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Claire de Lune #1
Claire de Lune
Torn between two destinies…
Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she’s the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of she’s a werewolf.
As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire’s new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever….
Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she’s the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of she’s a werewolf.
As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire’s new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever….
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 18, 2010
About the author
Christine Johnson
7 books236 followersThere is more than one author with this name
I grew up in, moved away from, and finally came home to Indianapolis, Indiana. While I was in the “away” part of that adventure, I was living in Chicago, Illinois, where I went to DePaul University and met my husband. I majored in Political Science. For the record, Political Science is a totally useless degree. But it’s also totally fascinating and I loved studying it. I fall into that trap a lot. I graduated with about nine million extra credit hours because I was forever taking classes that seemed “interesting” instead of classes that I needed to fill requirements.
After college, I lived in Chicago for several more years with my husband. I had a string of jobs – some I liked, some I hated, but none of them ever stuck with me as a career. Writing is different. For this job, I could be a workaholic! Anyway, after several more years in Chicago, my husband and I moved back to Indianapolis. (We got tired of constantly looking for street parking in Lakeview.)
Now, I live in an old house in an old neighborhood with my husband and kids. I have too many books and a weakness for anything sweet. I love yoga and cooking, but I’m not much of a movie person. I like watching soccer, and always look forward to the first sweater-worthy days in the fall. But mostly, I like making things up and writing them down and having people read them. So, that’s what I do, and I’m very, very lucky to be doing it!
I grew up in, moved away from, and finally came home to Indianapolis, Indiana. While I was in the “away” part of that adventure, I was living in Chicago, Illinois, where I went to DePaul University and met my husband. I majored in Political Science. For the record, Political Science is a totally useless degree. But it’s also totally fascinating and I loved studying it. I fall into that trap a lot. I graduated with about nine million extra credit hours because I was forever taking classes that seemed “interesting” instead of classes that I needed to fill requirements.
After college, I lived in Chicago for several more years with my husband. I had a string of jobs – some I liked, some I hated, but none of them ever stuck with me as a career. Writing is different. For this job, I could be a workaholic! Anyway, after several more years in Chicago, my husband and I moved back to Indianapolis. (We got tired of constantly looking for street parking in Lakeview.)
Now, I live in an old house in an old neighborhood with my husband and kids. I have too many books and a weakness for anything sweet. I love yoga and cooking, but I’m not much of a movie person. I like watching soccer, and always look forward to the first sweater-worthy days in the fall. But mostly, I like making things up and writing them down and having people read them. So, that’s what I do, and I’m very, very lucky to be doing it!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 495 reviews
June 19, 2010
I wasn't expecting much from this book to begin with, so I can't consider myself disappointed.
Claire is having the best birthday of her life. Her pool party is off the chain (people still say that, right?) and Hottie Matthew is starting to show interest in plain old Claire. Emphasis on plain. But when the full moon surfaces, her mother tells her a dark secret, both her and Claire are werewolves. Now Claire life becomes a lot more complicated. Not only does she have to deal with all her bodily changes of becoming a furry beast, she has to hide her secret from everyone, including her best friend, Emily, and Hottie Matthew. But there is also a rouge werewolf on the loose, on that is killing humans and endangering the existance of Claire's pack. To make the plot even twistier, Hottie Matthew is also the son of some deranged scientist hellbent of capturing and "curing" werewolves.
Okay, okay. I know this is a fantasy book. I know it has very little basis in the real world. But I can't help but bring forth some logical impossibilities this book passes off. There will be some spoilers ahead, although I shall try to use hypothetical situations only.
Say everyone knows werewolves exist. Say everyone thinks werewolves are bad, without even one PETA activist to wave a mighty picket sign. Say there are entire government organizations dedicated to researching and controlling lycanthropes. But despite all this, people know nothing about werewolves, at all. They don't know, or suspect, that they are all female (one thing I did like about this book was all the werewolf girl-power), and don't know their habits or anything. So instead of, I don't know, researching and studying one of the few werewolves they manage to capture, they lock it up in a cage in some unguarded lab, until they can "cure" it. Now, does this make sense? What kind of respectable lab, holding some a valuable specimen, doesn't even have surveillance cameras and puts the key to the cage of this valuable specimen IN THE REFRIGERATOR!!!!!!
Oh, and say, you were a bloodthristy werewolf. You like sunflowers right? And after killing some poor dude, you get your picture taken with a sunflower blocking your face. Uh-oh. I would be careful now. Because some ditzy teenager will walk aimlessly into your house, see a sunflower (which could or could not be the same one), and when they later see the incriminating picture, they will automatically link you to the scene of the crime. So be careful in the future.
Oh, and apparently bodies smell enough to be gag-worthy after 15 minutes of being deceased, and lupine body language is diverse enough to have complete nonverbal conversations with specific wordchoice and every thing. Even when you are not even freaking LOOKING at the werewolf you are having a conversation with.
Okay, with that off my chest....on to the characters. I have decided I dislike the name Claire. It just is a soiled name. Every time I hear it now, it brings to mind some annoying teenage "heroine". No offense to the Claires out there. You can't help what you are named at birth. So even though my first impression of you is shot to pieces, you still have the possibility of growing on me. All the characters in this story were just so completely underdeveloped. Not a likable or memorable face in the bunch. Everyone just filled their stereotypical role. Claire the "sweet" and quiet narrator, who only wants to protect her friends and family. Hottie Matthew, the attractive and understanding love interest who inexplicably falls for Plain Janes. Emily, the talkative and bubbly biffle. And Marie, the type-A mother. Mix in some wolves and bad guys, and there you go.
The plot was poo. I would say it was predictable, but I did fall prey to the red-herring for the longest time. I am actually quite ashamed I didn't figure it out sooner. So props there. And there was just no action or suspense. Just Claire fretting and worrying. I had no problem putting this book down.
Oh, and what is the mysterious Goddess that created werewolves?
Don't let my bitchin' and moanin' stop you from reading this book if it sounds interesting, really. It's just books like these make me bitter.
Claire is having the best birthday of her life. Her pool party is off the chain (people still say that, right?) and Hottie Matthew is starting to show interest in plain old Claire. Emphasis on plain. But when the full moon surfaces, her mother tells her a dark secret, both her and Claire are werewolves. Now Claire life becomes a lot more complicated. Not only does she have to deal with all her bodily changes of becoming a furry beast, she has to hide her secret from everyone, including her best friend, Emily, and Hottie Matthew. But there is also a rouge werewolf on the loose, on that is killing humans and endangering the existance of Claire's pack. To make the plot even twistier, Hottie Matthew is also the son of some deranged scientist hellbent of capturing and "curing" werewolves.
Okay, okay. I know this is a fantasy book. I know it has very little basis in the real world. But I can't help but bring forth some logical impossibilities this book passes off. There will be some spoilers ahead, although I shall try to use hypothetical situations only.
Say everyone knows werewolves exist. Say everyone thinks werewolves are bad, without even one PETA activist to wave a mighty picket sign. Say there are entire government organizations dedicated to researching and controlling lycanthropes. But despite all this, people know nothing about werewolves, at all. They don't know, or suspect, that they are all female (one thing I did like about this book was all the werewolf girl-power), and don't know their habits or anything. So instead of, I don't know, researching and studying one of the few werewolves they manage to capture, they lock it up in a cage in some unguarded lab, until they can "cure" it. Now, does this make sense? What kind of respectable lab, holding some a valuable specimen, doesn't even have surveillance cameras and puts the key to the cage of this valuable specimen IN THE REFRIGERATOR!!!!!!
Oh, and say, you were a bloodthristy werewolf. You like sunflowers right? And after killing some poor dude, you get your picture taken with a sunflower blocking your face. Uh-oh. I would be careful now. Because some ditzy teenager will walk aimlessly into your house, see a sunflower (which could or could not be the same one), and when they later see the incriminating picture, they will automatically link you to the scene of the crime. So be careful in the future.
Oh, and apparently bodies smell enough to be gag-worthy after 15 minutes of being deceased, and lupine body language is diverse enough to have complete nonverbal conversations with specific wordchoice and every thing. Even when you are not even freaking LOOKING at the werewolf you are having a conversation with.
Okay, with that off my chest....on to the characters. I have decided I dislike the name Claire. It just is a soiled name. Every time I hear it now, it brings to mind some annoying teenage "heroine". No offense to the Claires out there. You can't help what you are named at birth. So even though my first impression of you is shot to pieces, you still have the possibility of growing on me. All the characters in this story were just so completely underdeveloped. Not a likable or memorable face in the bunch. Everyone just filled their stereotypical role. Claire the "sweet" and quiet narrator, who only wants to protect her friends and family. Hottie Matthew, the attractive and understanding love interest who inexplicably falls for Plain Janes. Emily, the talkative and bubbly biffle. And Marie, the type-A mother. Mix in some wolves and bad guys, and there you go.
The plot was poo. I would say it was predictable, but I did fall prey to the red-herring for the longest time. I am actually quite ashamed I didn't figure it out sooner. So props there. And there was just no action or suspense. Just Claire fretting and worrying. I had no problem putting this book down.
Oh, and what is the mysterious Goddess that created werewolves?
Don't let my bitchin' and moanin' stop you from reading this book if it sounds interesting, really. It's just books like these make me bitter.
July 10, 2010
Rating 2.5 stars
After reading mixed reviews on this book I was hoping for the best. Unfortunatley I'm left feeling disappointed. This book was just okay. It wasn't bad it just wasn't that exciting.
Christine Johnson writing style is good as was her twist on werewolves but the plot was predictable and I felt a little bit bored. When I put this book down I easily forgot about it. I also predicted who the killer was within the first 100 pages. The characters were okay but I felt they were a little bit flat. And Claire sometimes irritated me with her insecurites especially about Matthew. Their romance was sweet but again predictable and lacking that something special.
Overall, this book just didn't capture my attention and wasn't for me.
After reading mixed reviews on this book I was hoping for the best. Unfortunatley I'm left feeling disappointed. This book was just okay. It wasn't bad it just wasn't that exciting.
Christine Johnson writing style is good as was her twist on werewolves but the plot was predictable and I felt a little bit bored. When I put this book down I easily forgot about it. I also predicted who the killer was within the first 100 pages. The characters were okay but I felt they were a little bit flat. And Claire sometimes irritated me with her insecurites especially about Matthew. Their romance was sweet but again predictable and lacking that something special.
Overall, this book just didn't capture my attention and wasn't for me.
December 23, 2012
I only picked this up because of the title..Debussy is one of my favorite composers. But unfortunately it's the cleverest part of this book. It had such potential, but fell flat within 20 pages. Insta-love, convenient plot and character lines, that a baked Idaho potato could see coming a million miles away. Claire our intrepid heroine finds out she is budding werewolf, and at 16 her transformation has already begun, heralded by a rash on her palms and ears, ( seriously?) but our self proclaimed wallflower also blossoms into some sort of super model that attracts the attention of the local high school hunk. No self respecting 16 year old girl would fall for " milk toasty" Matthew, who has the spine of a jelly fish.
Oh btw his dad is the scientist investigating all the local werewolf attacks.... Oh COME ON! Anyway hyjinks ensue, and it just gets more and more juvenile as the pages turn. I really wish that Ms. Johnson had written a Werewolf novel that actually had some freakin wolf TEETH! What was she so afraid of....when you read about werewolves, you want blood and guts and damn it, not a werewolf version of Disney's " The Shaggy Dog".
And OMG there is a sequel? Say it ain't so!!! Arrrrrggghhhh!
Oh btw his dad is the scientist investigating all the local werewolf attacks.... Oh COME ON! Anyway hyjinks ensue, and it just gets more and more juvenile as the pages turn. I really wish that Ms. Johnson had written a Werewolf novel that actually had some freakin wolf TEETH! What was she so afraid of....when you read about werewolves, you want blood and guts and damn it, not a werewolf version of Disney's " The Shaggy Dog".
And OMG there is a sequel? Say it ain't so!!! Arrrrrggghhhh!
September 4, 2020
I always say that I don't do cover buys and that's true. I always read the blurb too. In this case however it wasn't the cover speaking to me. It was the title. Debussy's Clair de Lune is one of my favorite classical pieces ever. A book based on that title? That was a book I had to check out. Since I've always been a vampire girl, I haven't read that many werewolf novels either, so when I read the blurb I grew quite curious.
From start to finish I quite enjoyed this book. Yes, at a lot of points it's quite cliche and therefore quite predictable too. Although, I have to admit that the book did manage to surprise me eventually in some way. I have, however, still high hopes that maybe in the sequel my theory will still be proven true. We will wait and see. However, despite the fact that the story wasn't too original, it was well written, addictive and captivating.
That was mostly because of the two main characters in this story. Firstly we have of course Claire. Claire is a typical YA 16-year old. Right after her birthday weird things start happening and then she discovers that she's a werewolf in a world that hates werewolves. Her reactions were natural and realistic, just like her development and the journey she took. Did she always do the right and smartest things? No, but her choices were easy to understand, which made her easy to like and root for.
And then there's Matthew. I might like Matthew even better, mostly because he's actually a great and good boyfriend. He's the kind of guy I would like to date myself. Of course, there is this Romeo and Juliet element going on where he is the son of a famous werewolf hunter, but I loved how Matthew actively had thoughts of his own and dared to voice them. He too makes mistakes and does things hurting others, but just like with Claire his choices are easy to understand.
I'm really curious to read the sequel and will get it with my next book buying spree!
From start to finish I quite enjoyed this book. Yes, at a lot of points it's quite cliche and therefore quite predictable too. Although, I have to admit that the book did manage to surprise me eventually in some way. I have, however, still high hopes that maybe in the sequel my theory will still be proven true. We will wait and see. However, despite the fact that the story wasn't too original, it was well written, addictive and captivating.
That was mostly because of the two main characters in this story. Firstly we have of course Claire. Claire is a typical YA 16-year old. Right after her birthday weird things start happening and then she discovers that she's a werewolf in a world that hates werewolves. Her reactions were natural and realistic, just like her development and the journey she took. Did she always do the right and smartest things? No, but her choices were easy to understand, which made her easy to like and root for.
And then there's Matthew. I might like Matthew even better, mostly because he's actually a great and good boyfriend. He's the kind of guy I would like to date myself. Of course, there is this Romeo and Juliet element going on where he is the son of a famous werewolf hunter, but I loved how Matthew actively had thoughts of his own and dared to voice them. He too makes mistakes and does things hurting others, but just like with Claire his choices are easy to understand.
I'm really curious to read the sequel and will get it with my next book buying spree!
August 8, 2010
(3.5stars)
Given the mixed reviews for this book, I'm surprised that I really liked this one. I'm picky, really picky when it comes to Werewolves, but I liked this particular take on the paranormal.
The idea of women dominating the legend was cool and I liked there abilities, even though it wasn't anything new, it was still pretty neat.
I liked Claire. Her reactions to everything felt very realistic. I also really liked Matthew, there was something very normal about him that I found refreshing. The love story wasn't to over the top, and the dialog between the two felt natural, sweet and unsure. I also liked the fact that it didn't take over the whole story and I liked his role in the very end. Nice touch.
The mystery surrounding the story was pretty predictable, but it was still enough to keep me intrigued.
However, I didn't care for Claire's mom, maybe in the end she was alright, but mostly she was frigid and robotic and her whole attitude bothered me. I liked Lisbeth more actually.
All in all, I thought Claire de Lune was a decent read and I look forward to reading the sequel.
Given the mixed reviews for this book, I'm surprised that I really liked this one. I'm picky, really picky when it comes to Werewolves, but I liked this particular take on the paranormal.
The idea of women dominating the legend was cool and I liked there abilities, even though it wasn't anything new, it was still pretty neat.
I liked Claire. Her reactions to everything felt very realistic. I also really liked Matthew, there was something very normal about him that I found refreshing. The love story wasn't to over the top, and the dialog between the two felt natural, sweet and unsure. I also liked the fact that it didn't take over the whole story and I liked his role in the very end. Nice touch.
The mystery surrounding the story was pretty predictable, but it was still enough to keep me intrigued.
However, I didn't care for Claire's mom, maybe in the end she was alright, but mostly she was frigid and robotic and her whole attitude bothered me. I liked Lisbeth more actually.
All in all, I thought Claire de Lune was a decent read and I look forward to reading the sequel.
July 25, 2010
I couldn't even stomach the rest of this book. I got to page 216/336 and that was it for me. There were just too many eye-rolls to get by.
Claire does NOT sound like a modern teenager. She sounds more like she just stepped out of the 1970s. But my biggest problem with her was that she said "Oh My God" and "Crap" way too much. I guess that's what makes it modern. GAG
The author of course put in your regular YA garb. Electric touch when her Boyfriend (Matthew) was near, butterflies in the stomach when she saw him in his bathing suit, Uhh... soccor.
Soccor? Why on earth did they have soccor in this book? Oh wells.
So, Claire just turned 16 and she found out that she's a werewolf.
Wait... that reminds me of this Michael J. Fox movie.
Back To the Future?
no
The Frightners?
oh god no
Beetleguise?
DUDE! he wasn't even in that movie.
Wait... it's coming to me... He was a basketball star, went to a party, had a long chest hair that he pulled out, got a splitting headache from a dog whistle.
That's right people!! This is a girl version of TEEN WOLF!!
Excpet... I could handle TEEN WOLF!! This book just made me want to hear the dog whistle.
So, if Claire (the teen girl wolf) is a bow wow and she's dating just the cutest boy in school... well, that means his Daddy must be the bad guy... cuz you know we just MUST Romeo and Juliet this mushy love up... it wouldn't be FORBIDDEN if we didn't have a bad guy. Well, shucks no!! So, insert Matthew's Daddy -- He hates werewolves (oh yeah... they know they're out there) and it's his lifelong dream to rid the world of them.
Claire of course was just your average wanna be Julia Roberts or whoever the Julia Roberts of today is. Ummmm.... Hmmmm.... Who's dating Zac Efron? Maybe her. She's wholesome, right? Or was she caught sexting?
Anyways :P Claire is just a goody girl who loves her Mommy (although her Mom talks like a Robot), loves to go shopping, HAS A POOL! (omg! Her life must be harsh), drinks coffee every morning (at 16? Really?), has a live in Nanny (yeah.... I was like What the Duce, too), and has just scored the perfect guy!
But wait!! Mommy doesn't like him!!
Oh noes!! rainclouds! Thunder! Lightening!!
WAit... let's run off to parties together and have awkward peer pressure scenes that involve liquor.
Really? I mean... REALLY?
Seriously kids... This book was written more like an outline. I love the idea of the story (This is why I gave it 2 stars) but it has just made me believe that anyone out there will publish any old Girl Werewolf story. That's just not too cool in my book.
So, I'm still searching for the great Girl Werewolf story.
Still, nothing to howl at.
Claire does NOT sound like a modern teenager. She sounds more like she just stepped out of the 1970s. But my biggest problem with her was that she said "Oh My God" and "Crap" way too much. I guess that's what makes it modern. GAG
The author of course put in your regular YA garb. Electric touch when her Boyfriend (Matthew) was near, butterflies in the stomach when she saw him in his bathing suit, Uhh... soccor.
Soccor? Why on earth did they have soccor in this book? Oh wells.
So, Claire just turned 16 and she found out that she's a werewolf.
Wait... that reminds me of this Michael J. Fox movie.
Back To the Future?
no
The Frightners?
oh god no
Beetleguise?
DUDE! he wasn't even in that movie.
Wait... it's coming to me... He was a basketball star, went to a party, had a long chest hair that he pulled out, got a splitting headache from a dog whistle.
That's right people!! This is a girl version of TEEN WOLF!!
Excpet... I could handle TEEN WOLF!! This book just made me want to hear the dog whistle.
So, if Claire (the teen girl wolf) is a bow wow and she's dating just the cutest boy in school... well, that means his Daddy must be the bad guy... cuz you know we just MUST Romeo and Juliet this mushy love up... it wouldn't be FORBIDDEN if we didn't have a bad guy. Well, shucks no!! So, insert Matthew's Daddy -- He hates werewolves (oh yeah... they know they're out there) and it's his lifelong dream to rid the world of them.
Claire of course was just your average wanna be Julia Roberts or whoever the Julia Roberts of today is. Ummmm.... Hmmmm.... Who's dating Zac Efron? Maybe her. She's wholesome, right? Or was she caught sexting?
Anyways :P Claire is just a goody girl who loves her Mommy (although her Mom talks like a Robot), loves to go shopping, HAS A POOL! (omg! Her life must be harsh), drinks coffee every morning (at 16? Really?), has a live in Nanny (yeah.... I was like What the Duce, too), and has just scored the perfect guy!
But wait!! Mommy doesn't like him!!
Oh noes!! rainclouds! Thunder! Lightening!!
WAit... let's run off to parties together and have awkward peer pressure scenes that involve liquor.
Really? I mean... REALLY?
Seriously kids... This book was written more like an outline. I love the idea of the story (This is why I gave it 2 stars) but it has just made me believe that anyone out there will publish any old Girl Werewolf story. That's just not too cool in my book.
So, I'm still searching for the great Girl Werewolf story.
Still, nothing to howl at.
February 21, 2010
Title: Claire de Lune
Author: Christine Johnson
Stars: 4
Summary from back of the book
Pages: 352
Release Date: 5/18/10
Thanks for the copy Christine!
Torn between two destinies...
Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all the sense of normalcy: She's a werewolf. As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love. Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart. she will make a choice that will change her forever...
My thoughts:
Claire de Lune is completely different than what I expected a werewolf book to be about. Becoming a werewolf is not by being bitten, but by being inherited and no male werewolves exist, which is completely different.
Beginning: Romance. No other book I've read introduces the romance before the actual excitement. I'm very happy it started with romance, though. I get very tired of waiting till the middle or even the end to read about the romances, so Claire de Lune was a pleasant surprise.
Middle: Absolutely wonderful. This was a totally different werewolf book (like I said before), the threats, the plot, and mostly everything was not expected, which is rich. I was dying of the cliche, boring werewolf books (Blood and Chocolate, Twilight etc...) but Claire de Lune saved me. I was stick in this book book, loved it!
There was, however, a few minor blemishes. In a few spots, the events were very rushed, and I had to go back a little and re-read it to comprehend what was going on.
End: Betrayal. A very good and tasty betrayal.
Characters: The characters weren't as well developed as I hoped they would be. Matthew was obscure, and so were most of the pack. The pack members were just there. Not much elaboration on them. I'm a reader that really likes details (more like a person who likes knowing things) so it frustrated me when I didn't get much on the characters.
Conclusion: Original and a great read, Claire de Lune is a wonderful, action-packed debut novel by Christine Johnson.
Author: Christine Johnson
Stars: 4
Summary from back of the book
Pages: 352
Release Date: 5/18/10
Thanks for the copy Christine!
Torn between two destinies...
Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all the sense of normalcy: She's a werewolf. As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love. Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart. she will make a choice that will change her forever...
My thoughts:
Claire de Lune is completely different than what I expected a werewolf book to be about. Becoming a werewolf is not by being bitten, but by being inherited and no male werewolves exist, which is completely different.
Beginning: Romance. No other book I've read introduces the romance before the actual excitement. I'm very happy it started with romance, though. I get very tired of waiting till the middle or even the end to read about the romances, so Claire de Lune was a pleasant surprise.
Middle: Absolutely wonderful. This was a totally different werewolf book (like I said before), the threats, the plot, and mostly everything was not expected, which is rich. I was dying of the cliche, boring werewolf books (Blood and Chocolate, Twilight etc...) but Claire de Lune saved me. I was stick in this book book, loved it!
There was, however, a few minor blemishes. In a few spots, the events were very rushed, and I had to go back a little and re-read it to comprehend what was going on.
End: Betrayal. A very good and tasty betrayal.
Characters: The characters weren't as well developed as I hoped they would be. Matthew was obscure, and so were most of the pack. The pack members were just there. Not much elaboration on them. I'm a reader that really likes details (more like a person who likes knowing things) so it frustrated me when I didn't get much on the characters.
Conclusion: Original and a great read, Claire de Lune is a wonderful, action-packed debut novel by Christine Johnson.
August 10, 2012
I wasn't able to finish the book. Pretty much, I read the first 70 pages, and then I flipped through the book to something interesting, or more interesting. I finally found myself at the end, and found out who was killing all the people.
I know other people have talked about this already, but how does someone link sunflowers in your house to posing by sunflowers in a murder photo shoot that you are definitely the killer. The only thing that the main character wonders is that it could be a coincidence. What about how huge of a leap that is, and how absolutely random.
I definitely wasn't expecting a book like this. Most of it was Claire talking to her mom, fighting with her mom, complaining about her mom, or kissing Matt, who she just met at her birthday party. I was probably expecting the average girl werewolf meets boy werewolf, which seriously? It probably would've been more interesting.( Also, it so happens that all werewolves are female. What did you do, Ms. Johnson?)
The murder mystery was okay (just not the part of how they found out that it was Zahlia), but I didn't like Claire's relationship with Matt-- from barely knowing him (if she did, it wasn't mentioned that I know of-- it could've been said further into the book, but I'll never know) to cuddling up and kissing on their first date. They barely know each other. Let me repeat this. They. Barely. Know. Each. Other. I kept thinking that (at one of the places that I stopped at to read) when Matt asked to meet her after Matt had transformed, I was sure that he was going to try to lock her in a cage, and that he was actually on the same side as his dad. Who even dates a person whose dad kills werewolves, when (let's say) you are one. Hmm….. doesn't strike me as a good idea. Maybe if you've known them for a while, and are sure that they disagree with their dad's opinions about werewolves, but there's this thing called lying. I didn't like that part of the book either.
I just read 13 to life before this book, and like Claire de Lune, it has the promise of werewolves in it. 13 to Life was pretty much just a teen drama. The. Whole. Way. THrough. Except like one mention of the werewolves at very end. (Fortunately, I don't mind teen dramas that much, but that's no important.) So, therefore, a plus side to Claire de Lune, is that it definitely is about and has a lot of werewolves.
And with that, those are the reasons why I dislike this book. This is probably the largest review I've done. Congrats if you read the whole thing! :D
I know other people have talked about this already, but how does someone link sunflowers in your house to posing by sunflowers in a murder photo shoot that you are definitely the killer. The only thing that the main character wonders is that it could be a coincidence. What about how huge of a leap that is, and how absolutely random.
I definitely wasn't expecting a book like this. Most of it was Claire talking to her mom, fighting with her mom, complaining about her mom, or kissing Matt, who she just met at her birthday party. I was probably expecting the average girl werewolf meets boy werewolf, which seriously? It probably would've been more interesting.( Also, it so happens that all werewolves are female. What did you do, Ms. Johnson?)
The murder mystery was okay (just not the part of how they found out that it was Zahlia), but I didn't like Claire's relationship with Matt-- from barely knowing him (if she did, it wasn't mentioned that I know of-- it could've been said further into the book, but I'll never know) to cuddling up and kissing on their first date. They barely know each other. Let me repeat this. They. Barely. Know. Each. Other. I kept thinking that (at one of the places that I stopped at to read) when Matt asked to meet her after Matt had transformed, I was sure that he was going to try to lock her in a cage, and that he was actually on the same side as his dad. Who even dates a person whose dad kills werewolves, when (let's say) you are one. Hmm….. doesn't strike me as a good idea. Maybe if you've known them for a while, and are sure that they disagree with their dad's opinions about werewolves, but there's this thing called lying. I didn't like that part of the book either.
I just read 13 to life before this book, and like Claire de Lune, it has the promise of werewolves in it. 13 to Life was pretty much just a teen drama. The. Whole. Way. THrough. Except like one mention of the werewolves at very end. (Fortunately, I don't mind teen dramas that much, but that's no important.) So, therefore, a plus side to Claire de Lune, is that it definitely is about and has a lot of werewolves.
And with that, those are the reasons why I dislike this book. This is probably the largest review I've done. Congrats if you read the whole thing! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2010
CLAIRE DE LUNE, Christine Johnson’s debut novel, is a good but not standout addition to werewolf lit. The simple way that this twist on werewolf lore is presented will make it a quick and satisfying read to ardent werewolf lovers, though it will have a tougher time winning the hearts of others.
In CLAIRE DE LUNE, Christine Johnson introduces us to a different type of paranormal world, in which only females can be werewolves. It’s not a feminist book, per se, but the dynamic that this sets up allows Claire to grow into a strong and self-reliant girl/werewolf. Here, it’s the girl protecting the boy, not the usual way around.
Having a girl be the strength in a relationship would be a great story, but the book unfortunately never fully lives up to its potential. Outside of Claire, I found the characters difficult to get to know, most of them only fitting “roles” expected to appear in a paranormal romance: the tensions among the werewolf group members, the love interest’s villainous father, the head-butting mother, etc. I never found myself fully immersed in Claire’s family dynamics, with her mother’s Type A “bad parent” personality and their rather inconsequential au pair (who’s more a red herring than a useful character, perhaps?). And all of Matthew’s father’s supposedly malevolent machinations and campaign against werewolves remained in the distant background and never fully took on immediacy.
I guess I’m just sort of extra cynical when it comes to paranormal romances nowadays: it’s going to take a lot to make something stand out for me. CLAIRE DE LUNE never reaches that point for me, but I have no doubt that it will find its audience as scores of werewolf lovers prowl the shelves for something equally supernatural and romantic after watching Twilight for the twenty-eighth time.
In CLAIRE DE LUNE, Christine Johnson introduces us to a different type of paranormal world, in which only females can be werewolves. It’s not a feminist book, per se, but the dynamic that this sets up allows Claire to grow into a strong and self-reliant girl/werewolf. Here, it’s the girl protecting the boy, not the usual way around.
Having a girl be the strength in a relationship would be a great story, but the book unfortunately never fully lives up to its potential. Outside of Claire, I found the characters difficult to get to know, most of them only fitting “roles” expected to appear in a paranormal romance: the tensions among the werewolf group members, the love interest’s villainous father, the head-butting mother, etc. I never found myself fully immersed in Claire’s family dynamics, with her mother’s Type A “bad parent” personality and their rather inconsequential au pair (who’s more a red herring than a useful character, perhaps?). And all of Matthew’s father’s supposedly malevolent machinations and campaign against werewolves remained in the distant background and never fully took on immediacy.
I guess I’m just sort of extra cynical when it comes to paranormal romances nowadays: it’s going to take a lot to make something stand out for me. CLAIRE DE LUNE never reaches that point for me, but I have no doubt that it will find its audience as scores of werewolf lovers prowl the shelves for something equally supernatural and romantic after watching Twilight for the twenty-eighth time.
September 22, 2018
This book was so bad that it was actually kinda good... I struggled through the first pages and rolled my eyes at some of the particularly bad metaphor choices (‘a shock of electricity shot through her as he motioned for her to come over’). I mean c’mon everyone knows, once you’ve passed the age of 12, that using this image is NOT a sign of good writing. But then I realised that I’m reading this as a 21 year old woman and, in fact, my 13 year old self would have bloody loved this book. Therefore, although it was cringey and the plot was obvious I did get invested in this book as it’s a great reminder of my werewolf-vampire-fallen angel teenage reading phase.
August 9, 2011
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
I really wanted to like Claire de Lune in spite of all of the mixed reviews that I read. Being a werewolf fanatic, I decided that I just had to give-it-a-go anyway. The book introduces a couple of interesting deviations on shapeshifter lore that I was hoping to explore in greater detail as the story progressed. However, aside from a few faster paced action-y parts this novel focuses mainly on Claire's coming of age story rather than on the furrier aspects. Which isn't a bad thing if you're a fan of Young Adult fiction but personally, I only read YA if there's also a supernatural element. I'm not a fan of teenage angst unless the main character has a tail or fangs.
I did enjoy Christine Johnson's interpretation of werewolves. Traditionally, wolf packs revolve around the alpha male but in this instance male werewolves don't exist. This little tidbit created a whole new dynamic to pack life. New wolves can only be born instead of made and they have different rituals including how their leaders are chosen. That's basically Johnson's werewolves in a nutshell. Their history, origins and such are not covered whatsoever. These elements aren't crucial to the plot line but I think a little more back story would have been a welcomed addition. At least from my perspective because after all, I'm all about the wolves!
Claire's mother annoyed me to no end! She's a horrible parent, a lousy werewolf role model and very hard to relate to. I'm not sure if it was because she's French and the author wanted to portray some sort of language barrier or if she just likes being a wolf way too much. Either way, Marie really cramped this book's style.
On the upside, Claire's an incredibly lovable character! All of a sudden she turns sixteen and instead of getting a car she finds out that she's a werewolf. Talk about a life changer! She manages to cope pretty well while juggling her best friend and Matthew. The budding relationship between Claire and her new boy toy is just so adorable. It has that innocent "first love" feel.
I didn't get what I was hoping for out of Claire de Lune. The story is so-so, there's next to no werewolf intrigue and Marie is a real... pain in the butt. Avid readers of YA might enjoy this one but other than that, I wouldn't bump this one up on your to-read list if I were you.
I really wanted to like Claire de Lune in spite of all of the mixed reviews that I read. Being a werewolf fanatic, I decided that I just had to give-it-a-go anyway. The book introduces a couple of interesting deviations on shapeshifter lore that I was hoping to explore in greater detail as the story progressed. However, aside from a few faster paced action-y parts this novel focuses mainly on Claire's coming of age story rather than on the furrier aspects. Which isn't a bad thing if you're a fan of Young Adult fiction but personally, I only read YA if there's also a supernatural element. I'm not a fan of teenage angst unless the main character has a tail or fangs.
I did enjoy Christine Johnson's interpretation of werewolves. Traditionally, wolf packs revolve around the alpha male but in this instance male werewolves don't exist. This little tidbit created a whole new dynamic to pack life. New wolves can only be born instead of made and they have different rituals including how their leaders are chosen. That's basically Johnson's werewolves in a nutshell. Their history, origins and such are not covered whatsoever. These elements aren't crucial to the plot line but I think a little more back story would have been a welcomed addition. At least from my perspective because after all, I'm all about the wolves!
Claire's mother annoyed me to no end! She's a horrible parent, a lousy werewolf role model and very hard to relate to. I'm not sure if it was because she's French and the author wanted to portray some sort of language barrier or if she just likes being a wolf way too much. Either way, Marie really cramped this book's style.
On the upside, Claire's an incredibly lovable character! All of a sudden she turns sixteen and instead of getting a car she finds out that she's a werewolf. Talk about a life changer! She manages to cope pretty well while juggling her best friend and Matthew. The budding relationship between Claire and her new boy toy is just so adorable. It has that innocent "first love" feel.
I didn't get what I was hoping for out of Claire de Lune. The story is so-so, there's next to no werewolf intrigue and Marie is a real... pain in the butt. Avid readers of YA might enjoy this one but other than that, I wouldn't bump this one up on your to-read list if I were you.
February 19, 2017
A solid 3.5 stars for this nice little take on werewolf folklore... it had a novel storyline and the main characters were likeable enough... it picked up towards the end of the book...
Very teen orientated so I'd recommend it to younger readers
Very teen orientated so I'd recommend it to younger readers
April 14, 2011
Decent read about a teenage female werewolf, who finds herself thrown into the politics of a small werewolf pack, a rogue werewolf killing humans, and antipathy from prejudiced, terrified humans. And wouldn’t you know it, the boy she likes is the son of the scientist. Even though it had a number of flaws, I found myself really enjoying it. I think it was two reasons:
1) all werewolves are female in this world (males apparently cannot survive the condition – this is the opposite of convention, since most werewolf stories focus on men, and stories in which a type of supernatural creature is all one gender, it’s usually male – Jennifer Barnes’ Raised by Wolves; Poppy Z. Brite’s Lost Souls)
2) it focused on a teenage girl – teenage werewolf stories are rare (Michael J. Fox aside), and again, most of them are about boys – the specific problems Claire encounters put a different spin on the lycanthrope condition
I also liked the way the author described the ways in which Claire gradually changed and took on more “wolflike” qualities (enhanced senses, greater speed and strength, etc) – this is often either done poorly or too overdone; here it was done well enough to be believable.
The werewolves were more palatable to me as well; more like large versions of real wolves, who seem to retain their human consciousness to a point (although even in their human form, they seem to develop different attitudes and emotional qualities than normal humans; yet, Claire’s feeling of turmoil implies this is perhaps a learned, rather than inherent, difference).
The characters were a bit thin, the dialogue a bit sloppy, and the unique perspectives were not utilized to their potential, but overall I found myself enjoying this book quite a bit. If you are interested in werewolves, or teenage fiction with a supernatural twist, this deserves a read.
1) all werewolves are female in this world (males apparently cannot survive the condition – this is the opposite of convention, since most werewolf stories focus on men, and stories in which a type of supernatural creature is all one gender, it’s usually male – Jennifer Barnes’ Raised by Wolves; Poppy Z. Brite’s Lost Souls)
2) it focused on a teenage girl – teenage werewolf stories are rare (Michael J. Fox aside), and again, most of them are about boys – the specific problems Claire encounters put a different spin on the lycanthrope condition
I also liked the way the author described the ways in which Claire gradually changed and took on more “wolflike” qualities (enhanced senses, greater speed and strength, etc) – this is often either done poorly or too overdone; here it was done well enough to be believable.
The werewolves were more palatable to me as well; more like large versions of real wolves, who seem to retain their human consciousness to a point (although even in their human form, they seem to develop different attitudes and emotional qualities than normal humans; yet, Claire’s feeling of turmoil implies this is perhaps a learned, rather than inherent, difference).
The characters were a bit thin, the dialogue a bit sloppy, and the unique perspectives were not utilized to their potential, but overall I found myself enjoying this book quite a bit. If you are interested in werewolves, or teenage fiction with a supernatural twist, this deserves a read.
July 24, 2010
Claire de Lune is a unique idea on werewolf mythology. Although personally I would have liked to know a little bit more about the history and a deeper explanation of the ties to their 'goddess'. It doesn't necessarily take away from the story, but it would have been a much appreciated addition.
Claire was a fantastic character. Even if your not a fan of paranormal elements, you can't help but relate with Claire and her struggle to fit in and be a normal teenager. I mean, sure Claire has that whole, I just found out I'm a werewolf, and I can't tell anyone... I'm a big freak. But I think everyone has moments where they feel like they don't fit in, without the whole werewolf thing. I loved Claire's relationship with her best friend. It was refreshing to see that strong of a bond between two girls, who really do genuinely care for each other. Perhaps I'm a little burnt out on the whole backstabbing best friend trend.
I could not figure out the identity of the killer, until Johnson pretty much spelled it out for the reader. Lots of eye popping plot twists in this one!
The relationship between Matthew and Claire was the only thing that I was a little disappointed in. Matthew as a character just didn't leap of the page like Claire and the other secondary characters did. He felt a little flat to me and he was just a little too perfect. I hate to think that I prefer some sort of conflict between the love interests, but there was just something missing between those two.
The ending wraps up nicely, although a little too convenient for my tastes, there is definitely the groundwork for a sequel.
Claire was a fantastic character. Even if your not a fan of paranormal elements, you can't help but relate with Claire and her struggle to fit in and be a normal teenager. I mean, sure Claire has that whole, I just found out I'm a werewolf, and I can't tell anyone... I'm a big freak. But I think everyone has moments where they feel like they don't fit in, without the whole werewolf thing. I loved Claire's relationship with her best friend. It was refreshing to see that strong of a bond between two girls, who really do genuinely care for each other. Perhaps I'm a little burnt out on the whole backstabbing best friend trend.
I could not figure out the identity of the killer, until Johnson pretty much spelled it out for the reader. Lots of eye popping plot twists in this one!
The relationship between Matthew and Claire was the only thing that I was a little disappointed in. Matthew as a character just didn't leap of the page like Claire and the other secondary characters did. He felt a little flat to me and he was just a little too perfect. I hate to think that I prefer some sort of conflict between the love interests, but there was just something missing between those two.
The ending wraps up nicely, although a little too convenient for my tastes, there is definitely the groundwork for a sequel.
July 21, 2010
When I first saw the cover and the title of this book, I knew that I had to read it. It was about a girl, Claire, whose life was about to change when she reached her sixteenth birthday. She found out that she was actually a werewolf. At first, she resented the idea of being a werewolf. She even tried to shave her fur. But eventually, she accepted her identity and fate and found out the benefits of being a werewolf.
The romance that blossomed between Claire and Matthew started at the beginning of the novel. It felt true and nice, but not overboard. I think that's what teenagers like to read about. I liked Matthew's character; he was such a good guy. I mean, really good guy. He's handsome, nice, kind, supportive and is good in sports. He opposed his dad's idea that all werewolves were evil.
This novel was mainly about Claire's huge transformation: from a normal girl to a werewolf and her attitude concerning the fact. Christine included a bad werewolf who hunted humans to add the suspense element in the story. Actually, I already figured out who the bad wolf is in the first half of the story. But it didn't make the story seemed dull. The story got more and more exciting towards the end of the novel.
Claire de Lune altered our previous concept of werewolves. In this novel, werewolves are all females, and humans are well-aware of their presence. In a nutshell, it is fast-paced, exciting and fun to read. I really enjoyed it. As a debut novel, Claire de Lune is quite promising. I hope to read more books by Christine in the future!
The romance that blossomed between Claire and Matthew started at the beginning of the novel. It felt true and nice, but not overboard. I think that's what teenagers like to read about. I liked Matthew's character; he was such a good guy. I mean, really good guy. He's handsome, nice, kind, supportive and is good in sports. He opposed his dad's idea that all werewolves were evil.
This novel was mainly about Claire's huge transformation: from a normal girl to a werewolf and her attitude concerning the fact. Christine included a bad werewolf who hunted humans to add the suspense element in the story. Actually, I already figured out who the bad wolf is in the first half of the story. But it didn't make the story seemed dull. The story got more and more exciting towards the end of the novel.
Claire de Lune altered our previous concept of werewolves. In this novel, werewolves are all females, and humans are well-aware of their presence. In a nutshell, it is fast-paced, exciting and fun to read. I really enjoyed it. As a debut novel, Claire de Lune is quite promising. I hope to read more books by Christine in the future!
Read
April 20, 2015 Being a werewolf can happen to the best of us or the worst of us. Claire was a good candidate; I'm sure her unique predicament will put her through situations that will potentially strengthen her moral compass and become a bit less self centered. These events must take place after the story of her discovery, I presume? Or there is a second book I've missed? Unless the book is supposed to be a comedy? I'm not sure, now, maybe there are foot notes.
September 18, 2013
Honestly I didn't even want to finish this book. It was poorly done in my opinion. The story could've been great, but I did not like the wringing style.
October 31, 2021
3.5 ⭐'s.
March 3, 2022
Only read it cause it had the name Matthew in it, came for Matthew stayed for alpha
Read
July 7, 2022No world building, quick acceptance of strange shit by the main characters, a romance as exciting as a wet dishcloth and a pretty obvious villian.
Terrible.
Terrible.
July 13, 2021
I went into this with an open mind and I was not disappointed. It was a good story, but the characters just didn't do much for me(besides Matthew ofc, he's a sweetheart) 3.5 for me:)
December 9, 2013
See more of my reviews at We Live and Breathe Books
Am I just angry because of schoolwork or am I just picking up shitty books to read? Like Need, which I wrote about last week, this book has a bit of potential, and I won't deny that, but it is overwhelmingly ruined by a terrible plot, only one decent character, a premise that seems as if this author wrote it for no other reason but to have a female werewolf . . . and the list goes on.
Seriously this book could be fine but why does she hammer in the point that Claire is a female werewolf in a pack of female werewolves. I get that it's a new concept to some people, all of them used to Lautner or more admirable male wolves but come one! Subtlety does work wonders, and speaks more about the power of the contrast than making the contrast evident. The werewolf mythology itself is kind of vague and all we really know is that they're good . . . but not why or where they stem from or what they're really doing. What Johnson does well here is that she does not wait forever to introduce werewolves. Claire wolfs out in like chapter one. And there are no vampires! AND humans know werewolves exist. The greatest bit about this book is that while it is about werewolves and paranormal romance, it feels FRESH (at least, in the beginning).
A note on language: I am rather divided because there is strong flow but weak diction. Example "none of them have the chance to make a sound . . . except when their necks snap", which is from the killer wolf view, which I like that she includes but at time it feels choppy. An important scene will just be followed by gore and blood and while I like that, it stops making sense after a while.
Claire, our one partially redeemable character (all the others are two dimensional for the most part so I won't consider them) is pretty alright. She has that struggle of trying to fit in, and most teens can relate to that. She thinks she's a monster . . . and well, she is. She's a strong heroine but honestly she doesn't seem very special. She urges her normalcy so much and unlike Percy Jackson or Clarissa Fray, for examples, she doesn't own up to herself. She spends way too much of the novel fighting with her mother or kissing Matt, the gorgeous love interest who seemingly has no other purpose. Sure, the showdown at the end reveals a bit of dynamic in her character, but I felt as though I had to wait too long to care. Maybe if the connection was augmented? In all, she felt relateable enough that I could like some things about her, the biggest being her relationship with her best friend, which was really the only source of much light in the novel considering half the witty banter and exposition takes place between the them.
Plotwise I am not amused by this novel. Everything is so convenient, like Claire's love interest happening to be in an Protection Agency. The book follows a repeated series of lying, dying, and about zero exposition in which Claire's position is reiterated. This girl really wants to be normal. It's not enough to knock this novel down to two stars but if a little more thought had been placed on the repetitive nature that precedes the climax, I think it could have been more than three stars. The worst part is that the big reveal is so lame. Spoiler: the big connection Claire makes is about the sunflowers in a picture, to the sunflowers in her house. Uhm, what. Really? You couldn't expose the killer in some more intriguing way? Why something so acute and out of the blue?
The progression of this book is as follows:
Most of the book resides over the precipice of the stairs. A little too much mystery and plot twistery for my taste, enough so that it becomes stagnant. There needs to be a little bit of foreshadowing. And then it kind of tumbles into an ending that is just too nice. Like, nothing too terrible happens and no wrenching realizations take their toll and there isn't a cliff in sight to be hung on. In all, I wouldn't be opposed to a sequal, but I because I do like the originality that Johnson displays in her ideas, I would just like a little more on the delivery stage.
- Marlon
Am I just angry because of schoolwork or am I just picking up shitty books to read? Like Need, which I wrote about last week, this book has a bit of potential, and I won't deny that, but it is overwhelmingly ruined by a terrible plot, only one decent character, a premise that seems as if this author wrote it for no other reason but to have a female werewolf . . . and the list goes on.
Seriously this book could be fine but why does she hammer in the point that Claire is a female werewolf in a pack of female werewolves. I get that it's a new concept to some people, all of them used to Lautner or more admirable male wolves but come one! Subtlety does work wonders, and speaks more about the power of the contrast than making the contrast evident. The werewolf mythology itself is kind of vague and all we really know is that they're good . . . but not why or where they stem from or what they're really doing. What Johnson does well here is that she does not wait forever to introduce werewolves. Claire wolfs out in like chapter one. And there are no vampires! AND humans know werewolves exist. The greatest bit about this book is that while it is about werewolves and paranormal romance, it feels FRESH (at least, in the beginning).
A note on language: I am rather divided because there is strong flow but weak diction. Example "none of them have the chance to make a sound . . . except when their necks snap", which is from the killer wolf view, which I like that she includes but at time it feels choppy. An important scene will just be followed by gore and blood and while I like that, it stops making sense after a while.
Claire, our one partially redeemable character (all the others are two dimensional for the most part so I won't consider them) is pretty alright. She has that struggle of trying to fit in, and most teens can relate to that. She thinks she's a monster . . . and well, she is. She's a strong heroine but honestly she doesn't seem very special. She urges her normalcy so much and unlike Percy Jackson or Clarissa Fray, for examples, she doesn't own up to herself. She spends way too much of the novel fighting with her mother or kissing Matt, the gorgeous love interest who seemingly has no other purpose. Sure, the showdown at the end reveals a bit of dynamic in her character, but I felt as though I had to wait too long to care. Maybe if the connection was augmented? In all, she felt relateable enough that I could like some things about her, the biggest being her relationship with her best friend, which was really the only source of much light in the novel considering half the witty banter and exposition takes place between the them.
Plotwise I am not amused by this novel. Everything is so convenient, like Claire's love interest happening to be in an Protection Agency. The book follows a repeated series of lying, dying, and about zero exposition in which Claire's position is reiterated. This girl really wants to be normal. It's not enough to knock this novel down to two stars but if a little more thought had been placed on the repetitive nature that precedes the climax, I think it could have been more than three stars. The worst part is that the big reveal is so lame. Spoiler: the big connection Claire makes is about the sunflowers in a picture, to the sunflowers in her house. Uhm, what. Really? You couldn't expose the killer in some more intriguing way? Why something so acute and out of the blue?
The progression of this book is as follows:
Most of the book resides over the precipice of the stairs. A little too much mystery and plot twistery for my taste, enough so that it becomes stagnant. There needs to be a little bit of foreshadowing. And then it kind of tumbles into an ending that is just too nice. Like, nothing too terrible happens and no wrenching realizations take their toll and there isn't a cliff in sight to be hung on. In all, I wouldn't be opposed to a sequal, but I because I do like the originality that Johnson displays in her ideas, I would just like a little more on the delivery stage.
- Marlon
March 5, 2018
Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson
Every single time I read a supernatural book, I remember just how much I love them! I really did enjoy this novel and I couldn’t seem to put it down. This book is the traditional supernatural book with werewolves, excitement, and my favorite, romance!
Read the Full Review on my Blog
Every single time I read a supernatural book, I remember just how much I love them! I really did enjoy this novel and I couldn’t seem to put it down. This book is the traditional supernatural book with werewolves, excitement, and my favorite, romance!
Read the Full Review on my Blog
June 30, 2017
This was another case of I just wasn't a big fan of the MC. I never got over the way that she treated people. I get that she doesn't like the fact that her mom is gone a lot but treating the people who take care of you crappy like that just makes me angry. The only good thing about this book was the romance. It wasn't great but it at least worked out in the end.
October 30, 2011
This review was originally posted on my blog, Ramblings of a Daydreamer. You can see it, and many more reviews over at the blog.
Well…I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the concept and thought it was original – people know about werewolves, although their identities aren’t known except inside the packs. Only women are werewolves, and it’s passed down through the generations. Nice change from the whole 'Alpha male' thing. It was an interesting mix of paranormal, suspense, and romance.
That being said, Claire wasn’t my favorite character ever. Actually, to be honest, I didn’t really love any of the characters. I didn’t hate Claire by any means, but she spends a lot of time going over the same things – she’s not human anymore, she’s a werewolf, it’s so hard to keep it from people, she pushes away her best friend (who really annoyed me by the way – she was a stereotypical boy-crazy, self-absorbed teenager) because her friend's problems are insignificant in comparison and because Claire can’t talk to her about her own problems. I also found it a bit odd that Claire accepted things so easily – it was like 'happy birthday Claire, and hey, guess what, you’re a werewolf, surprise!' I would have freaked the hell out personally, even after seeing proof with my own eyes. But that’s just me. It also kind of bothered me that when Claire says ‘oh my god’ her mother corrects her and says ‘goddess’, and even though that happens several times, she never explains why, but Claire just accepts it without question. Sorry, but if I'd been taught to believe something my entire life, and then was told 'no, believe this' I'd question it. Plus, I think it could have added more to the story.
Claire’s mother was an extremely unlikable character. She definitely gets the worst mother of the year award. She’s so self-absorbed that she barely seems to care about Claire at all, and Claire basically can’t do anything right. But, I kind of enjoy characters who are genuinely unlikable because it’s a sign that the author did something right – when a character evokes genuine emotion from a reader, whether it’s love or hate, it shows a well-written and well-formed character. Does that make sense?
Anyway, all that being said, the romance junkie in me enjoyed the budding relationship between Claire and Matthew. It was all very innocent and sweet. To me, that’s how first love feels – you’re awkward and unsure, but have these sweet little moments. And Matthew was a great guy, just what Claire needs. It always felt like there was a little something missing between them, and Matthew was kind of freakishly perfect, but it worked.
Overall, I think that if this book had been about 100 pages shorter and had cut out a lot of the filler, it would have been more enjoyable. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. I’m sure there are many, many people who will enjoy it though, so it’s worth a read, especially if you enjoy books about werewolves and teenage angst. I’m not 100% if I’ll read the next book, Nocturne, but I’ll admit to being just curious enough that I might eventually read it.
Well…I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the concept and thought it was original – people know about werewolves, although their identities aren’t known except inside the packs. Only women are werewolves, and it’s passed down through the generations. Nice change from the whole 'Alpha male' thing. It was an interesting mix of paranormal, suspense, and romance.
That being said, Claire wasn’t my favorite character ever. Actually, to be honest, I didn’t really love any of the characters. I didn’t hate Claire by any means, but she spends a lot of time going over the same things – she’s not human anymore, she’s a werewolf, it’s so hard to keep it from people, she pushes away her best friend (who really annoyed me by the way – she was a stereotypical boy-crazy, self-absorbed teenager) because her friend's problems are insignificant in comparison and because Claire can’t talk to her about her own problems. I also found it a bit odd that Claire accepted things so easily – it was like 'happy birthday Claire, and hey, guess what, you’re a werewolf, surprise!' I would have freaked the hell out personally, even after seeing proof with my own eyes. But that’s just me. It also kind of bothered me that when Claire says ‘oh my god’ her mother corrects her and says ‘goddess’, and even though that happens several times, she never explains why, but Claire just accepts it without question. Sorry, but if I'd been taught to believe something my entire life, and then was told 'no, believe this' I'd question it. Plus, I think it could have added more to the story.
Claire’s mother was an extremely unlikable character. She definitely gets the worst mother of the year award. She’s so self-absorbed that she barely seems to care about Claire at all, and Claire basically can’t do anything right. But, I kind of enjoy characters who are genuinely unlikable because it’s a sign that the author did something right – when a character evokes genuine emotion from a reader, whether it’s love or hate, it shows a well-written and well-formed character. Does that make sense?
Anyway, all that being said, the romance junkie in me enjoyed the budding relationship between Claire and Matthew. It was all very innocent and sweet. To me, that’s how first love feels – you’re awkward and unsure, but have these sweet little moments. And Matthew was a great guy, just what Claire needs. It always felt like there was a little something missing between them, and Matthew was kind of freakishly perfect, but it worked.
Overall, I think that if this book had been about 100 pages shorter and had cut out a lot of the filler, it would have been more enjoyable. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. I’m sure there are many, many people who will enjoy it though, so it’s worth a read, especially if you enjoy books about werewolves and teenage angst. I’m not 100% if I’ll read the next book, Nocturne, but I’ll admit to being just curious enough that I might eventually read it.
August 2, 2010
Claire gets a shocker for her sixteenth birthday - you're a werewolf. Gee, thanks mom for warning me. But Claire's mom isn't the warm and fuzzy type - rather cold actually which makes her hard to like, but she seems to be trying as the book goes on.
It's known that werewolves exist but they try to stay under the radar because society considers them savage beasts. Claire meets the local pack and realizes that this isn't the reality, but when a rogue werewolf goes on a killing spree in town, it doesn't help their reputation.
The folklore twist here is that werewolves are only female, and use male humans to get pregnant (if you think about this girl-only thing too long, you can start to question how that can really work, so don't - just go with it). Love and long-term relationships are not encouraged, so of course Claire has a blossoming romance with Matthew who's dad is the fanatical scientist trying to catch and "cure" the beasts.
Matthew is a sweet wholesome fellow who is torn between supporting his dad and his personal beliefs that werewolves may not be that bad. He's an adorable love interest - kind, honest, loyal, athletic and intelligent, and theirs is an innocent romance.
I would have liked Claire to get over her "but how could such a great guy like me" a bit sooner, but overall she's likable and real with her struggles. Her reactions to her new-found situation seemed appropriate. Growing hair and becoming a wolf - yucky. Having to lie to her friends and having little chance at real love - crappy. And she's angry with her mom for all the lies and lack of any warning.
The pace is fairly steady - got a bit slow for me at times - but picks up toward the end. There are several red herrings to keep you guessing who the killer is and enough twists to keep it fun.
SEXUAL CONTENT: Mild stuff - kissing and cuddling. Oh, and while Matthew and Claire go to a party where there is under age drinking, neither of them consume alcohol. When Claire asks why he isn't drinking, he explains that he isn't interested since it would get him kicked off the soccer team and he'd lose his scholarships which would keep him from getting into a great university - he's not interested in ruining his future. See what I mean - wholesome and intelligent.
THE COVER: Lovely! I like the US better than the UK (which reminded me of Shiver and Linger).
BOTTOM LINE: Cute, light, fun, entertaining tale with mythical creatures, danger, betrayal, mystery and romance. Themes of girl-power, self-acceptance, family and bravery-through-adversity are covered. Claire de Lune doesn't break massive new ground in the werewolf genre, but the writing is good and the story enjoyable. I recommend it as a solid summer read especially for werewolf lovers.
It's known that werewolves exist but they try to stay under the radar because society considers them savage beasts. Claire meets the local pack and realizes that this isn't the reality, but when a rogue werewolf goes on a killing spree in town, it doesn't help their reputation.
The folklore twist here is that werewolves are only female, and use male humans to get pregnant (if you think about this girl-only thing too long, you can start to question how that can really work, so don't - just go with it). Love and long-term relationships are not encouraged, so of course Claire has a blossoming romance with Matthew who's dad is the fanatical scientist trying to catch and "cure" the beasts.
Matthew is a sweet wholesome fellow who is torn between supporting his dad and his personal beliefs that werewolves may not be that bad. He's an adorable love interest - kind, honest, loyal, athletic and intelligent, and theirs is an innocent romance.
I would have liked Claire to get over her "but how could such a great guy like me" a bit sooner, but overall she's likable and real with her struggles. Her reactions to her new-found situation seemed appropriate. Growing hair and becoming a wolf - yucky. Having to lie to her friends and having little chance at real love - crappy. And she's angry with her mom for all the lies and lack of any warning.
The pace is fairly steady - got a bit slow for me at times - but picks up toward the end. There are several red herrings to keep you guessing who the killer is and enough twists to keep it fun.
SEXUAL CONTENT: Mild stuff - kissing and cuddling. Oh, and while Matthew and Claire go to a party where there is under age drinking, neither of them consume alcohol. When Claire asks why he isn't drinking, he explains that he isn't interested since it would get him kicked off the soccer team and he'd lose his scholarships which would keep him from getting into a great university - he's not interested in ruining his future. See what I mean - wholesome and intelligent.
THE COVER: Lovely! I like the US better than the UK (which reminded me of Shiver and Linger).
BOTTOM LINE: Cute, light, fun, entertaining tale with mythical creatures, danger, betrayal, mystery and romance. Themes of girl-power, self-acceptance, family and bravery-through-adversity are covered. Claire de Lune doesn't break massive new ground in the werewolf genre, but the writing is good and the story enjoyable. I recommend it as a solid summer read especially for werewolf lovers.
April 27, 2011
Honestly? I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I was expecting Claire to be dull and her 'romance' with Matthew to be cliche and twilighty... but it wasn't.
At first I didn't like her mother. After her mother told her that they were both werewolves, I thought that she was being awfully selfish by not telling Claire everything, and just sort of springing it on her in an awkward fashion. To find out your mother has been a werewolf all along? And now you are too? Yeah I'd be just as freaked out and somewhat pissed off as Claire was. I sided with Claire almost instantly, which like I said is rare for me because I usually end up hating the protaganist. I just really think her reaction to her situation felt real. She was at first in denial, and somewhat scared, and confused and angry, and then she started to get curious. I read too many books where the main character is told they're a vampire or werewolf and they're just like 'yeah cool with it'.
I thought the struggles Claire dealt with were pretty realistic. Having to hide the secret from her best friend, her kind-of boyfriend, even her housekeeper/babysitter/nanny Lisbeth. It was well written in that aspect, I felt.
I also liked how Claire's relationship with Matthew was slow going at first. She seemed hesitant, and handled it well, I thought. She obviously knew within herself that it wasn't going to be instant true love, and she knew she couldn't just blurt out her secret to him, and she didn't want to. I just liked how they could be casually together without all the 'I love you, but stay away from me I'm dangerous, but I love you I need to see you every minute of the day' angst that most YA paranormal/supernatural fiction suffers from these days.
Initially I thought Lisbeth was the killer werewolf. When I think about it, it was clever how the author did this. Making Lisbeth seem suspicious when all along making Zahlia seem like a friend. I really enjoyed it because I was so convinced it was Lisbeth and then to find out I was mistaken, yeah I usually like that over predictability.
To wrap it up, yes I liked it. I liked the writing style, I liked Claire, I liked how the story developed and wrapped up, and it was exciting. If there is a sequel I will read it :) Good job! Especially considering I was so skeptical about buying it.
At first I didn't like her mother. After her mother told her that they were both werewolves, I thought that she was being awfully selfish by not telling Claire everything, and just sort of springing it on her in an awkward fashion. To find out your mother has been a werewolf all along? And now you are too? Yeah I'd be just as freaked out and somewhat pissed off as Claire was. I sided with Claire almost instantly, which like I said is rare for me because I usually end up hating the protaganist. I just really think her reaction to her situation felt real. She was at first in denial, and somewhat scared, and confused and angry, and then she started to get curious. I read too many books where the main character is told they're a vampire or werewolf and they're just like 'yeah cool with it'.
I thought the struggles Claire dealt with were pretty realistic. Having to hide the secret from her best friend, her kind-of boyfriend, even her housekeeper/babysitter/nanny Lisbeth. It was well written in that aspect, I felt.
I also liked how Claire's relationship with Matthew was slow going at first. She seemed hesitant, and handled it well, I thought. She obviously knew within herself that it wasn't going to be instant true love, and she knew she couldn't just blurt out her secret to him, and she didn't want to. I just liked how they could be casually together without all the 'I love you, but stay away from me I'm dangerous, but I love you I need to see you every minute of the day' angst that most YA paranormal/supernatural fiction suffers from these days.
Initially I thought Lisbeth was the killer werewolf. When I think about it, it was clever how the author did this. Making Lisbeth seem suspicious when all along making Zahlia seem like a friend. I really enjoyed it because I was so convinced it was Lisbeth and then to find out I was mistaken, yeah I usually like that over predictability.
To wrap it up, yes I liked it. I liked the writing style, I liked Claire, I liked how the story developed and wrapped up, and it was exciting. If there is a sequel I will read it :) Good job! Especially considering I was so skeptical about buying it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2010
All Claire wants for her sixteenth birthday is a car, but what she gets is something she didn’t count on. In a world where werewolves are being hunted by the government and the communities, Claire finds out that she is a werewolf, destined to change at every full moon. Torn between the joy of discovering who she is as a wolf, and the struggle to be a normal teenage girl, Claire must find a way to keep her secret and her life. Meanwhile a rogue wolf makes that all the more difficult for her to do by killing local residents and creating a panic.
There have been a lot of werewolf, vampire, and other types of paranormal novels lately, and after a while they begin to blur into each other. While Claire de Lune is a werewolf story, there was much more to it. Unlike other novels with shapeshifters/werewolves, this novel focuses on Claire’s internal struggle to accept who she is. She longs to be a normal girl, and fall in love, but she doesn’t dare let down her guard for fear her secret will be revealed. I felt like she was constantly walking a tight rope, and found myself wondering when she was going to make a mistake that would give away her secret, a mistake that would be fatal. I loved how Johnson built tension this way and for me this kept the pages turning.
In addition to Claire having to deal with her new identity, we also have a community that is hunting for the wolves. After a series of brutal werewolf attacks, the tension mounts as everyone in the community hunts the werewolves. Meanwhile, somewhere out there, there is a werewolf predator with an agenda all her own.
Overall I would say I enjoyed this book, but have to admit that it might not be for everyone. There isn’t a lot of action until the end, and it is strikingly different than many of the werewolf novels out there right now in that particular aspect. It was a fun light read though, and I do enjoy Johnson’s writing. I look forward to reading what she writes in the future.
Cautions for Sensitive Readers: No sex, no foul language, some violence.
There have been a lot of werewolf, vampire, and other types of paranormal novels lately, and after a while they begin to blur into each other. While Claire de Lune is a werewolf story, there was much more to it. Unlike other novels with shapeshifters/werewolves, this novel focuses on Claire’s internal struggle to accept who she is. She longs to be a normal girl, and fall in love, but she doesn’t dare let down her guard for fear her secret will be revealed. I felt like she was constantly walking a tight rope, and found myself wondering when she was going to make a mistake that would give away her secret, a mistake that would be fatal. I loved how Johnson built tension this way and for me this kept the pages turning.
In addition to Claire having to deal with her new identity, we also have a community that is hunting for the wolves. After a series of brutal werewolf attacks, the tension mounts as everyone in the community hunts the werewolves. Meanwhile, somewhere out there, there is a werewolf predator with an agenda all her own.
Overall I would say I enjoyed this book, but have to admit that it might not be for everyone. There isn’t a lot of action until the end, and it is strikingly different than many of the werewolf novels out there right now in that particular aspect. It was a fun light read though, and I do enjoy Johnson’s writing. I look forward to reading what she writes in the future.
Cautions for Sensitive Readers: No sex, no foul language, some violence.
July 19, 2010
Claire Benoit is celebrating her sixteenth birthday with a pool party when the festivities are interrupted by reports of a werewolf sighting. Everyone knows about werewolves (there are even government agencies devoted to studying them), and everyone fears them. Everyone, that is, except Claire's mother, who later coolly informs Claire that she is a loup-garou, a werewolf, and that Claire too will begin turning into one at the next full moon.
Claire de Lune is a great read, and an exciting new addition to the werewolf genre. In this twist, only females can be werewolves, and while they typically don't hunt humans, one of them has gone rogue. I also like how werewolves fit in this society; everyone knows about them while at the same time nobody knows anything about them.
What really sets this book apart is that it uses the werewolf myth to explore Claire's relationship with her forbidden crush Matthew, son of a determined werewolf hunter, and with her mother, a famous photographer who has largely left Claire to be raised by au pairs. The identity of the killer werewolf is far less interesting than watching Claire and her mother try to build a relationship now that Claire knows the truth. And because the story is told over a three-month period, Claire's romance with Matthew also develops naturally (they actually go on multiple dates!). When their feelings are tested, it matters because they've been together for a time rather than the "instant connection" that is currently so popular in YA.
I liked Claire de Lune a lot, and while it is satisfactory as a stand alone read, I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.
Claire de Lune is a great read, and an exciting new addition to the werewolf genre. In this twist, only females can be werewolves, and while they typically don't hunt humans, one of them has gone rogue. I also like how werewolves fit in this society; everyone knows about them while at the same time nobody knows anything about them.
What really sets this book apart is that it uses the werewolf myth to explore Claire's relationship with her forbidden crush Matthew, son of a determined werewolf hunter, and with her mother, a famous photographer who has largely left Claire to be raised by au pairs. The identity of the killer werewolf is far less interesting than watching Claire and her mother try to build a relationship now that Claire knows the truth. And because the story is told over a three-month period, Claire's romance with Matthew also develops naturally (they actually go on multiple dates!). When their feelings are tested, it matters because they've been together for a time rather than the "instant connection" that is currently so popular in YA.
I liked Claire de Lune a lot, and while it is satisfactory as a stand alone read, I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.
June 23, 2010
I plucked this off of the library shelf because of the title, which is a song I listened to non-stop almost the entire time I was pregnant with my son. Who is a tiny genius. He's 14 months and if you fart, he says, "fart" and laughs. And he loves books. (Both clearly signs of a genuis in the making.) Clearly, those studies are right, listening to classical music while pregnant does a baby, even in utero, good. If only I could say that reading this book did the same thing. Instead, I was forced to ask myself half-way through the book why I was reading it and I had to admit to myself that I didn't know. And to make matters worse, I finished it. What has happened to my priorities, I don't know. I usually value my time so much better. Anyway, this book was about a sixteen year old girl who lives in a world where humans know about werewolves and are actively looking for a way to eradicate their existance, either by finding a cure or killing them. She finds out that she is actually a werewolf and so is her mother. Oh and her new boyfriend? His dad is a slimy "scientist" working on the latest werewolf cure (but really killing/maiming innocent people). And there happens to be a rogue werewolf in the area killing humans. All in a days work for this sixteen year old, who manages to save her mother's life, discover the identity of the rogue werewolf and kill her AND fall in love with the boyfriend, despite the fact that he knows she is a werewolf. Were we all so talented/lucky. Don't waste your time, like I did, on this book.
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