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Lauretta Hignett
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Vicious Creatures (The Waif in the Wilds Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Lauretta Hignett (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 3,141 ratings
I've been asleep for the past ten years.

The horror of waking up from the best dream ever and remembering you’re a monster is indescribable. My soul is screaming for mercy, for forgiveness, for redemption… but I know I’ll never get it. I’m going to Hell for everything I’ve done.

The only thing I can do now is take as many monsters with me as I can.

My list is almost complete. There’s one more name to go, and it’s the hardest job I’ve ever done.

I’m on my way to Castlemaine — a bizarre little town hidden in between Wildwood Canyon and the Badlands of California.

Strange things lurk in Castlemaine. It’s the Bermuda Triangle of the United States — a place of weird old magic, odd people, and vicious creatures like me. Nobody ever wants to go there, because they might not ever come back. But I’ve got no choice.

I’m going to take out the man who taught me to kill.


Vicious Creatures is book one in The Waif in the Wilds, a hot new Urban Fantasy series by bestselling author Lauretta Hignett.
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  1. Book 1 of 4
    The Waif in the Wilds
  2. Print length
    276 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    October 29, 2023
  6. File size
    3.7 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CHNSBVH3
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 29, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 4 ‏ : ‎ The Waif in the Wilds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 3,141 ratings

About the author

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Lauretta Hignett

Lauretta Hignett

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A raving fangirl for all things paranormal, supernatural, magical and fantastical, Lauretta writes fun, fast-paced Urban Fantasy – unique, kickass characters and madcap adventures with a dash of romance and loads of laughs.

She's a massive fan of anything shifter, witch or vampire, she loves a plot twist, hates cliffhangers, and always keeps her readers on their toes.

When she's not writing, Lauretta enjoys crazy fad diets, sunshine, her two little children, weird craft projects and massive amounts of dark chocolate. You'll often find her staring into space or muttering to herself in weird voices. Just ignore her. She'll come back to reality eventually.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
3,141 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this sci-fi fantasy adventure engaging and fascinating to read, with well-developed characters and a compelling narrative that drags readers through wicked fun. The book features humorous elements and moments of ridiculous fun, and customers appreciate the writing style. The violence level receives mixed reactions from customers.

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33 customers mention "Narrative quality"30 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the narrative of the book, describing it as an engaging and entertaining adventure that drags readers through wicked fun, with one customer noting how the stories are tightly bound together.

"...She also has a refreshing wit that is hilarious and adroitly interspersed throughout the novel, serving as a refreshing tonal break from the..." Read more

"Great characters, amusing dialog, interesting town. I would have given this five stars, but I didn't appreciate the "to be continued" at the end...." Read more

"...characters that seem to be ghosts and bad guys, but aren’t, are all fascinating, full characters that add to who she is." Read more

"...Pick this up is you love a strong character, adventure, moments of ridiculous fun, and savage, vicious, (misunderstood) creatures!" Read more

23 customers mention "Character development"23 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer noting the many layers to the story and another highlighting the strong female protagonists.

"...is that this is conveyed through the narrative, specifically the characters actions and interactions...." Read more

"Great characters, amusing dialog, interesting town. I would have given this five stars, but I didn't appreciate the "to be continued" at the end...." Read more

"...seem to be ghosts and bad guys, but aren’t, are all fascinating, full characters that add to who she is." Read more

"...Pick this up is you love a strong character, adventure, moments of ridiculous fun, and savage, vicious, (misunderstood) creatures!" Read more

20 customers mention "Readability"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fascinating to keep reading, describing it as a compelling and entertaining novel.

"...chef's kiss* * The setting is unique and compelling; the best way I can think to describe it as a whole is Burn Notice meets Supernatural with..." Read more

"Wow, what a ride! Chloe has a few problems, mainly that she is trying to deal with her two lives...." Read more

"...’s just so many layers to the story and characters, it’s fascinating to keep reading and uncovering layer after layer...." Read more

"...It’s an entertaining read, with some rather dark events (lightly mentioned but definitely traumatic for our heroine)...." Read more

9 customers mention "Humor"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, particularly its ridiculous fun moments and amusing dialog.

"...She also has a refreshing wit that is hilarious and adroitly interspersed throughout the novel, serving as a refreshing tonal break from the..." Read more

"Great characters, amusing dialog, interesting town. I would have given this five stars, but I didn't appreciate the "to be continued" at the end...." Read more

"...Pick this up is you love a strong character, adventure, moments of ridiculous fun, and savage, vicious, (misunderstood) creatures!" Read more

"...Dwayne (arguably the best reason for reading the book) is extremely amusing (and murderous), and her ever growing stable of dark-and-dangerous-and-..." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing style"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one customer noting it is unique and well-crafted.

"...I really like the author, though, and all the side characters were awesome, so I'm excited to read the next book in the series." Read more

"...Very promising and intriguing! Great writing and editing and smooth execution… Onwards to part 2!" Read more

"...This is the female lead Ive been looking for. Dynamic and well written, Vicious Creatures hits all the right marks for humour and violence that my..." Read more

"...going to read other books by Lauretta Hignett as I really enjoy her writing style." Read more

7 customers mention "Violence level"4 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the violence level in the book, with some appreciating the spiritual angst while others find it excessive.

"...you love a strong character, adventure, moments of ridiculous fun, and savage, vicious, (misunderstood) creatures!" Read more

"...The next one starts after the deed is done! There is tons of violence, action and “bad” language, descriptions of a character’s evil intentions, and..." Read more

"Tortured, powerful and determined— and yes dangerous. I love the spiritual angst, adds another dimension to the usual fight/flight dynamics of the MC..." Read more

"More gore than I enjoy, but a compelling novel which leaves you wanting to read the next in series...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Nick S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars I showed up for grim urban fantasy and stayed for the goose
    Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Damn. This is the best book I've read in a while. Here's why:

    * The characters--especially the main character--are well developed, to put it mildly. The main character, Chloe, is going through an identity crisis, on levels both figurative and literal. What's excellent is that this is conveyed through the narrative, specifically the characters actions and interactions. No long, fraught inner monologues to convey the main character's internal state. From a craft perspective, this book is choice. *chef's kiss*
    * The setting is unique and compelling; the best way I can think to describe it as a whole is Burn Notice meets Supernatural with a generous dash of Twin Peaks.
    * The main character is a cynical and jaded, but she's working through it as the book progresses. She also has a refreshing wit that is hilarious and adroitly interspersed throughout the novel, serving as a refreshing tonal break from the heaviness of the main character's past and predicament. It's really well executed, especially when contrasted by lots of genre adjacent books whose main characters' identities rely on wit and humor for characterization.
    * Also, make no mistake, some of the content is heavy, with references to (but no depictions of) physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. The author manages to pull off the nearly impossible balancing act of incorporating this content, both giving it the gravity it deserves but not letting it become overbearing. It incorporates humor that serves as emotional release valve for the reader without undercutting the gravitas of the characters' suffering. The humor works because it's adjacent to but separate from the heavy content, showcasing the author's excellent command of pacing.

    What's great is that if you don't have the ear (erm, eye?) for such things, it still a fun, compelling read.

    I'm grateful that this is available on Kindle Unlimited, considering its high quality. The book is firing on all cylinders when it comes to plot, characters, and craft. If you're a genre/writing nerd like me, there's plenty here deserving of your attention, and if you're not, it's still a d*mn good read. I can't recommend it highly enough. Now, I'm off to read the next book in the series.

    Also, Dwayne is the best.
    20 people found this helpful
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  • mofree36
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great characters!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great characters, amusing dialog, interesting town. I would have given this five stars, but I didn't appreciate the "to be continued" at the end. It has one of those endings where a main plot point of the book gets somewhat resolved, but it's definitely clear there is a continuing storyline. I really like the author, though, and all the side characters were awesome, so I'm excited to read the next book in the series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars wow
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This was the first book on the series and all I can say is wow. Chloe and her story is so many layers. She has been molded in to a killing machine and is looking for redemption. I love Dwayne, the goose. The characters that seem to be ghosts and bad guys, but aren’t, are all fascinating, full characters that add to who she is.
    Helpful
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  • Gypjet
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wild ride!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Wow, what a ride!

    Chloe has a few problems, mainly that she is trying to deal with her two lives. The first as a vicious, assassin, abused and molded into a monster by her father. The other, an innocent that learned how to love and exist as a pure soul. Now that they have been shoved back together, she has to relearn who she really is, and find her true place in the world.

    She is beyond broken. Determined to finish her kill list of all the monsters that formed her, she has to pick up the pieces of her life and learn to either live with it or die.

    Luckily, she finds help, but not in the places you would expect. To learn more you'll have to read it, but I'll tell you up front, she's finding a path with the help of her equally broken friends. An alien goose, a hellhound, a ghost, and a group of misplaced gods. It's gonna be a journey!

    I can't wait to travel along it with Chloe. She might be the most complex character yet in this growing world!

    Pick this up is you love a strong character, adventure, moments of ridiculous fun, and savage, vicious, (misunderstood) creatures!
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Nicole Cunningham
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good, entertaining, and surprisingly deep
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It all started with a killer goose. I mean, how much more silly and raucous can that be? Yet, something about Chloe’s story pulled me in and made me read almost the whole thing in one sitting. There’s just so many layers to the story and characters, it’s fascinating to keep reading and uncovering layer after layer.

    This is a redemption story at its heart. Chloe has just been awakened from a 10-year spell that locked away assassin Chloe, who had been honed into an instrument of destruction from birth. The spell instead turned her into loving, good, slightly airheaded Chloe who loved everyone and everything. Now that the spell’s been broken, the real Chloe has to find a way to make both halves of her personality live together in harmony.

    Of course, it’s not as easy as it sounds, and Chloe’s first and overriding impulse to do this is to assassinate the man who was her teacher. Many, many tries. Even as he continues to teach her, and continues to resist her attempts to assassinate him, and she realizes she’s learning and growing, still she keeps throwing herself against that wall where she tries yet again to kill him. I feel ya, Chloe. I, too, continue my self-destructive behaviors in spite of knowing and feeling better. Must be the familiarity of habit or something like that.

    See what I mean? Deep. But also funny. I also love how Chloe collects monsters like that cool neighborhood mom collects kids just randomly dropping in for dinner.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • sandrine
    5.0 out of 5 stars urban fantasy
    Reviewed in France on April 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Si vous voulez savoir ce qu’il est advenu de la gentille Chloé, meilleure amie de Prue Nakia, il vous fait lire cette série. Très bon début.
    Report
  • remittingdust
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another 5*
    Reviewed in Canada on January 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Who DOESN'T love a book about an assassin looking for redemption, magic and supernatural beings, gods and avatars.... And a murder goose?
    Report
  • Bücherfan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
    Reviewed in Germany on April 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I stumbled upon this book and was hooked immediately.
    The premises and world building are good.
    Also the plot and characters.
    I'll definitely read the next one.
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  • Rosbath
    5.0 out of 5 stars Vicious Creatures
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I read the prologue to this story in an anthology and had to start the series. This is great, so well written and keeps you hooked,needing to know what happens next. Who will Chloe find next.. And the need to know.more about her new friends. Fantastic story.
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  • Aurore1984
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable
    Reviewed in Australia on March 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Really loved this book. The premise is something different to the usual vampire werewolf stories and I find it very interesting. The main character is written really well, and she’s not too snarky, whilst also not being whiny either. She’s strong and while she’s conflicted, she’s still a well-rounded character. There’s a potential love interest for those wanting a touch of romance. Which I’m sure will flesh out in The rest of the series. I was just pleasantly surprised because I really loved the Imogen Gray books but got a bit bored by the next ones in the series. So I’m really pleased that this seems to have picked up again and is so far keeping my interest.
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