Review: Camille by Tess Oliver

Title: Camille
Author: Tess Oliver
Publisher: Createspace
Date: March 1st 2011
Pages: 252
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Series: Camille #1
Source: Paperback


Goodreads Summary: 


At a time when society conforms to the strictest rules and most proper etiquette, sixteen-year-old Camille Kennecott and her guardian, Dr. Bennett, lives a most unconventional life. They hunt werewolves.


When unwitting victim, Nathaniel Strider, wanders into one of their full moon pursuits, Camille and Dr. Bennett believe they have found a specimen for their study. Finding a scientific key to unlocking the mystery of lycanthropy would end their late night excursions. Yet beneath the irresistible exterior, Nathaniel is transforming into a flesh-tearing monster, and as each experiment fails, Camille loses another inch of her soul to him. She knows that in a month’s time she must face the prospect of destroying the boy who has stolen her heart.


Camille is a young adult, paranormal romance set in Victorian England.


Review:


I accidently came across this book searching through kindle books on Amazon. I didn’t have prior knowledge of this book’s existence. I am usually hesitant at reading new books without seeing a rating on Goodreads or reading a review. I know book snob. I read the synopsis on Amazon and thought it sounded like my kind of book. Werewolves, Romance, Suspense, I couldn’t ask for more, even though it did have the bonus of being a historical fiction, which I love. SO… I nabbed it and downloaded it. I read it fairly quickly after purchasing it and I fell in love within the first couple of chapters.


The world in which this story takes place is not really the ideal for many current running werewolf books but it fit really well. The author is great at creating the atmosphere and setting to understand what Camille’s world is like and hard it is for her to fit in. Her parents both died when she was young and she was left in the care of a kooky scientist. This man, Dr. Bennett, has never been married and never raised a child. He really doesn’t have a clue how to raise a girl. That doesn’t stop him from trying and in the process drags Camille into the life of science and werewolves.


Dr. Bennett and Camille have a ritual of searching the paper for dog bitten victims and then go on a hunt to kill before the werewolf takes over completely. Camille often dresses as a boy because of the life they live and even though she knows etiquette, she is more concerned with the hunt and the science then catching a future husband. She is very independent yet still young in much of her thinking.


On one of the hunts they see a boy get bitten and decide to chase him down to see if they can help him and also study him to try to find a cure. Camille is not happy about this. She has seen more than enough death by werewolves and does not want one her home… So she thought, until she meets Strider. This is when Camille’s life as she knows it begins to unravel.


The characters in this book are so much fun. Dr. Bennett is nuts and obsessed with finding a cure, but he also very much cares for Camille and is seen throughout the book. Strider is arrogant but charming. It’s very hard not to love him. The relationships between all three feel real nd I wanted nothing but happy ending for all three of them. The interactions between Camille and Dr. Bennett are unorthodox but sweet. They take care of each and share their knowledge and their fears. The relationship between Camille and Strider is quite entertaining. They can banter with the best of them.

I really loved this book. I cannot wait to read the next one. This will be a keep and reread for me.


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