The attack of the STRAY changes everything for werecat Faythe Sanders. Faythe is able to successfully defend herself, but her father, the Pride’s Alpha, demands she return home.  After all, two other tabbies have been snatched by a STRAY and Faythe’s safety is at risk.  Faythe struggles with her loss of independence, particularly when her former lover, Marc, also wants to put a chokehold on her freedom.  Step inside the world of the werecats to see what happens with this battle of wills….

It is very rare that a book so captures my admiration and awe that I cannot easily find the words to express just how powerful the story is.  STRAY is one of these books.  Rachel Vincent has put her own stamp on the world of werecats and created one of the most brilliant tales I’ve read in quite a while.  The world building is absolutely phenomenal as one becomes immersed in the culture of the werecats.  The world isn’t always pretty, as Rachel Vincent shows readers the gritty, sometimes edgy, world in which the werecats thrive.

Rachel Vincent also does a beautiful job with character development.  Initially, I was worried Faythe was going to degenerate into one of those TSTL (too stupid to live) characters but her experiences enabled her to mature as the story progressed.  Faythe doesn’t always make the right choices, but she demonstrates a strong streak of independence and determination that is hard to fault.  Her relationship with her father is conflicted and adds a deeper understanding to her desire for freedom.

Rachel Vincent proves with her first novel that she is destined to be one of the heavy hitters in the paranormal/urban fantasy genre.  What a shining gem for the Mira line!  STRAY is an intense roller coaster ride in which the outcome isn’t always what you expect.  I can only hope that a sequel is in the works as I want to know more about Rachel Vincent’s werecats!

Reviewed by Debbie

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Posted June 2007