Review of Red Moon by Benjamin Percy

Red Moon by Benjamin Percy is an interesting take on the classic werewolf craze that has kept many people awake at night. He suggests that their has been werewolves since the beginning mankind. A pathogen that inhabits the body and results in an organism part human, part wolf. The humans infected with the Lobos bacteria are known as lycans in Red Moon and they walk among us medicated and often times undetected.

Red Moon follows a few characters who's individual stories converge. Claire is journeying to find her aunt because her parents have been slaughtered by government officials. Patrick is the sole-survivor of a plane crash that was derailed by a lycan attack. Mariam is a woman living in seclusion, trying desperately to walk away from a time in her life when she was involved in the Movement. A lycan organization that is fighting for their right to just be. Finally, we have Chase. The incumbent president who's platform is in support of eradicating the very people he is becoming.

Percy instantly grabs the readers attention with Red Moon. The word flow is easy, graphic images tattooed on minds, main characters are compelling, and the world he creates seems plausible. Actually... a little too plausible. Percy brings life to the idea that there are "others" living amongst us and plays into the fear society has towards "others".  I enjoyed the similarities between Percy's fictional world and my real world. Part I of Red Moon is going to entice readers to keep turning the page to discover what happens next. Sadly, Part II does not live up to it's predecessor as it explodes into a war.

In the spirit of being fair and honest I admit the second half totally lost me. Characters I wanted to prevail no longer mattered to me. Until Part II it's hard to see past the similarities between this book and real life. What was once endearing about that aspect became grating. The idea that the lycans are similar to societies views on Middle Eastern Muslims following 9/11 is not lost on any reader. And the conspiracy adopted by many that our president Obama is possibly a muslim extremist laying in wait is most relative to Chase's storyline in Red Moon. There is also a Balor character that is very Bin Ladin-esque. All these instances become too much. Part II does not have the same impact as Part I.

Essentially, I have a more love than hate relationship with Red Moon. It's hooking from page 1. Percy gives life to the world's oldest phenom in a way that will feel fresh to readers. My introduction to Benjamin Percy has been quite enjoyable and has placed him on the short list of authors I must explore further. I will definitely be recommending this novel to fans of horror and the supernatural. ****