Feral Pride by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Series: Feral (bk. 3) Spin-Off to Tantalize series

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance/Semi-Dystopian

Subjects: shape-shifters, demons, supernatural

Setting: Texas, near and in Austin

POV/Tense: 1st person POV present tense. Rotating between Aimee, Clyde, Kayla and Yoshi.

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 285 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Summary/ product description: “The explosive finale to the Feral series by New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith.

Anti-shifter sentiment is at an all-time high when Kayla’s transformation to werecat is captured on video and uploaded for the world to see. Suddenly she becomes a symbol of the werebeast threat and—along with fellow cat Yoshi, lion-possum Clyde, and human Aimee—a hunted fugitive. Meanwhile, a self-proclaimed weresnake has kidnapped the governor of Texas and hit the airwaves with a message of war. In retaliation, werepeople are targeted by law enforcement, threatened with a shift-suppressing vaccine, terrorized by corporate conspiracy, and enslaved by a top-secret, intelligent Cryptid species. Can Clyde rally his inner lion king to lead his friends—new and old—into battle against ruthless, media-savvy foes? A rousing blend of suspense, paranormal romance, humor, and high action.”

My Review:  As the final book of the Feral series, Feral Pride brings the series to an epic conclusion. The book switched between four character’s perspectives this time: Clyde, Aimee, Yoshi and Kayla. It picks up from right after the events of Feral Curse. As a fan of the Tantalize series, I loved that the author wrote a three-book spin-off series based around other characters.

I also loved that there books focus on the shifter and the social prejudices on whether they are considered human since they can become animals. The main characters (except Aimee, whose and normal human) are all some type a were-cat. Clyde is actually were-lion and were-possum and Aimee calls him a Lossum. So many books are about werewolves and vampires, that’s it’s cool to see different types of creatures or beings. There’s also were-deer, foxes, vultures, otters, dolphins, orcas, rabbits, tigers, bears, and so many more.

The book starts out with all four of the main characters, plus Kayla’s friend Jess are driving in Jess’s father police cruiser, trying to get to Oklahoma, but the never get out the state. The governor of Texas has been taken hostage by a supposed snake-shifter named Seth. Reptile shifters don’t exist, according to what they’ve heard from Kieran (Quince’s boyfriend and werewolf). They go back to Austin and are being pursued by agents of the FHPU. The snow people/yetis from the previous book are likely behind what’s going on and Clyde and friends have to find a way to stop them.

We get to meet Clyde’s biological dad. Noelle returns and she even dressed up as an X-men character. Aimee’s father is also in the book, and possibly (unknowingly) working for the yetis. So much happens in this 285 page book. It’s so full of excitement and I hate that it’s over. I think that this series together could make one amazing TV show. There’s something very episodic and the world building is detailed. I love how it’s like an alternate universe in which shifter have been know to exist since the mid-1800s.

I really hope that Cynthia can write another amazing paranormal or maybe sci-fi series because her books are humorous. I love how she creates banter between the characters. The friendship are so well written that the character feel like my friends. I recommend this series if you enjoyed Tantalize, Eternal, Blesses and Diabolical. Also if you like the Curse Workers series by Holly Black. Or the Other series, Night World series, and anything with werewolves, shape-shifters and other paranormal beings.

Cover Art Review: Is that the Austin skyline? Probably. There’s a lion, which Clyde is able to turn into.