Ever felt like you made a deal that came back to haunt you? Friedrich Wagner knows the feeling all too well. In a moment of despair, he accepts an offer from a forest demon: a century of renewed life and fortune in exchange for a monthly transformation into a savage werewolf. What follows is the messy, tragic fallout of that single decision.

The Story

The book follows Wagner as he navigates his new, cursed existence. By day, he's a wealthy, respected man. But when the moon calls, he becomes a monster hunted by his own community. The plot twists through his desperate attempts to conceal his secret, the people who get caught in the crossfire, and the relentless pursuit of a monk who knows the truth. It's less about the 'how' of being a werewolf and more about the crushing weight of living with it.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a polished, modern novel. It's serialized storytelling from the 1840s, which means it's packed with drama, cliffhangers, and big emotions. What grabbed me was Wagner himself. He's not a hero; he's a flawed man facing impossible consequences. You feel his panic and his guilt. Reynolds uses the werewolf curse as a brilliant metaphor for any hidden shame or addiction that consumes a person from the inside. It's surprisingly thoughtful under all the gothic trappings.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for readers who love the roots of horror and don't mind a bit of Victorian melodrama. If you enjoy 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' or early Penny Dreadfuls, you'll find a fascinating ancestor here. It's a gripping, fast-paced story about the price of our desires, proving that some classic terrors still have sharp teeth.