58 books like Wolf Bride

If I were ever to face a zombie apocalypse, I would want Mercy Thompson by my side. Mercy is a scrappy coyote shifter, and despite often being physically outmatched by the myriad supernatural creatures surrounding her, it is her intelligence, independence, and resourcefulness that truly sets her apart for me. I also just love that she is a mechanic, as Patty has taken that gender expectation and turned it on its head. 

I adore that when Mercy believes in something, she stands her ground, no matter the consequences. Her unwavering moral compass and fierce loyalty make her an awesome heroine. In a world filled with chaos, Mercy Thompson is the kind of fierce female companion every reader would be fortunate to have. And as I said, I totally call dibs on her for the apocalypse. 

This book hooked me with the first sentence: “Half blinded by the storm, she stumbled into the open area between buildings.” Anne Bishop created a world with infinite care and remained consistent throughout this series. Although this is the first book, it can be read as a standalone. I felt immediately comfortable in Anne’s world and was able to slip right into the story.

Conflicts occurred, followed by dire consequences, yet detailed sex and violence were not used to carry the plot forward. Throughout this book, I felt as if her characters lived in my neighborhood; many of whom I would’ve wanted as friends. I became invested in them and wanted them to succeed. Dialogue was believable and flowed smoothly.

Normally, I catch errors in spelling and word usage in books I read, which slows the story way down. However, either I was too immersed in the story, or there… show more.

It's hard to go wrong with any book by this husband and wife team, who fill every book with mystery, adventure, and heart. But Bayou Moon is definitely the best bet for fans of werewolves. Plus, the Edge is an intriguing world where characters shop at Walmart one day then battle magic the next. To ice the cake, the series is easy to dip into since there's a different set of main characters and storylines in each book. Give it a try, and if this isn't your favorite check out the feline shifter world of Magic Bites.

In my opinion, this is one of the most overlooked werewolf classics with its cop heroine, intriguing wolf pack, and a Chinese dragon. I can only guess that a lot of readers give up after books one and two, which are good but not great. By book three, though, the series really starts taking off, with the great worldbuilding and character development engrossing you so much you'll lose track of time and read far too late into the night.

This book is a fun, fresh take on the werewolf genre. Seeing the world through the eyes of the main character, who is both a DJ and a closeted werewolf, is a great way to be introduced to this paranormal world. Kitty's ability to relate to the paranormals who call into her show is an excellent way to tell a story because it gives us depth into the lives of those who are struggling with their paranormal heritage.

Throw in a cute, broody male werewolf, a whole lot of danger, and some very interesting characters. This is a story I highly recommend anyone read. The best part is that it is the first book in a series, so you will be in for an amazing ride.

I hear you saying to yourself, “Please, recommend another book by a dead guy, Jason!” Well, sorry to disappoint, but this recommendation is from a living author. I’m actually a huge fan of this guy and he’s still alive putting out books. Awfully Appetizing follows Walter, a ghoul (undead carrion eater), that was raised by humans. Walter runs a funeral parlor where he disposes of bodies in the secret war between the werewolves and the vampires in a Colorado college town. The writing is funny. The characters are great. If you like the Harry Dresden books by Jim Butcher, you’ll love Awfully Appetizing.  

If any contemporary detective writer is the heir to Dorothy L. Sayers, it has to be Fred Vargas.

Trained as a historian and archaelogist, she writes well-plotted mysteries with complex, flawed characters. But most of all, her books are bristling with fascinating, arcane facts. In this novel, the inhabitants of a rural, mountainous region of France are being terrorized by what seems to be a huge wolf – or is it a werewolf?

The resolution is entertaining, but what I really loved was learning about everything from medieval legends to the contemporary politics of reintroducing wild wolves in Europe – not to mention sheep-farming, wildlife photography, and plumbing.

For anyone who loved Sayers’ deep dives on bell-ringing or the advertising business, Vargas is for you.

Lea hunts werewolves to protect her village, and Henrik is…yep, you guessed it. But he’s also literally the boy from her dreams. The magnetic attraction between these two is unforgettable! My eyes were glued to the page through the last quarter, when war escalates and Lea finds allies—and new enemies—she never would’ve expected. 

I read this book way back in 2011 when it first came out. It still comes to mind when I think of creating a list of werewolf books I loved. There’s a bit of a love triangle but I thought it was done really well. I loved Alex. He was the new boy in town with a secret, but he was funny and caring. I was so invested in the romance of this story and the story itself. Also, I still think the first line of this book is hilarious! 

This werewolf coming-of-age story is amazing. There is an absolutely terrible movie version that is nothing like the book. Skip the movie. Read the book!

I devoured it in one sitting and immediately started rereading it. It’s got all that angsty romance that a YA paranormal story should have and then some.