Kornwolf

Nestled between New Holland and Narvon in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, lies Blue Ball, the heart of the Amish Basin. An abundance of legend has followed the less conspicuous inhabitants of the surrounding hills and valleys who managed to settle here from Switzerland in the early 1700s. Donning very plain eerie clothes and tightly bound by religious doctrine, the intentionally secluded Amish find themselves the Protestant cornerstone of the northeastern United States, if not the entire country. Within 300 miles of Blue Ball lives one third of the United States' population. The pressure to conform must be over whelming -but they hardly even know it. Their connection to the outside world comes from the magazines and newspapers the English drop off, as requested by road signs seeking a free farm utility. They have no televisions or computers. Current events are very simple: today's weather and the "good deals" at the local auction. They speak their own language, and generally avoid speaking with the English (us). This is one of the settings in the new novel, Kornwolf, by Tristan Egolf. Kornwolf is an adventure into the shadow side of our country, Lancaster County, and ourselves. Tristan possesses a unique voice that places the reader into his world, (the protagonist) Owen's world. Tristan speaks our generation's disgust and disenchantment so well it makes me feel as if everyone in our generation must feel the same way... do you?

This book is great from the beginning, introducing characters and situations, gradually revealing more and more. It would be a disservice to any potential reader to touch upon any plot points, because the thrill of discovering them while reading the book is so great. It is exciting and funny. There are loose ties at the end, and the last bit of the book seems to have been rushed a bit more than the rest. I wish the author had explored the aftermath of the last events. It would have added to the fun immensely. If you're interested in either werewolves or in having a fun read, this is highly recommended. I will definitely read Egolf's other two books.