As a girl growing up in the 1970s, while most of my friends were into Sindy or Barbie and aspiring to be air hostesses I was very much the odd one out with my interest in science fiction and the supernatural. Having discovered the Usborne Supernatural Guide to Vampires, Werewolves and Demons in the long-disappeared Roys of Eaton shop down the road from me, I read and re-read that book until it was indelibly etched upon my mind and even now I remember the thrill it brought me. At that point in time, gender stereotypes were much more prevelant than they are now and books for girls might have contained magic and witches but werewolves and suchlike were almost exclusively reserved for boys. How older me rejoices that reads for today’s children and young adults are aimed at everyone, with this opening title in a fantastic new series being the perfect choice for all readers 11+ who are after something with a definite scare factor. Our story opens on Confinement Night in April as Sel checks the security measures in place around his home – not to prevent intruders getting in but to prevent his mother getting out. Heading to the basement to feed her, Sel curses himself for not preparing her meal properly and on reaching her cage forces through the slab of beef she is to eat. Rushing to get the job done in record time so he can go out, Sel pauses a moment to watch the monster that is his mother devouring the meat before leaving to hang out with friend Elena. Meeting up with her, the two of them head to Shady Oaks Retirement Community to play cards with their friend Harold – the only adult in the community of Tremorglade who doesn’t Turn – trying to shake off the doldrums, the feelings of anxiety and nausea that come around this time each month for those not old enough to change but who have been infected with the virus that has brought about this situation. Heading home afterwards, the two of them bump into Sel’s nemesis Ingrid who threatens to tell on them for not staying home – a capital offence – but is stopped in her tracks when pigeons start to drop from the sky and crash into her. When this strange occurrence is put down to freak weather conditions, Sel initially doesn’t think to question the explanation but when other odd things start to happen around him he begins to wonder just what is going on. As he and Elena start to investigate, the pair of them begin to uncover the truth of Tremorglade – a truth neither of them could ever have dreamed of… Stories of werewolves have existed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years and we are all familiar with what usually goes alongside them but here, other than the monthly change from human to savage beast, there are none of the standard themes you might expect – making this a fresh and highly original take on the story. Here, the monsters are portrayed far more sympathetically – victims of a virus who are still much loved family members and are cared for and locked away each month as much for their own protection as for that of those around them. With the medicalisation of the condition comes a certain clinical feeling as scientists in the background search for a cure but, as is so often the case with scientific advancement, Sel comes to realise that what he initially believes is a humane endeavour may not be that at all. This is such a great read – one that was recommended to me by one of my Twitter friends and one that I am now recommending in turn. Action-packed, delightfully scary in places and the perfect start to the series, this will appeal enormously to those who are looking to move on from middle grade but are possibly not ready for the full-on horror of some young adult reads. I adored it and cannot wait to find out what happens to Sel next.

I was lucky enough to be gifted an advance copy of Bite Risk and it was an absolute privilege to read. Brilliant concept, totally compelling plot and just the right amount of peril, it’s the perfect book for tweens looking to move on from Middle Grade but not necessarily ready for the more adult themes of some YA fiction. Perfect for fans of Stranger Things and Wednesday Adams and of course werewolves. Who doesn’t like werewolves?

I devoured BITE RISK with ruthless ferocity, or perhaps the book devoured me – I’m not too sure! It’s an absolutely absorbing read and I just couldn’t put it down. Tremorglade is so vividly drawn and the clever concepts at the heart of the story are utterly convincing and will have huge appeal to teen readers. The writing is super-pacy and the story is packed with glorious twists and turns, heart-in-mouth danger, conspiracy, intrigue and mystery. Teen readers are going to go wild for this book – it’s witty and clever without ever talking down to its young, but savvy readers. Plus it sits on just the right side of horror – leaning into the intrigue, the mystery, the uncertainty rather than being a gorefest. I loved it!

One night a month, kids rule Tremorglade. They can stay up all night and do whatever they want. Once their parents have been securely locked in their cages, that is. “Set up, lock in, watch out.” Every full moon, the adults of Tremorglade transform into Rippers; they’re hirsute and they have fangs and claws. Raw meat becomes much more appetising to them and if you’re not careful, you’ll also be on the menu. “Here in Tremorglade, because we’re so isolated, we don’t have to put up with many of the horrors that the rest of the world does - deadly weather, plagues, violent crime and marauding pirates.” In fact, it’s so scary out there that hardly anyone ever leaves Tremorglade. Thirteen year old Sel is approaching the age where they too will Turn but for now, their Confinement night is spent outside of a cage. This was a really entertaining read. I guessed some plot points before Sel experienced them but it didn’t bother me as I was having too much fun. Although I liked Sel, the standout character for me was Ingrid, Sel’s archnemesis. Taekwondo champion Ingrid hates everyone but her hatred for Sel is next level. Dora, who Ingrid is responsible for on Confinement night, was the person I most wanted to spend more time with. This book has horror, action and humour, with an overarching mystery that kept me engaged. I loved learning how this insular community worked, especially its technology, and trying to figure out who I could trust. I flew through this book and can’t wait for the sequel. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.

Just finished Bite Risk by SJ Wills... wow! With plenty of twists this is a book with BITE! Love the world SJ Wills created, love the tension and love those characters. A roaring treat!