Sharp Teeth: A Novel

“Barlow’s imagery is magnificent . . . [A] kooky combo of grit, goofiness, and gusto . . . demonstrates that fantasy . . . may just be the place to find true exuberance and stylistic innovation.” — Los Angeles Times Book Review

An ancient race of lycanthropes has survived to the present day, and its numbers are growing as the initiated convince L.A.’s down and out to join their pack. Caught in the middle are Anthony, a kind-hearted, besotted dogcatcher, and the girl he loves, a female werewolf who has abandoned her pack.

Blending dark humor and epic themes with card-playing dogs, crystal meth labs, surfing, and carne asada tacos, Sharp Teeth captures the pace and feel of a graphic novel while remaining “as ambitious as any literary novel, because underneath all that fur, it’s about identity, community, love, death, and all the things we want our books to be about” [Nick Hornby, The Believer].

An ancient race of lycanthropes has survived to the present day, and its numbers are growing. Bent on dominance, rival factions are initiating the down-and-out of L.A. into their ranks. Caught in the middle are Anthony, a kindhearted, lovesick dogcatcher, and the object of his affection: a female werewolf who has abandoned her pack.

“Sharp Teeth brings a fresh approach and sly wit to the ‘man-into-beast’ subgenre.” - San Francisco Chronicle

“Brilliantly addictive. . . . Nicely paced and smartly embroidered. . . . A howling, hole-digging, bone-snapping, blood-lapping, intestine-gobbling success.” - New York magazine

“Romeo and Juliet, werewolf-style.” - Wall Street Journal

“I’m impressed. I always knew stuff like this was going on in L.A. What a cool book!” - Christopher Moore

“Tremendous.... As ambitious as any literary novel, because underneath all that fur, it’s about identity, community, love, death, and all the things we want our books to be about. ” - Nick Hornby, The Believer

“If Ovid had been raised on a steady diet of Marvel Comics, Roger Corman and MTV, he might’ve written something like Toby Barlow’s Sharp Teeth.” - Scott Smith, author of The Ruins and A Simple Plan

“A sexy, dark and (well, yes) biting story told by a wizard of sleight of hand.” - Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked and What-the-Dickens

“Forget any reservations you might have about werewolf stories or verse novels. This is great, engaging, wonderful stuff. Sondheim should make it his next musical.” - Michael Moorcock

“I like this book - lycanthropy indeed begins at home.” - David Mamet