Stefanie Gilmour’s Cage the Wolf is the second in the Alex Steward series of a young woman dealing with the duality of lycanthropy. In this world, the transformation isn’t automatic or strictly based on a moon phase. The afflicted person has some measure of control, even more with practice. Alex is early in the process of unifying with her inner wolf at the start of the novel.
After vanquishing a sinister league in the Midwestern town of Hopewell, Alex is getting along with her new werewolf pack as well as her witch and human friends. She has a new boyfriend, so life is looking up. Yet, she still has reservations about a secret governing body (called The Council) aware of the witches and werewolves in the town. They are charged with keeping the supernatural creatures hidden.
The second offering in this series starts with a new human member joining the Council’s normies (humans) and supernaturals (werewolves and witches). This newbie wants to invite a werewolf hunter into town after the lycanthropic pack is unfairly accused of crimes. Alex must prove the hunter is a murderer to sway the Council’s vote. All the while, she must keep her nature secret from her best normie friend, Anne. Hiding the truth from Anne is hard considering they’re investigating the same murder for different reasons.
Cage the Wolf hits the right notes for a second book in a sequence. The plot progresses story lines started in the first book, and a new threat keeps the reader’s interest and investment in the characters. The werewolf pack trusts her with missions now that Alex is more in control of her nature. Alex is more purposeful and confident in this offering.
In the last book, best friend Emma played a major role in the plot. She plays a far lesser role than Alex’s other friend, Anne, who is getting close to her secrets. Certainly, Alex is hanging around Trish and Nate (her werewolf pack) more, much to Anne’s chagrin. And then there’s Ben, the boyfriend. The relationship becomes complicated when Ben’s sister Joan arrives. Joan upsets the equilibrium of the already complicated girlfriend/boyfriend dynamic. Joan’s presence also reveals insights into Ben’s past. In addition to the familiar characters from the prior book, the reader meets other supernaturals—a definite highlight.
Cage the Wolf continues more werewolf adventures for Alex and her friends. The book is both a second in a series and a superior standalone novel. The reader is treated to suspenseful action, mysterious pasts, and an expanding world. Cage the Wolf is another standout novel in this superior urban fantasy series.