I totally agree with everything said here and i too wouldn't be too surprised to see wereraves, wereeagles, werejaguars or werecoyotes popping up in here, she seems to love her zoo. I love the idea of monsters, if monsters are done properlly and with a hint of scare. I liked the wererats and the werehyenas too. But they do need a female alpha, as hyenas are naturally lead by dominant females. The wererats were an awesome group of mercenaries and scouts - i cried when I heard of what she did to the poor alpha wererat. I loved that character and as with everything else, she bonked him over, literally. But it has been said again and again here, under the hands and talent of a different writer you would get such a different world here. Its such shame and so frustrating that the world she has createcd has so much potential in it that goes to waste. That is chiefly what finally stopped me reading her books.