This follow up to The Monster Who Wasn't is just as captivating as our first introduction to Sam who is half monster, half fairy. Sam has settled in to his life with the humans. The love and security he experiences under their roof is indescribable. Even his gargoyle best mates warm to the this new arrangement. However peace and normalcy are fractured when Sam's erstwhile real father turns up claiming custody of the strange orphanling.

Sam is suspect. The Kavanaghs are devastated. The gargoyles are outraged. Daniel the angel has been recalled due to faulty powers and therefore unable to protect or council Sam and to top if off the kids in Sam's new school act like a pack of wild fearful dogs around him.

Shelley dips into the world of shape-shifting, werewolves and fairies in this episode of Sam's short but remarkable existence. Once again there is a bit of gargoyle smashing and the fate of monsterdom and us humans who must dwell among them lies squarely in Sam's hands. Perhaps the language did not enchant as much as the first book and the pace felt a little askew at times resulting in a less fantastical experience for me but the eventual thrills and solid bonds of friendship and integrity woven throughout this story still managed to entertain. It ends with a fulfilling feeling of relief and completion but also a promise of more to come for monsterkind!

I received a free ARC of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. This is the second in the series I believe, but the first one I’d read. So possibly some of the mythology referred to had been introduced in book one, but it was still easy enough to follow along. The characters are all very likeable, and it was an interesting plot. I felt the latter part of the book (Sam going with Woermann, the fairy section and the fight/escape) dragged on a little, for my liking, and particularly the ballroom scene with Woermann, Sam and Hazel was hard to picture, lots of running around and looking for escape routes/corners, etc. But I think for children who like animals and magical worlds, they would enjoy this. But where were the titular Werewolves? There was only one ‘thrope, and that was a cat. The others were shifters.

This book was fantastic! It built on the topics and world that was built in the first book and I really enjoyed the story of this one. I can't wait for the next installment!

A wonderfully creative story filled with magic and curiosity. Brilliant adventure mystery for pre-teens to get their teeth into. A unique storyline which addresses many relationships and issues whilst keeping a lighthearted approach.

Loved this book as much as the first! Such a great story, engaging writing and great content for kids.
I'd highly recommend it.
Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

I read this with my son and it was just fabulous.

We loved reading this together. It was full of magic and mystery. Perfect for these colder darker nights.

I loved this first book in this series and though you don’t need to have read the first before this one, it would certainly make more sense to do so.
Sam is being adopted by the Kavanaugh’s and is living as a human with them, though his adorable and tough gargoyle guardians have followed him there too.
When Sam starts school, he meets a trio of shifters, who sniff him and find him distrustful, Shifters are twin souled people who can change between animal and human, in this case, they are all dogs. Having to sniff deeper, they soon realise Sam is good and helpful.
Sam becomes a pawn in the game to capture these shifters and with the help of his gargoyle friends, Sam will face new dangers, to himself, his new Shifter friends and the gargoyles. There is plenty of exciting action for all the characters in this adventure,
Again, in this brilliant story, we see the true nature of Sam. He is kind, friendly and courageous. Willing to sacrifice himself for his friends throughout the story, it is heart warming and lovely.
The highlight for me is the gargoyles and their fantastic personalities and the way they care for Sam!
I am captivated by the whole story, from The Monster Who Wasn’t to The Werewolves Who Weren’t. I am ever hopeful for more to come!

Superb stories!

I have just finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a great sequel to The Monster Who Wasn't, the story of a half monster, half fairy who is trying to find his place.
To be honest I much preferred this book, the second in the series. The story was easier to follow and I really liked some of the new characters.
This book continues the story a few months after the events of the previous book. Sam is starting at school and makes some new friends, who aren't quite what they seem, leading to yet another adventure. I found this book more gripping and it was good to be reunited with Sam and his gargoyle friends. A fun story.

This is a good fantasy adventure for middle grade children. The second in a series, the first being 'The Monster Who Wasn't', you did get enough background from that first book to enjoy this one although I think readers would definitely benefit from having read the first book before this one. It's imaginative and generally fast paced with good characters and does have some good ideas to think about. There were a few bits I felt weaker than others but overall I enjoyed it.

A great follow up to the story 'The Monster who wasn't" which introduced us to Sam, who is half fairy and half monster. In this story he makes some new friends at his new school, who turn out to be shifters; twin souled people that can change between human and dog. When the are kidnapped it is up to Sam to try and save them with the aid of his gargoyle friends. This is full of adventure and action but has strong elements of valuing people (of all kinds) for what they are, not for what they look like.