Reviewing: Kali Metis' Cure & Family Pack

Recently I was delighted to be invited to review two fascinating books in a white-knuckle lycanthropic series – the perfect way to start off Spooky Season, and a fine brace of books from an up-and-coming author of whom I have every expectation of great things in the future.

Kali Metis (nom-de-plume of Lisa Kastner) has a fast-paced, exciting voice and a talent for engrossing world-building. Her chilling universe is thoughtfully informed by trauma, folklore, and culture, and these two books – the first in what I hope will be an expanding oeuvre – are invigorated by her unique and timely perspective.

The first book in the series is Cure:

"Stunned by her brother's apparent suicide, Luna Auber, discovers that he has not only left her the key's to his apartment but also trip to Sweden. Per his instructions, Luna is to explore their unexpected heritage of the Birke, an iconic female Viking warrior. Following her beloved brother's lead, Luna will soon discover that the terrible shakes he suffered from were misdiagnosed. The shaking was in fact the early stages of his transformation. Her brother was a shapeshifter. A lycanthrope. And her own shaking has just begun. Luna will be forced to make a choice that could either transform or destroy the world as she knows it."

A richly-woven metaphor for mortality and illness, it utilizes the familiar tropes of fairy tales and – in particular – postmodern werewolf fiction to navigate around existential issues and modern social problems, ranging from suicide and family trauma to chronic sickness and the longing for supportive community. Luna’s journey from confused alienation to empowered self-mastery is simultaneously compelling and engrossing, poignant and diverting. She is a relatable protagonist driven by universal desires to understand, resolve, and take charge of her own complex personal and family history. Motivated to resist evil and to protect humanity itself, she perseveres in spite of the profound, horrifying obstacles in her way.

The second book is Family Pack:

It "continues the tale of Luna Auber as she discovers her own destiny and provides the origins of the two primary lycanthropic organizations, The Lycanthrope Society (TLS) which believe that humans and lycanthropes should exist in harmony while The Righteous Group (TRG) believe that lycanthropes are intended to rule over all other species and Luna' s battle to prevent the dessimation of the world as she knows it."

This one was particularly engaging to me. It increased the complex, metaphorical layering of the symbols established in Cure, delving into poignant themes of community, identity, and family. The tension ramps up as Luna’s quest to resolve her afflictions drag her through a series of escalating conflicts, each one rich with meaning and subtext. Romantic, adventurous, and – above all – thrilling, her story beautifully blends folkloric tropes and sensibilities with its modern milieu, providing that most delightful of creations: relevant escapism which can elegantly and simultaneously draw the reader out of the ubiquitous crush of 21st century malaise and speak bravely into it.

All in all, these books represent an exciting and thoughtful adventure through poignant perils and relatable longings. They participate in a memorable conversation about universal, existential afflictions through the medium of timeless folklore that interweaves modern insights with ancient wisdom into a fascinating tapestry of danger, despair, and desire.

You can find Cure HERE, and you can find Family Pack HERE!