Grave Expectations by Charles Dickens and Sherri Browning Erwin ~ review

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (August 30, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451617240
• Source for review copy: Gallery Book Publishers
• To purchase your copy of this book click here!

Product Description

Heaven knows, we need never be ashamed of our wolfish cravings. . . .

Bristly, sensitive, and meat-hungry Pip is a robust young whelp, an orphan born under a full moon. Between hunting escaped convicts alongside zombified soldiers, trying not to become one of the hunted himself, and hiding his hairy hands from the supernaturally beautiful and haughty Estella, whose devilish moods keep him chomping at the bit, Pip is sure he will die penniless or a convict like the rest of his commonly uncommon kind.

But then a mysterious benefactor sends him to London for the finest werewolf education money can buy. In the company of other furry young gentlemen, Pip tempers his violent transformations and devours the secrets of his dark world. When he discovers that his beloved Estella is a slayer of supernatural creatures, trained by the corpse-like vampire Miss Havisham, Pip’s desire for her grows stronger than his midnight hunger for rare fresh beef. But can he risk his hide for a truth that will make Estella his forever—or will she drive one last silver stake through his heart?

My take on this book:

Pip Pirrip definitely didn't have an easy start in life.You see he is a werewolf whose mother and father are dead. So he was raised by his older sister Mrs. Joe Gargery who he calls Mrs. Joe. She is a harsh woman who rules with an iron fist, or should I say with a silver tipped cane she likes to call the Tickler. Pip hunts escaped convicts while also trying to hide his wolfish tendencies from the girl he has fallen in love with, but when he learns that his lady love is actually someone that slays supernatural creatures you can't help but wonder how things will work out for Pip! Will love prevail, or will Pip's lady love be the end of him?

 Having never read Charles Dickens Great Expectations,I was anxious to read this supernatural spin on the classic, but overall for me it was just an okay read. I found myself rereading parts of it to grasp the language that was used.Once I got into the groove of the story, it moved along quite well, and I did enjoy the characters.I thought it was interesting that in this story vampires were considered civilized and welcome in society while werewolves weren't. While I would consider this book a middle of the road read for me, I think it will appeal to a wide audience, from anyone who enjoys their classic tales rewritten with a paranormal twist, to fans who enjoy werewolves,vampires and the conflict that goes along with slayers wanting to eradicate supernatural beings. 


my rating 3/5