So do werewolves need a pack? If so, why? I've been reading more urban fantasy lately and it seems like every book I read about werewolves defaults to a pack setting. The Mercy Thompson and Kitty Norville series are the two I'm most familiar with- both have packs that play a prominent role- and it does seem like this is the norm. And that brings up a related question- are some of these werewolves really werewolves, or are they just... wolves?
I know that some protagonists are more shifters than werewolves per se, so maybe that partially answers the question (I know Mercy is a coyote shifter but her neighboring wolf pack play a huge role), but it almost seems to me that once the transformation is complete, it's like they're just wolves sometimes. They hunt for game and howl at the moon and hang out together- strength in numbers- but they don't always act like werewolves do in movies or folklore. I'm used to werewolves hunting people, or at the very least being very dangerous, whereas a lot of the werewolves in UF seem to try avoiding people.
That's nice, of course, if you want to read about characters that are, you know, decent. Who wants to read about a crazed psycho werewolf killing people constantly? Um... me maybe? But seriously I think there's room for both, but obviously a story like that is going to be very different from the relatively sympathetic protagonists we typically get. I can't help thinking, though- where are the solitary werewolves? Why are there so many that there's always a pack? Would a pack of werewolves really go unnoticed, even if they live in a remote area?
Also something else that's been bugging me. Why does the transformation into werewolf hurt? I mean it might seem intuitive- you're changing form, of course it's going to hurt, right? But, if it's a magical thing... it doesn't have to. I mean you can make either one your default as a writer, but I almost always see painful transformations as the standard. Again, maybe moreso in books? On screen I think I've seen more immediate shifts, or some that are painful but some that aren't.
So... what do you think? Pack or no pack? Should werewolves (or other shifters) be running around solo?
Lupin in Harry Potter is the only solitary werewolf ina book I can think of. Actually one of the early Dresden Chronicles books has a werewolf bad guy too.
ReplyDeleteI’ve always hated the long painful transformation thing too.
Ooh that's a good one.
DeleteYeah I'm not a fan of the long painful transition.
I love the Mercy Thompson series! I'm actually reading the author's other series set in the same world right now (alpha and omega). There are some lone wolves in those books, but not many. And some of the wolves who went crazy do kill people in them, but I think you've hit the nail on the head: when the wolves are main characters, then they wouldn't be particularly likeable if they kept on murdering people, and I think that most readers do want to read about likeable characters (though I know there are exceptions), so presumably that's why you don't see too much of that. I haven't read a lot of other books with werewolves in them though, tbh. Wouldn't want to meet the ones in Harry Potter though (other than Moony, of course).
ReplyDeleteI think you're probably right- a crazy psycho werewolf is probably not a likeable protagonist lolol.
Delete"Who wants to read about a crazed psycho werewolf killing people constantly? Um... me maybe?"
ReplyDelete😂 You sound like my friend Carrie in her reviews - always rooting for the monster and vocal about it LOL.
"Why are there so many that there's always a pack? Would a pack of werewolves really go unnoticed, even if they live in a remote area?"
I suppose we'll have to suspend disbelief about it. But I guess the pack makes sense? Real wolves are social animals, after all.
I'll have to check out her reviews. :)
DeleteThat's a great point about wolves being pack animals. I guess I just want more solitary werewolf stories.
It's funny because in the more urban fantasy books about werewolves, their shifts from human to wolf do always seem to hurt, while in the paranormal romance world, the shifts seem to come much easier. Just an observation. :)
ReplyDeleteDo they? See I didn't know that :)
DeleteYou have been thinking ;)
ReplyDeleteI had to read up, an average wolf pack is 6 wolves. That would go more unnoticed that some of these UF books
I have been. And really? That's interesting. I do think it makes sense that if there are a lot of werewolves in an area they would pack up, but maybe I just want more solitary werewolf stories!
DeleteYo creo que si te mando un beso
ReplyDeleteI think you've come up with some solid story ideas! Maybe you should write them...?
ReplyDeleteI've never wondered this, though a few books I read about werewolves make them out to be misunderstood wolves, who do pack! Ha!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read enough UF to really understand the norms, but it does seem like packs are prevalent. I've yet to read any solo wolves.
ReplyDeleteDeep werewolf thoughts by Greg. lol
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read Kelly Armstrong's Otherworld series? There are different types of paranormal creatures but it starts with werewolves and while most are pack - there are solitary ones as well. But they're a little more deranged lol
Karen @For What It's Worth
Hmm you make some excellent points! Most werewolf/shifter books do tend to include packs and while it's my personal favorite (I guess because packs usually have some kind of found family vibe which I love) I do agree that it would be nice to see some more solitary werewolves out there. Just maybe not the psycho ones :)
ReplyDeleteGreat points you make!
ReplyDeleteBjxxx
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I read a lot of shifter romance and a lot of these shifters like werewolves say that their inner animal has instincts like a regular wolf or whatever animal they shift into. So maybe that's why werewolves need a pack.
ReplyDeleteSo much food for thought here. Shadowhunters is the only series I've read like this and that one features wolf packs. But then there's Harry Potter with Lupin and he's on his own. I'm not sure which way I prefer it, although I adored Lupin so maybe solo. I completely agree with you on the painful transition. It always makes me cringe.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the werewolf vs shifter thing. I tend to think of them as shifters when they just have a human and wolf form. I feel like the kind most common in UF and PNR is an entirely different thing from both real wolves and from original werewolf lore and media portrayals. There's definitely space in the book world for all kinds, but I too would like more old-fashioned werewolves!
ReplyDeleteI think it would be very lonely without a pack, you being the odd one among humans and not having anyone to share it with!
ReplyDeleteOoh, welcome to Urban Fantasy! I've been bingeing on them since forever, and occasionally overdosed too. I like Briggs' Alpha & Omega series more than Mercyverse, and I think there *are* some lone/ rogue wolves AND wolves that don't suffer when shifting. But you're right, pack dynamics and shifter suffering are the norms. I guess that makes sense, because most animals are pack animals (even humans are "social" animals) and shifting requires re-alignment of bones which has just *got* to hurt... And I could just talk forever on this, as you can tell!
ReplyDeleteI never thought about it that way before 😅
ReplyDeleteI know that all the alpha/beta/omega hierarchy thing that UF loves to do is based on research that has been since disproven but that's as far as I've gotten into actually thinking about werewolves and the whys of their ways. Interesting discussion!
In older books weren't werewolves solitary? They live with their pre-bite families. They don't breed with each other so packs don't make any sense to me. Besides, it's their human friends and family that keep them safe, or try to, during the full moon. 🌕🐺
ReplyDelete