Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella - Review
★★★½
Tony Santorella’s debut novel Bored Gay Werewolf had me hooked from the title, obviously. As well as being a fan of queer horror and particularly queer monsters, last year I did my Honours thesis on werewolves in popular media and their relation to gender identity. I knew that this book would be able to scratch this niche itch of mine, and for the most part, it did.
The story follows Brian, a waiter at a restaurant who is struggling to keep his identity as a werewolf secret from his friends Nik and Darby. His uncontrollable transformations and violent attacks on strangers catches the attention of Tyler, a werewolf who intends to create a safe space for other werewolves looking for self-help.
From the very beginning I was drawn into Brian’s world with Santorella’s humour and pop culture references. Many people in their 20s will see themselves in Brian, whether it's his aimlessness or struggle to come to terms with himself.
Besides the comedic werewolf POV, what really brought this book together for me was the commentary on toxic masculinity. This comes in the form of Tyler’s werewolf community “The Pack”. He subjects Brian to intense physical exertion and daily verbal affirmations, essentially convincing him of what a werewolf should be. Without any other guide to the monster world, Brian follows Tyler.
This is a quite on-the-nose metaphor for the “alpha male” culture and mindset that has become prevalent among men (particularly young men) who are insecure about the idea of gender equality. You read as Brian falls down this pipeline, eventually pushing his friends away and becoming more selfish. I thought that this aspect of the book was really well done and a great commentary on how men can fall into this trap when their insecurities are manipulated.
MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!
My biggest issue that held me back from loving this book, however, was the ending. The suspense that builds throughout the novel was really effective, but the final confrontation felt underwhelming due to some corny dialogue. A lot of the tension at the end disappears because of the quippy comments and lack of seriousness from the protagonists.
It felt like a final battle from a cheesy superhero film, and not in the fun, campy way I hoped for. The book even finishes with a Nick Fury-type character who recruits them to go on more supernatural adventures, which I just didn’t think fit the tone of the book.
A sequel, Shy Trans Banshee, has a similarly captivating title, and follows Brian, Nik, and Darby on their next adventure. While I will probably read it eventually, I am unconvinced that this Scooby-Doo-esque format will leave much room for the same biting commentary and metaphor that engaged me earlier in this book. Hopefully it manages to maintain the same wit as Bored Gay Werewolf, and Tony Santorella can further prove himself to be a fresh queer voice with something to say.
Rating: 3.5/5