point this story will be out there in the world. When that does happen and people respond to it – particularly when they connect with specific characters – it’s one of the best feelings in the world. Having those kind of chats and conversations with readers is one of my favourite parts of the publishing process.
I’ll take this moment to say how cool it is that It Came from the Deep is going public via eBook so everyone gets it at the same time. As an Australian, one of the hard parts of publishing is seeing people get books that aren’t available in Australia for a while. What made you consider doing an eBook for It Came from the Deep?
Exactly! You nailed it, that’s one of my biggest frustrations too! Also, as someone who came from New Zealand over to Australia I always feel like we’re the last to get movies or TV shows that the rest of the world have already. It’s not quite as bad now due to streaming services, but with books the industry is still adapting to the electronic formats and distribution. As a reader you regularly learn ways to get around postponed release dates in Australia, whether that means paying a little extra and shipping a book internationally (which is something I’ve always been willing do if I’m desperate to read a story and don’t want to wait a year). With Who’s Afraid? and Who’s Afraid Too? I’ve been super fortunate that my first two books have been published globally and I know how rare that is. The catch is I get a lot of messages from international readers who are frustrated they have had to wait such a long time for the books to come out in their territory. By publishing It Came From The Deep myself as an eBook, it means I have the power (and luxury, to be honest) to make sure the book is available everywhere globally at the same time. That was something really important to me. Also, again due to the nature of the format, you can make the price super accessible and affordable to everyone.
What are you most excited for with the release of It Came from the Deep?
I’m most excited about introducing readers of mine to new characters and a new world they haven’t experienced before. Although It Came From The Deep is very much grounded in reality by being set on the Gold Coast – present day – the story revolves around the world of surf life saving and a community that’s hella different from the Who’s Afraid? universe. The characters are younger and from completely different backgrounds, so I’m pumped to try and give audiences something from me that I don’t think they’ve necessarily had before.
It Came from the Deep comes out on the 31st October and I definitely recommend checking it out, as well as Maria’s other work. I’m super excited to read this book and having her describe it as a reverse Little Mermaid YA Mystery, I am even more keen. I’ll be posting a review very shortly on her new book!
You can learn more about Maria Lewis and all her books here and follow her on Twitter here.
Want to hear more about Australian authors? Let me know below who you’d like to hear from!
Until next time booklovers,
Maddy x
Who's Afraid?
Publishers Weekly.
264.26 (June 26, 2017): p160.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Who's Afraid?
Maria Lewis. Piatkus, $13.99 trade paper (352p) ISBN 978-0-349-40897-2
This fast-paced urban fantasy kicks off a series featuring Tommi Grayson, a young Scottish art curator,
muay Thai practitioner, and--as she's just discovered--werewolf. Her mother's death prompts Tommi to go
to New Zealand to search for her estranged Maori father. Her meeting with her father's family, a powerful
werewolf clan, is far more traumatic than she expected, and her half-brother tries to rape her. She escapes
and returns to Scotland. With the help of her model-gorgeous supernatural guardian, Lorcan, she works to
make peace with her werewolf nature and the complex supernatural world it connects to, only to find that
the danger she tried to flee has followed her. While the plot is largely engaging, its racial dynamics are often
uncomfortable: most of the Maori characters are antagonists, and a man with a Native American eagle
tattoo is nicknamed Poc, short for Pocahontas. However, Tommi is a well-crafted and charismatic-though
not always likable--character, and the detail Lewis uses to describe everything from Tommi's mundane life
to her excruciating transformation from human to wolf helps ground the narrative and draw the reader in.
Agent: Alexandra Adsett. Alex Adsett Publishing Services. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Who's Afraid?" Publishers Weekly, 26 June 2017, p. 160. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A497444320/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=1bf530ea.
Accessed 24 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A497444320
REVIEW - WHO'S AFRAID BY MARIA LEWIS
HideBook Cover
HideAuthor Information
Author Name:
Maria Lewis
Author's Home Country:
Australia
HidePublication Details
Book Title:
Who's Afraid?
ISBN:
9780349408972
Series:
#1
Tommie Grayson
Year of Publication:
2016
Publisher:
Hachette Australia
Publisher Website:
Hachette Australia (link is external)
HideCategories & Groupings
Category:
Urban Fantasy
Sub Genre:
Young Adult
Location:
Scotland, UK
HideBook Synopsis
After her mother's death, it seems to Tommi that all the answers to her questions lie in land of the long white cloud. After a bit of investigative legwork, Tommi flies from her home in urban Scotland all the way down to New Zealand to meet with her blood family. They are not at all what she had expected. And neither is what happens to her own self after being in contact with others like her. Other werewolves, that is.
HideBook Review
Heroine Tommi is going through a period of earth shattering change, all the while trying to keep it from affecting her work and relationships. So, of course, it is near impossible. Tommi's lead in all this is her Guardian, Lorcan (gorgeous, just like Tommi herself, of course) who has himself a big fat secret that he doesn't want to reveal too soon to his new, and first, student. Teaching Tommi to kick supernatural butt is easier than he thought it would be, and before you know it, the power and skills of the pupil begin to eclipse that of the teacher. Tommi needs to call upon all her new skills sooner than she would have hoped, with deadly results.
The appeal of this novel does not lie in the werewolf aspect (werewolves have been the focus of a blistering amount of novels in the last decade) but rather with its Gen Z heroine and secondary characters . This is novel populated by Scottish Gen Z urbanites who are all just trying to keep it together day to day and find their own levels of happy. Some of their lines are quite snappy, and the messy lives of the under 25's flat sharing years are identifiable to anyone past that shimmering age. Tommi is smart and funny; too smart to be meandering along in life as she seems to be at the start of his novel but then there wouldn't be much scope for change or growth. All that is thrust upon her.
WHO'S AFRAID is the first novel in a new urban fantasy series by Australian author Maria Lewis. The story here does not hang itself up on all the traditional woo-woo rules and regulations so not much time is wasted in getting the new werewolf from mourning to fighting. Tommi keeps it all together as her world dramatically changes and the reader is right there with her as she soon begins to accept if not embrace her new life.
A solid entry point to a new world, WHO'S AFRAID won't having you checking the shadows as you read - this book is not that graphic or terrifying - but it will have you cheering for Tommi as she stoically decides that her life is to be only onwards and upwards from here.
Submitted 1 year 11 months ago by Andrea Thompson.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 - 3:59pm
Review: Who's Afraid? by Maria Lewis
Who's Afraid? by Maria Lewis
supplied
Who's Afraid? by Maria Lewis
Who's Afraid?
Maria Lewis
Hachette, $30
Who's Afraid had the potential to go so well.
An urban fantasy set (partially) in New Zealand, about an actual young adult as opposed to a teenager, and written by an accomplished writer - a journalist published in the Daily Telegraph, New York Post and Empire, and a co-host of the Eff Yeah Film and Feminism podcast.
But if you're a fan of the young adult genre, you already know what happens in this book.
There's a girl who's a tom boy — named Tommi — who likes sports, fighting and casual sex. She's alternative, which you know because she wears boots and has blue hair and tattoos. Oh, and she's a werewolf who is a "chosen one" type character and a natural talent, of course.
Maria Lewis is a big fan of on-the-nose exposition, in one sweeping glance her protagonist can take in a person's exact height, musculature, skin tone, and intention. Intent and motivation aren't ever hinted at or slowly revealed, it's dumped on the reader, interrupting pace and flow.
And where facts and details do matter, they're not always right. Think Paengaroa being "just down the road" from Rotorua, or towering cliff faces being placed where there's actually just beach, wolf lore being carved into Maori meeting houses, and frankly, a really poor representation of the Maori people.
There are love interests, and sexual encounters, and the male best friend with whom the relationship is so platonic they almost seem to protest too much — it's all something you've read before, and all entirely predictable.
Young adult as a genre is getting smarter, and more approachable for an older audience. This book however, is probably one for the teens only.
- Stuff
BY VERUSHKA BOOK REVIEWS, GENRE: AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR, GENRE: URBAN FANTASY, REVIEWSJANUARY 6, 2016
WHO’S AFRAID? BY MARIA LEWIS: BOOK REVIEW
Who's Afraid? by Maria Lewis
Stars: 4/5
What is this about?: Tommi Grayson goes looking for her father and discovers she’s a werewolf. What follows is her introduction into the world, and Lorcan, her guardian.
Is there anything else you should know?: Tommi is a complicated character away from her supernatural life. She’s gone through an emotional upheaval in her life and is trying to make sense of herself when the werewolf revelation happens. She’s an only child, and does make attachments easily, I think, which means she’s used to being alone; to dealing with things on her own.
Should you read this: Oh yes, definitely! And leave your urban fantasy expectations at the door.
Blurb: This is the story of Tommi, a young Scottish woman living an ordinary life, who stumbles violently into her birthright as the world’s most powerful werewolf. The sudden appearance of a dark, mysterious (and very attractive) guardian further confuses her as her powers begin to develop and she begins to understand that her life can never be the same again. The reader will be swept up in Tommi’s journey as she’s thrown into the middle of a centuries-old battle and a world peopled with expert warriors and vicious enemies – this is the start of a series – and a world – you will fall in love with.
You know you’ve been reading the same kind of urban fantasy for far too long when your mind starts leaping to conclusions of events in a new book you’re reading, even before you’ve turned the page to actually find out what’s going to happen. … Actually, that’s probably an indication that urban fantasy is getting way too comfortable and familiar in some ways, no matter what you’re reading.
Who’s Afraid? kept me on my toes. And that’s because of Tommi.
The thing that caught my attention about Who’s Afraid? was the cover: first up, Tommi is fully clothed, which in the genre that is fond of leather-clad heroines, with knives and cropped tops, showing off as much skin as possible, such a difference matters to me. Second, it’s the blue hair and the title: it’s a question and a challenge, and it made me wonder for whom it was intended.
But, now to the story: like I mentioned above, Tommi is going through a huge upheaval in her life when the book opens and understandably, she goes looking for answers about who she is. That takes her to New Zealand in search of her father and a family she has never known anything about. She gets her answers, ones she doesn’t really want in fact, before she realises she’s a werewolf and part of a bigger world completely.
Tommi is going to pull you in; she’s the fun, sharp and witty friend you’ll always wish you were more like, even as you realised she’s got depths she isn’t sharing — that’s who Tommi reminds me of, and I think we all know someone like that.
One of the strongest parts of this book is that the author pulls no punches in Tommi’s story — she deals with ugly revelations, and actions and doesn’t come out of it unscathed. For me, this showed how Tommi was as an only child: used to hiding her emotions if they hurt those she loved, but those sorts of things always come bubbling up when you least expect them. That’s an important part of Tommi, I think, and will probably land her in more trouble in the future, but that’s why characters grow, heh.
Along with an introduction to her father’s side of the family, the book is about Tommi’s introduction to the supernatural world. Lorcan is her guide in the latter, making Tommi’s learning experience the reader’s learning experience at the same time. Her father’s side of the family isn’t as quick to let Tommi go and that part of the story simmers in the background through the book until its conclusion, and I suspect will continue to be there in the next books.
Lewis has taken a different tack, I think, with Tommi’s story. Sure, she’s learning to control and understand her werewolf side with Lorcan’s guidance, but Lewis has built a background for Tommi that includes character traits that weave themselves into her werewolf nature, so that in the end, Tommi already has the tools to deal with much of what her werewolf nature brings because she’s been dealing with aspects of them her whole life.
That’s rather long-winded isn’t it? Think of it this way: Tommi isn’t going to spontaneously learn how to control anything, but she’s got the tools and training in her background already to make what training she does go through different to the norm in urban fantasy. And all this is a relief in a genre that tends to have heroines either learn too quickly or not quickly enough about the powers they come into.
Lewis, an Australian author, has surrounded Tommi with a very small cast of characters — you get the sense that Tommi doesn’t make friends easily, but when she does they’re kind of it for her, which will tell you a lot about who Tommi is. Lorcan, her guardian, is included in this cast of characters by necessity before they learn about each other in their training sessions together, signalling the evolution of their relationship. He’s an enigma, a confusing one for her, and it’s clear that Tommi can deal with the casual nature of a relationship, but when things get complicated, she’s at a loss as to what to do. I don’t know if that means the will-they-or-won’t-they will be resolved soon, but the journey there should be … tempestuous to say the least.
Another highlight of the story is the locations — Scotland and New Zealand and somewhere entirely different is promised by the book’s ending. Lewis is from New Zealand and has travelled to Scotland to ensure the accuracy of her writing, which makes me want Tommi to hurry up and get to her next destination! I might be a wee too used to books set in the US, I think. The locations also help weave Tommi’s biracial heritage into the story. It’s a fundamental part of who she is, and shouldn’t be ignored by readers — or publishers. Diversity like this should be welcomed.
So, welcome to a new world in urban fantasy! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
‘WHO’S AFRAID TOO?’ BY MARIA LEWIS
POSTED ON 19 JAN, 2017 BY HANDBAGMAFIA 36 COMMENTS
It was with great excitement that I placed my pre-order for the sequel to Maria Lewis’ debut novel, Who’s Afraid?
When ‘Who’s Afraid?’ came out, I was lucky enough to get to interview Maria Lewis alongside my review. To summarise, I came away from the first book with a total girl-crush on the fierce main character, Tommi Grayson. Tommi, a blue-haired Scot with Maori heritage, goes seeking answers about her biological father’s side of the family and unwittingly bites off far more than she can chew. She has to come to terms with her own emerging werewolf status, helped out by her supernatural custodian, a 400+ year old hottie called Lorcan. Not to mention all the family dramas she faces and what it costs her.
Who’s Afraid Too?
Who’s Afraid Too? arrived at my door this week. I devoured it in less than two days.
The story starts with Tommi taking a time-out to learn more about her Maori roots before heading off to Berlin. She’s still getting used to her werewolf status, having made the decision to forego her blood pack (for excellent reasons) in the first book. Tommi is a Kahuatairingi– a lone wolf. In Berlin, she hopes to learn more about being a wolf without a pack from the Rogues, a group of fellow wolves who work together running the aptly named nightclub, Phases. The other reason for Berlin is so that Tommi can be close to Joss, her best friend, who is in hospital there receiving medical treatment. After the horror of losing her friends Mari and Kane, Joss is one of the few people Tommi has left.
Who's Afraid Too?
Meanwhile, Tommi and Lorcan continue to struggle with their feelings for one another and try to hide them as best they can from the Rogues. Relationships between Guardians and their wards are kinda frowned upon.
Tommi, with the help of the Rogues, is honing her deadly skills and picking up a few new ones. Her life revolves around her training and visiting Joss when she has a chance encounter with a local cop who tells her about the kidnapping of a newborn baby. When another baby is taken, Lorcan realises that this is no ordinary spate of kidnappings (if there is such a thing) but the return of something far, far worse. Something he never expected to have to deal with again…
Tommi and her friends have to figure out how to deal with a terrible evil with limited resources, accepting help from unlikely corners.
If you like fantasy, mystery and a sprinkling of horror, this is definitely for you!
(Vague? Sorry. At least there are no spoilers!)
What I Loved.
Tommi as a character continues to be strong and resourceful. She’s willing to learn and keen to find her place in the world she’s still learning about but on her own terms. She’s quick-witted and gutsy and more than willing to call the men around her out on their sexist bullshit when it’s warranted. I won’t hesitate in passing this book on to my teenagers for that reason.
I know we live in the age of laughing face emojis and “lolz!” and I’m just as guilty as the next person of using them when I am not, in fact, laughing out loud. However, in Who’s Afraid, Too?, I did actually laugh, out loud, and more than once. Maria Lewis writes with a dry, quirky humour that really appeals to me!
The story flows along at a great pace that I found really easy to follow. The characters are likable and vivid.
What I Didn’t Love.
That it finished so quickly. I can’t blame anyone but myself for that, though. Once again, I’m going to be waiting it out for the next installment.
Who's Afraid Too?
If you’re looking for a wolfish story to really sink your teeth into, grab your copy of ‘Who’s Afraid Too?’ here. If you have been living under a rock and haven’t yet got your paws on the first book, grab a copy of ‘Who’s Afraid?’ here.
N.B. these are affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission if you choose to order. It doesn’t cost you anything.
BOOK REVIEW: WHO’S AFRAID, TOO? BY MARIA LEWIS
BY MARIA LEWIS REVIEW: WHO’S AFRAID WRITERS EMERGING
by Caroline Russo | on July 2, 2017 | 0 comments | in Books | Like it
Book Review: Who’s Afraid, Too? By Maria Lewis
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Review: Who’s Afraid, Too?
By Maria Lewis
Review by Kylie Thompson
Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: supernatural, action
Tommi Grayson’s world turned upside down when the family reunion from hell left her with a furry, murderous little secret. Though she tried to hide- at least for long enough to come to terms with the insanity of her new life- far too soon she’s dragged back into the supernatural world. Even in a hidden world filled with monsters, it seems you can’t escape politics.
There’s a threat stalking the streets of Berlin, an unspeakable evil thought long since destroyed, and someone, somewhere, is pulling their strings. To survive, and to protect the oblivious humans from the threat, Tommi will have to choose between obeying the rules of her new world, or waging war against the sort of monsters she’d never thought possible.
‘Who’s Afraid, Too?’ isn’t your typical monster story; instead, it’s a brilliantly crafted adventure that somehow manages to explore the humanity of a woman who thinks she might just be a monster. In Tommi Grayson, author Maria Lewis has created a powerhouse of a heroine- she’s bold, she’s strong, and she’s more than willing to stand up to the men around her. If you’ve been bemoaning the lack of werewolf heroines with bite, this is probably going to be a series you love. It’s clear that Lewis loves the horror and supernatural genres, though she’s more than happy to do away with the more misogynistic tropes. Tommi isn’t a damsel needing to be saved, and she’s more than happy to get her hands dirty in the name of doing what she thinks is right. Tommi is a captivating entryway into Lewis’s supernatural world, a woman who’ll push through her overwhelm in the name of getting things done. She joins a well-loved cast of action heroines in book and screen who seem born to stand as fantastic role models for empowerment.
While many authors of supernatural fiction may have turned their attention to the romantic elements of the mythos, if you’re looking to Lewis for tales of purely supernatural romance, you’re going to be disappointed. There’s romance here, certainly, but it’s hardly the main focus. ‘Who’s Afraid, Too?’ is more action than romance, a compelling, edge-of-your-seat race against time to protect the innocent from an utterly unsettling foe.
With another writer, this could easily have been pure, gruesome horror: the villains are more than capable of being nightmare fuel. And yet, Lewis has brought warmth, humour, and humanity to ‘Who’s Afraid, Too?’, creating a story that’s as psychological as it is action-packed. That, in many ways, is the strength of this novel: it’s not another tired story where the monsters are just monsters and the heroes are just wonderfully heroic. It’s messy, and complicated, with the sense that at any moment Tommi’s carefully crafted web of lies and false bravado will be destroyed.
It makes for endlessly compelling reading.
‘Who’s Afraid, Too?’ is published by Piatkus and Hachette, and is available at all leading retailers.