"compelling werewolf tale of acceptance and love"
Alice White is an independent, intelligent and beautiful
woman of the Nineties. She holds down a good day job and
attends classes at a local university for self-improvement,
and broadening of her knowledge and horizons. She does have
one major flaw though: every full moon she locks herself in
the basement of her house and changes into a werewolf. Alice quenches her sexual needs with one-night-stands,
faceless and nameless men she picks up at a bar on the
outskirts of her town. She also sees a therapist regularly,
discussing her problems and situation at great length. The
psychiatrist's objectivity, however, is severely hampered
by his own sexual attraction to Alice, so he not only
believes her sanity is impaired by lychanthropy, but that
she is suffering from acute commitment phobia and a fear of
settling down. Enter Erik Summers, a soon-to-be divorced biologist and one
of Alice's college professors and course counselor. Erik is instantly attracted to Alice's mind and subtle
strength, but is even more bowled over by her
unconventional beauty, sexuality and underlying
vulnerability. He believes (rightly) that the attraction is
mutual, and is empowered to make a play. Alice not only starts a sexual relationship with Erik, but
she falls for him head-over-heels and against all her
better judgment. To make matters worse, she soon confesses
her lycanthropy. Erik is initially shocked and incredulous,
believing he has gotten himself involved with an
emotionally disturbed woman. By this time, it is too late
as he is invariably head-over-heels for Alice himself.
However, his feelings do not prevent him from seeking
advice and solace in the arms (and bed) of his now-ex-wife
who has recently resurfaced with hopes of reconciliation. When Alice gets wind of Erik's faithlessness, she confronts
her romantic rival in one of the more memorable metamorphic
scenes of the book before, a woman now scorned and
betrayed, she runs off to the wilds of Canada and the
refuge of an understanding and kindred great-aunt. "Wilderness" is the great story of one woman's efforts to
come to terms with a lonely and impossible existence, and
the man who learns to love and accept her for who and what
she is no matter the consequences. And it is done in such
rich and descriptive narrative detail, the reader is left
rooting for nothing less than a well-deserved happy ending
for the daring and unconventional couple. In this stunning debut, Mr. Danvers realistically
transcends the gory werewolf myths of legends popularized
by the media and Hollywood, to tell a compelling and
sensitive what-if tale of acceptance and love. Gracie
McKeever, Author
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Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted April 12, 2003
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