Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson - Review

Synopsis via Christine Johnson's website -

Hanover Falls hasn’t had a werewolf problem in over one hundred years. Seattle, Copenhagen, Osaka–they’ve had plenty of attacks. But when humans begin dying in Claire Benoit’s town, the panic spreads faster than a rumor at a pep rally. At Claire’s sixteenth birthday party, the gruesome killings are all anyone can talk about. But the big news in Claire’s mind is the fact that Matthew Engle–high-school soccer god and son of a world-renowned lycanthropy expert–notices her. And flirts with her. A lot.

That night, Claire learns that she is the latest in a long line of Benoit werewolves, and that contrary to popular belief, all werewolves are female. Killing humans is forbidden by the code of the pack, but a rogue werewolf has been breaking that law, threatening the existence of Claire’s new pack. As the pack struggles to find and fight the rogue werewolf and Claire struggles with her lupine identity, her heart and her loyalties are torn in two. Claire must keep her new life a secret from even her best friend–and especially from Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt…and with whom Claire is impossibly and undeniably falling head-over-paws in love.

I was not sure what I expected when opening up the pages of Claire de Lune, but I could not have predicted what I got. Claire de Lune holds with in it's grasp a one of a kind story, that held my attention to the point where I did not want to put the book down, especially near the end, where the story took such a dramatic turn it had me hiding in the bathroom to get away from everyone so I could read!

At first, it seems like Claire’s exactly like any other girl turning 16. She’s got her best friend, though not the most popular girl, she’s got a crush on one of the boys in her class whom she describes as one of the most popular, Matthew. Who's not only popular and good looking but also a star center on the high school's soccer team. And when he starts showing interest in Claire; Claire is sure that's bigger news than she can handle!

That is until the night after her 16th birthday party when a secret that Claire's mom has been holding onto since she was a baby, begins to unravel – that night Claire discovers she's a werewolf! And now, she's got so much more to worry about than her crush showing interest and Claire is not at all sure she's going to be able to hold it together.

Claire de Lune is at it's basic level a coming of age story, about a girl who has to struggle with not only figuring how who and what she is, but also learning how to trust herself, and those around her.

Claire’s world is so different than the "traditional" werewolf novel, werewolves do not have to hide, people know about them; there are no male werewolves, that particular honor is only for females. Not only that, but a werewolf cannot be "made" they can only be born!

Christine Johnson has created a world in which, I felt very comfortable, though I have to say, I was 100% positive I knew what was going to happen, and was feeling a bit like Claire de Lune was a touch predictable, only to find out my suspicions could not have been further from the truth, and I came away shocked by the twist that happened late in the novel.

Bottom Line – Christine Johnson has created a one of a kind world with Claire de Lune, I cant wait to see where she takes it. I was a touch disappointed in the character development for some of the minor characters, but I am guessing we will learn more about them as the story progresses from this point. I am excited to see where Claire's life might take her next...if Claire de Lune is any indication, it's going to be somewhere fun and interesting. I give Claire de Lune a 4 mushrooms and will start patiently waiting for the next book in the series!

Claire de Lune
Written by: Christine Johnson
256 Pages
Published: May 18, 2010
Publisher: Simon Pulse

For Christine's next stop on the tour please visit I Swim For Oceans.


This book was provided to me by Liz at Cleverly Inked for my honest review.