Reviewers say...

“You will never read another shapeshifter book like this. Every surprise will catch you unwary. And, like me, you will find that others will have to pry it out of your fingers.” ~ Tamora Pierce, bestselling author

“This kind of YA has depth and resonance and significance…The experience of being an immigrant, the experience of being different, the experience of being treated unfairly by self-righteous authority and being powerless to do anything about it, are all here, beautifully depicted, unflinchingly described, shown with all their terrible consequences.” ~ Mike Reeves-McMillan

A unique take on shapeshifters

From a review at Amazon by L. Bruce Diamond Stop me if you've heard this one ... Shapeshifters exist. Okay, you've heard that one. How about this? Werewolves are rare, Weres can Turn into other warm-blooded animals (including birds), and usually don't experience their first Turn until mid-puberty. Not enough? Add the Randoms, Weres who can turn into any warm-blooded creature. Add a drug that can delay a Were's turn for up to six hours, immigration problems, real teenage angst, draconian registration laws, and a Random family in turmoil over the loss of their eldest child, Celia, now five years gone. Now add Jazz, a unique 14-year-old Random on the cusp of her first Turn, who is desperate to find out why her family won't talk about her older sister's death. I don't read shapeshifter stories because they usually feel like retreads, like the writer is retelling the same story that hundreds of writers have told before. RANDOM, the first in the Were Chronicles series, is a sharply-written YA novel that grabbed me and sucked me into the story.

The Were Chronicles

The World of Shapeshifters There is a new world out there, a vivid and complex world full of Were creatures and normal humans living in an uneasy alliance. This new world is populated by far more Were creatures than the traditional Werewolf or Vampire bat. In the world of The Were Chronicles, there are Weremice, Werecrows, even Werechickens. In fact, there are Weres of virtually all kinds of warm-blooded creatures, mammals and birds. There are also New Moon Weres, who don’t Turn at the full moon, but when it’s not visible in the sky, and Randoms, who can turn into the last creature they saw as the change was coming on them. The Weres share this world with the normals, living lives of not quite quiet desperation. They are tolerated, but face constant discrimination and bullying. They are carefully regulated, forced to live in isolation or even imprisonment during their Turns, and forced to carry identity cards stamped with a dehumanizing paw print. The tensions between the two groups constantly threatens to erupt into open warfare.

"Wolf has everything"

(Wolf) has everything I loved about Random – beautiful writing, fascinating characters, more information about the intriguing world of Were-kind – as well as an added bonus: it’s narrated by Mal, my favorite character…

Mal started out as a seemingly minor character, your stereotypical sullen, standoffish teenage boy. By the end, however, he surprised everyone – myself included – by Turning into a Werewolf….

As Mal establishes himself within his new pack, he slowly begins to unravel the Lycans’ closely guarded secrets. The facts he discovers about Turning Houses and the Half-Souled make his skin crawl, and the more he uncovers – the closer he gets to finding out the truth about his sister – the greater the risk.

I enjoyed watching as the stakes were raised, plot twists popped up, and old friends and family from Random reappeared to lend Mal a helping hand.

If you enjoyed Random, I have no doubt you’ll be exceedingly pleased with Wolf. It’s a worthy progression of the series, and Mal is a protagonist you can root for, sympathize with, and even fall for. I’m so excited to see what’s next for Mal, his friends, and his family in The Were Chronicles’ final chapter and only hope the months fly by until book three is released! ~ Angela Cabezas, Angela's Library

Becoming Wolf

Excerpts from some Goodreads and Amazon reviews of Wolf, the second book in The Were Chronicles.

“…This was a one-sit read. Literally. I enjoyed it so much that I skipped housework and read the book. Take your book, find a 'cave' to crawl into where you can read undisturbed and in comfort, and run with the wolves, at least for a while.” ~ Rainy Day

“They saved the day with SCIENCE!” ~ Melani

“It is said there are no new stories...just new takes on old tales.

“I would say this does not apply to Wolf or, in fact, to the Were Chronicles as a whole. I have never read an more original take on shapeshifters...

“Wolf is a shining example of the skill and excellence inherent in Ms. Alexander's talent.” ~ Danielle

From a review of Random, the first book of The Were Chronicles:

“Random isn't just a story about shapeshifters, it's a story about humanity. It's about what it means to be a member of a family, a culture, a race….”~ Angela’s Library

Coming of age

Mal Marsh was a gift. A vulnerable, damaged boy who grows into a sullen and defensive young man who is hard to like (but has desperately good reasons for being the way he is) - someone who cares deeply and is frightened to let it show - someone who takes his chances when they present themselves to be tripped over, and then deals with the consequences as best he can. If ever there was a book about coming of age, then Mal comes of age in these pages. This is a book about a lot of things - about family, and love, and guilt, and bravery, and bravado, and loss, and disaster, and triumph - and at the end of it Mal is no longer that lost boy that he was when we began. He's tall and proud and ready to take on the world. On HIS terms. Mal is one of the best characters who ever graced the lead in one of my books. He goes through the crucible and emerges stronger, taller, braver, truer. He's more than just words on a page. He is spirit, he is a bright light, he is REAL in all the best possible ways. I love this kid.

Were Science (so to speak)

A lot of ink has been spilled writing about Were critters, and their impact on our own (human) world - in other words, on what they DID, rather than what they WERE. But what makes them that scary thing that they are? What, on the level of their genetics, their DNA, makes them different from ourselves? This is a question which has not been addressed often - if, indeed, ever - in the many stories about the Were Kindred. "Wolf" sets out to answer some questions... which should probably have been asked a long time ago. "Wolf" is my own answer.

"One of the funniest SF books I've read in years"

A hilarious and affectionate look at science-fiction conventions, a wondrous mashup of Galaxy Quest and Bimbos of the Death Sun, a fast-paced and laugh-out-loud funny treat for SF fans everywhere. ~ Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Red Planet Blues

"With a fine, light touch, Alma gives us inveterate Sci-Fi con-goers a snarky "what if" would happen if a con got abducted by aliens who are trying to figure us out." ~ Kier Salmon

"This is truly one of the funniest SF books I've read in years." ~ Lenora Rain-Lee Good

"A highly enjoyable romp through the inner workings of an unforgettable sci fi convention...peppered with tropes and quotes that will keep the fen amused while wryly recognising each of the characters as realistic portrayals of con committee members and guests." ~ Biscutoria

"It's one wild ride when four androids from the future appear at a sci-fi convention and take them all, hotel included, on a trip around the moon while they try to find their inventor/god/creator. A laugh out loud romp that asks some serious questions..." ~ Emily