Other

By Karen Kincy

Gwen Williams has been hiding a strange and fantastic secret: she's a shapeshifter. Although society may tolerate vampires, centaurs, and "Others" like Gwen, there are plenty of folks in her small Washington town who don't care for her kind.

When a new werewolf pack moves into the area, tensions rise—and Others start showing up dead, including someone close to Gwen. Despite the methodical murders, the police are ignoring evidence that suggests a serial killer. In the midst of terrible loss and danger, Gwen—along with a mysterious and sexy guy who happens to be a Japanese fox spirit—risks her life to find the murderer. But Gwen is already the killer's next target . . .

PRAISE:

"This who-done-it is an unusual blend of mystery and fantasy, starring original characters not often featured in modern urban fantasy for teens. I really enjoyed it."—Annette Curtis Klause, author of Blood and Chocolate

"Other has it all: love, shifters, pookas, and nail-biting action. What's even better, Kincy's characters are vibrant, real, and lovable. This is a debut that leaves you aching for more."—Carrie Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Need and Captivate 

 

 

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
• Release date: Apr 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9780738739809

Karen Kincy

Karen Kincy writes books when she isn’t writing code. She has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College, and an MS in Computational Linguistics from the University of Washington. Karen is a PAN member of RWA. Find Karen on Twitter at @karenkincy Sign up for Karen's mailing list: http://eepurl.com/HeLSP

Reviews for Other

[rosa.mill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book. Gwen is a hugely likable character even if she is a little bit headstrong and her actions are sometimes unrealistic. I liked Tavian too, although I would have liked to know a bit more about him. Basically I liked this book but I wish that characters actions had been a little bit more realistic and some characters had been more fully developed. I loved the different Others and I kind of hope that there is a sequel maybe from Tavian's point of view.

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: This was a really fast, fun YA paranormal book. The plot was pretty predicable and I felt that the characters could have been more unique, but I still enjoyed it.Opening Sentence: I can’t last much longer.The Review: Gwen is a 17 year girl and she happens to also be an Other. Others are paranormal creatures and there are many different varieties of them. Gwen is half human and half pooka and she has the ability to shape shift into any creature. Because normal people tend to alienate Others, Gwen has made sure to keep her identity a secret from everyone except her family and a few close friends. Gwen has been dating Zach for almost a year now but she hasn’t told him the truth about herself yet. She really cares about Zach but she is afraid that if he finds out the truth about her he will break up with her. She knows that eventually she will have to tell him the truth if she expects their relationship to go any farther. There are times when Gwen wishes that she could be normal, but she needs to learn to accept herself for whom and what she is.Gwen lives in a small town in Washington and it looks like a new pack of werewolves have come to town. Shortly after their arrival someone starts murdering Others. The police are turning a blind eye and aren’t really trying to figure out who is committing the killings. When someone close to Gwen becomes a victim, Gwen takes it upon herself to try and find the killer. With the help of some new friends, Gwen hopes to find the killer before they come for her next.The story is told from Gwen’s point of view. She is a sweet girl that is really insecure. Gwen has times when she really resents that she is different, but she also loves being able to shapeshift. She has been so afraid to be discovered that she has never really explored what it’s like to be Other. Throughout the book you get to see her eventually accept who she is and be happy about it. As a character, I felt that Gwen was a little boring at times. She is really naïve at times and makes some really poor decisions that lead to a lot of heartache that could have been avoided. I wouldn’t say that I disliked her, but I didn’t particularly like her either.Zach is probably my favorite character in the book. He is a gorgeous boy with long blonde hair and an adorable personality. He is really into medieval stuff and he totally treats Gwen like a lady. He is so sweet and patient with Gwen. Yes, he does have some prejudices against Others, but that is because he doesn’t really know any. At least he is honest and I respected him for that. I really like Zach, his faults made him more human and I think that he really cares about Gwen even if she is an Other. I thought that Gwen and Zach had really good chemistry and I really liked them together.Tavian is the other competitor for Gwen’s heart. He is a smoking hot Japanese boy that also happens to be a Other. He is half human and half fox-spirit and he has the ability to shapeshift as well. Gwen finds herself instantly drawn to Tavian when she meets him. She doesn’t know many Others, and he is so comfortable with who and what he is and Gwen envies that. Tavian agrees to help Gwen find the killer and the more she gets to know Tavian, the more she likes him. I liked Tavian well enough, but I just felt that he and Gwen were awkward together. I thought that their relationship was a little rushed and it had a hint of instalove to it.This was a fun book and a really fast easy read. The plot was pretty predictable, but the story was still interesting. I thought that the book flowed really well and I enjoyed the writing. The biggest flaw would have to be the characters; I just had a hard time connecting with them, and I felt that they were forgettable. The ending was well done and everything was wrapped up pretty nicely. There are more books in the series but they tell the stories of some of the minor characters from this book. I enjoyed the book enough that I would be willing to give the next book a try. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a light YA Paranormal book.Notable Scene:“Did you see that?” I ask Chloe.“Hmmm?” Totally engrossed, she doesn’t look up from her book of botanical prints.“That cute Asian guy,” I whisper.She sighs, still not looking up from the page. “One word: boyfriend.”“I’m not letting good eye-candy go to waste. And do you know who he is?”“No,” she says. “But I believe you’re going to enlighten me.”“He’s Takehiko, that blogging anime artist I told you about. His real name is Tavian.”“Interesting.” Chloe closes the book with a thump. “I’m going to buy this.”She lugs the heavy folio to the front of the bookstore. Behind the counter stands Tavian. I bury my nose in an old romance novel and pretend to read. He unlaced her bodice, his hands calloused yet gentle. Her bosom heaved, two creamy mounds tipped with carmine, and she quivered with anticipation.Urk. Hideously flowery, yet strangely intriguing.“Excuse me?” Tavian says. “Are you going to buy that?” It sounds like he already asked me at least once.I slam the book shut. “Uh, no.” I stare at the brawny kilted man and half-naked women locked in a kiss on the cover. “Definitely not.”“Sure?” Tavian says, a hint of amusement in his voice. “The cover’s nice eye-candy.”FTC Advisory: Flux provided me with a copy of Other. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[c5ibarra · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Other explores shapeshifters not often seen in Young Adult or Adult paranormal novels. I don't think I had ever heard of a Pooka until reading the synopsis of Other. Add in the mysterious guy who can turn into a fox, and I was immediately intrigued by the uniqueness of this book.Other features a nice mix of mystery, suspense, and romance. I did find the identity of the serial killer predictable, but I still felt the need to keep reading in order to confirm my suspicions. At times I felt like the author was trying too hard to make all the secondary characters look guilty, but it still didn’t help to prevent me from figuring out the whodunit element early in the novel.I did really like Gwen. Some might find her insecurities and judgmental attitude frustrating, but I thought her feelings and emotions made her genuine. She is struggling with normal teen issues as well as learning about her Pooka side. With her birth father absent and a mother and stepfather who are 100% human, she had no one to turn to for answers. I can’t even imagine how overwhelming that must be. I also adored foxy boy Tavian. He was just so sweet. The sweet guys rarely win my affections, but this time I was smitten. I also liked seeing the side of Gwen he brought out. It was obvious how desperately she needed someone who understood her otherness in her life.I really enjoyed the author’s descriptive style of writing when it came to describing places, people, and action, but found some of the dialogue a little awkward. It just didn’t flow as nicely as the rest of the novel, and I found the need to re-read some scenes. It seemed like I was reading what Gwen was saying, but what she was thinking wasn’t clear. The conversations also ended abruptly at times, and the author would move to another scene before the previous one felt complete.I did have a few minor issues with Other, but I still enjoyed the characters and the fascinating world the author created quite a bit. I liked how different this novel was from others in the same genre. I’ll definitely read the next in the series, and I won’t have to wait long to experience more because Bloodborn releases on September 8th.Cover Thoughts: I have to comment on how perfect this cover is for Gwen’s story. It is such an amazing match not only for Gwen’s appearance, but also the descriptions of the town she lives in.

[eheinlen_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I gave this book my obligatory 20 pages, but just couldn't get into it. To me, it just felt like the main character was being whiny and complaining about everything. I wasn't in the mood to read that.

[sunnysd_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As if just being a teenager wasn't bad enough! Home schooled teen Gwen Williams is an Other, in her case that means she's 50 % pooka, born that way - not bloodborn like most werewolves and vampires who've been changed. Gwen's small Washington town operates mainly on the don't-ask-don't-tell principle, but almost everyone fears the pack of werewolves that's recently turned up. Gwen's heritage is still mostly a secret, even from her boyfriend. But when local Others start turning up dead, and Gwen suspects a serial killer is targeting her kind, she resolves to do something about it. Can she keep her secret? What will happen if she tells - and what if she's the next target?An emotional roller-coaster, and not in a good way. Great premise, but choppy delivery. The supporting cast is wooden and a bit unbelievable, but not bad for a first novel. Hopefully things will even out as the series progresses.

[rose2332 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I think that this book is the best book to read when you like books about romace combind with mistory.

[mesmericrevelation · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a great book. I couldn't put it down and read it in a few hours. I love Gwen and Tavian. They are such great characters and you just want to keep reading to see what happens to them. The plot is fantastic, as is the writing.

[booksandwine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Have you ever felt like you were an outsider? Or maybe, different from everyone around you? I think that we all feel like that from time to time, especially growing up. Even us adults get like that. Gwen Williams, protagonist of Other by Karen Kincy, feels this way all the time. However, she has a perfectly valid reason for this. She is an other, meaning she is not a full human, rather, she is 50% pooka.Other is set in our world, only there are paranormal people living in public. This totally reminded me of Sookie Stackhouse, which is absolutely a good thing. I felt this reality was engrossing.I enjoyed learning about the different types of supernatural people. Also, I thought this book was a fascinating commentary on society and how we treat those who are seen as 'others' differently. I thought the attitudes of certain holier than thou characters totally reflect what I see all the time now. Now, that isn't to say you need to go into this book searching for a deeper meaning, but I thought the parallel was super awesome.There is almost a love triangle, but not quite. I will say, keep your eyes peeled for Tavian. He is awesome. Plus he's Asian. YAY PoC love interest!!FINALLY, there is a mystery! Someone is going around killing the others, which I guess is really the heart of this story. Well, not actually the heart, but rather the hinge, or canvas on which all the characters can develop. The real interest for me lay in how Gwen dealt with her otherness.Overall, I thought this was a great change of pace from vampires, werewolves, and fairies. It's a refreshing addition to the paranormal genre. I look forward to seeing what Kincy will come up with next.

[ylin20621 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Gwen is an Other: a supernatural being. She just happens to be half-pooka (on her father's side)--a shapeshifter who can shift into almost anything, but typically seen as a black horse with yellow eyes as their main characteristic. But Others can also include, but not exclude, vampires, werewolves, kitsunes, dryads, and water sprites. Despite this wide array of people, Others are not wholly accepted in the world (not even in Canada!) with a group called The White Knights in that frontier of negativity. Now there's a suspicion that they are back on the attack when Others in Gwen's town are found in the open--dead; many of the times Gwen is the one finding them including one of her closet friend hanged with her throat cut open. Gwen wants answers yet she fears for her life as clues are being left that may point that Gwen may be next. High stakes call for high emotions especially when one just falls in love.Karen Kincy writes in an urgent manner with quick fast action scenes and heavy romance, while still managing exact details that paint vivid images and sensations. Others portray a universal and classic motif of prejudice--a different form of race in this manner. Yet the incorporation of various ethnicities gave a pleasant shock as it is a rare treat.Kincy embraces a modern technology: Internet. Instead of long-winded monologues, Google searches explain much of the needed background which was refreshing. She also incorporated an authentic AIM chat--something that I can imagine reading and participating in with lol's and emoticons and none of the forced internet slang. (Also mentions blogs.)As mentioned previously, ethnicity is pretty big in Others and one character that I found most interesting was Tavian (short of Octavian). Tavian is Japanese who is shorter than Gwen: 5'4 compared to 5'7. It is just so new to me because I am used to reading male characters being tall and Caucasian that I inadvertently smile when I read the description. Kincy creates healthy relationships where couples at least try to be honest and open with each other (and practice safe sex).However, Others have inconsistencies and contradictions scattered around. Gwen wears a dress then several pages later she apparently had worn a blouse and a long skirt; Gwen checks on her blog daily yet she apparency owns no blog when asked are just a couple of examples. Then I felt somethings were not clarified: Maris being a prime example. And finally just some awkwardness in the book: a dream sequence that failed to be much of anything (especially with foreshadowing) since it was not mentioned ever again after that page and these huge hints that Gwen somehow misses.Others ended solidly where I saw no point of a sequel (let alone being a trilogy), but I am eager in reading Bloodborn and Foxfire. I expect a detailed, action-packed romantic escape like I found in Others with the faults smoothed out.

[abookwormshaven · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I got my copy of this book when I was at ALA and I actually got to meet the author too and she signed my book. She was so friendly and she even had a little pooka with her. I on the other hand was a total dork and got nervous and called the pooka a boy instead of a girl. Yeah, that was embarrassing!! I still get nervous in front of authors, they are my version of meeting a rock star so I sometimes freeze up. Hopefully, if I meet her again, I will not say something stupid again. Knowing me though, it is bound to happen :)Alright onto the book. This is the story about a girl named Gwen, who is an “other.” An “other” is basically any paranormal being that you can think of, all of them fall into this label. Some others inherit their unique qualities, like Gwen who is half pooka. While some others are infected, like a bite from a vamp or a werewolf. Gwen inherited her pooka heritage from her biological father, who she has not met and has no idea who he is. She lives with her mother, sister, and step father in a very small town in Washington. While others are known about in the world, they are frowned upon and not really accepted in society as they should be. It mimics racism, just in a different form and is a constant theme woven throughout the story. As an outsider it is infuriating to see how Gwen and those like her are treated, and probably more upsetting because unfortunately we see these things happen in our society every day.Another problem Gwen faces is telling her boyfriend, Zack what she is. She has dating him for over a year and she has still not revealed her true identity to him. The secret has stared to come between them and Zack has been noticing that Gwen has been pushing away lately. When the moment finally comes for Gwen to tell Zack I found myself crossing my fingers for her because I wanted so much for her to get her happy ending. Of course I am not going to tell you how that goes down, because I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but I am sure you will have some intense opinions on the situation, just like I did.A little side note story about this. When I was at BEA, a book blogging friend and I were talking about the love triangle situation that seems to appear in books so often and how we decided which team we were on. She remarked that most of the time you root for the guy you meet first, because you are introduced to him first and get to know him before the new guy comes into play. Normally, this is very true with me, I am with Edward (Twilight), Marc (Shifters), or Dimitri (Vampire Academy) you see my point, right? In this book I thought I might be rooting for Zack, until we meet Tavian. I am totally with Tavian, he is so sweet and I love how he treats Gwen. He really took me by surprise, because I did not think I would end up liking him, but he blew Zack out of the water, very quickly.I did enjoy all the different types of others that were incorporated into this book. There are dryads, and water sprites, and leprechauns, oh my! Okay sorry, couldn’t resist. The point is I like how the story weaves all these different characters lives into one web that connects all of them. They are all so unique and fascinating in their own way, I loved reading about them and I was sorry to see the story end because it meant my journey with them was coming to an end for now. I know that there is a sequel in the works, I do not think it focuses on Gwen, it focuses on someone who was a secondary character in this story, Brock. It is called Bloodborn and it is due out in 2011. I know I will be on the lookout for it because I want to learn more about the others and life from their point of view.Language Love: “Clouds clot in the sky behind my house, as if the roof is damming their flow.”I love clouds, they are so fascinating to me and I love watching them make shapes across the sky. This sentence just helps bring them to life even more for me. “Evening ripens into a blackberry sky seeded with stars. The moon peeks above the horizons, fat and nearing full, dripping silver juice.”Do I really need to explain why I love this? I mean, c’mon…that is just beautiful!