Bite risk

Bite Risk by S.J. Wills

Bite risk book cover

Sel Archer lives in a normal town with normal residents, except for one night a month . . . When the full moon comes out, almost all of the adults turn into werewolves, and it’s up to the young people to protect themselves from danger.But, as this quiet life begins to unravel, and the Turned start to escape, can Sel and his friends uncover exactly who – or what – is watching their every move, before it’s too late?


40 Comments

Toby St Paul’s

5th December 2024 at 4:17 pm

[MAJOR SPOILERS]
Bite Risk was an enjoyable read, with a unique spin on the werewolf thriller genre. There were many plot twists which kept me interested, however, I feel that too much went unexplained, for instance, if they let Ingrid, Sel and Eleanor “escape”, then why haven’t other people escaped as well, and why let them escape now? I really enjoyed the twists and turns this book took, however, and loved the semi-apocalyptic vibes that it gave off.

7/10

Matilda-year 7-The cavendish school

4th December 2024 at 9:06 am

7/10
This book was an interesting and intriguing story with lots of twists and turns; it was one of my favorites.
I definitely would recommend Bite risk to people and it is a nice book to read.

Lottie – Year 7 Cavendish

4th December 2024 at 9:03 am

Werewolf parents. Child guardians. The conspiracy of a lifetime.

Follow the fantastic journey of Sel and his fellow teenagers as they discover truths, unearth secrets and fight against betrayal. Perfect for fans of Skulduggery Pleasant, this rollercoaster of a book is full of absolutely delicious twists and turns which will get your heart beating so far you’ll think you’re going to die.

Lizzy, Year 8, Cavendish

4th December 2024 at 9:01 am

SPOILER ALERT
This was a good book with a plot twist at the end
This was book about a town where all the adults but one turn into werewolves and it is up to the children to care for them. It focuses on a boy called Sel who is a normal boy (for the town) and his best friend’s brother escapes his prison for the night and then falls into a trap. They don’t think it is normal so they do some investigating and find out they can’t leave the town as they are part of an experiment. They escape to the headquarters of Sequest (the company that is experimenting on them) and it turns out that Sel’s best friends brother didn’t die and escaped to the headquarters as well where he infected all the normal humans with the virus.
It was a good fantasy book and I would recommend it.

Adhira – Year 7 – Cavendish

4th December 2024 at 8:57 am

This a great book for anyone who wants to be spooked and loves vampires. This amazing book is a must read.

Arwen from Cavendish School

4th December 2024 at 8:56 am

I adored the suspense and horror and the unexpected plot twists. Definitely an entertaining read. I love a good mystery book and this filled my needs. Usually, I’m very picky when choosing a book, but my choice this time was extremely easy.

Nikol Ardingly

28th November 2024 at 2:35 pm

SPOILER ALERT!

Bite risk had a bit of horror, comedy with a lot of plot twists, mystery and suspense – who is the real criminal? It is about werewolves and teenagers living in a simulation away from the world. Personally I don’t like horror at all but this book was fun to read. I like the ending where the children started accepting their parents and everything went back to normal. This book also teaches us a lesson about how you can’t trust everyone around you, their real intention isn’t always what you expect.

Oscar Yip Y8 Ardingly

28th November 2024 at 12:06 pm

SPOILER ALERT!

Bite risk is an amazing book talking about Governments and Dictators. This book is a Dystopian Genre which I usually read, It talks about Sel Archer with his friends realise the town is controlled by a government. This book is an inspiration about North Korea and its citizens, many North Koreans do not know the Outside World or been told a worse reality than what it inside. They follow laws they praise the dictator/leader, The book is also about Ingrid (The Bully) coming forward that she doesn’t hate Sel Archer. In General, It’s a book about friendship and dystopian future. One of the best books ever!!!! 10/10

Dexter-Year 10- The Sir Robert Woodard Academy

27th November 2024 at 12:55 pm

The book has a decent pacing, I just think a lot of plot and writing is a bit simplistic and doesn’t really compete against the more adult book. I liked it enough, and I do think a year 7 or 8 would really like it and that’s great. The twists this book has are really intruging, and I think it’s a great idea on paper.

Flo year 8 Cavendish

27th November 2024 at 9:08 am

Bite risk is a surprisingly good book. It is about a town where all of the adults turn into werewolves one night a month. I like the idea that the children are in charge on these nights. I would recommend this book.

Tomas Ardingly year 8

24th November 2024 at 6:04 pm

Spoiler Alert!

This is a great book because it shows what people go through in nights on their own and what they can discover. I liked the reveal of Harold saying that he worked for sequest; that was very good and overall it was very exciting.

Alexis

23rd November 2024 at 2:00 pm

Spoiler Alert!!!!

Personally, I think this book was fantastic and had lots of twists and turns that kept me reading and got my eyes stuck to the book. My favourite part was when everything just unfolds itself and Sel, Ingrid and Elena realise that they have been living in a simulation, isolated from the whole world. They thought they knew what was going on and could hide from Sequest, this was far from the truth and they have been monitored even when they thought that they were being stealthy. The greatest reveal of the book was when they realised that Harold was working for Sequest but even after they knew that, they still fell into the trap. The moment I read the description: “My posters are on the walls, my computer in its usual place on the desk. Mum has tidied up though. A lot. All my drawers are shut properly, for once, with no stray socks sticking half out. The curtains are closed but the light is on. The familiar blue star lamp is on mu bedside table though m phone isn’t next to it.” I knew something was wrong and that they were living in a simulation of their room.

George Year 8 Ardingly

22nd November 2024 at 10:44 am

Spoiler Alert!

I really enjoyed reading this book it was a great mix of horror and mystery. The plot twist with Harold blew my mind, I never saw it coming from a mile away! Learning about the outside world in the book made me realise the author is good at holding secrets and letting them slowly drip into our minds. My favourite moment in the book was when Sel, Ingrid and Elena were running away on confinement night, and the reveal that they were puppets to Sequest. 9/10 Horror book that makes you not want to miss a single sentence.

Molly – Ardingly

22nd November 2024 at 10:03 am

Bite risk was a pleasantly surprising book normally I would stay away from a horror genre but the mix of comedy horror and mystery that I really enjoyed. I really enjoyed the plot twist at the end, would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes si-fi, fantasy books.

Jessica – Ardingly College Year 9

22nd November 2024 at 9:18 am

Bite Risk is an amazing and gripping thriller book, that I found incredibly difficult to put down!

As someone who doesn’t usually enjoy books with werewolves and supernatural monsters, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book!

There were some scenes which I found very exciting, such as when Sel broke into the mayor’s house to attempt to find evidence for his suspicions. There were also scenes which were upsetting, such as Pedro’s death. The author built empathy with the characters, which helped with immersion.

In conclusion, I found this book amazing, and perfect for anyone who enjoys thriller books! I’m looking forward to reading more books by S.J. Wills in the future!

Khumo St Paul’s

20th November 2024 at 7:28 pm

My review on Bite risk:
I really enjoyed this book! Personally, at first it was a bit slow paced for me which in hindsight makes sense as Tremorglade is a small, boring town but after the first few chapters, it got very interesting and I couldn’t put it down! The plot twists in this book were exciting- especially the one at the end- and I loved how everything clicks in Sel’s mind. Also, I loved the whole concept of Sequest and the drones. My favourite character is probably Ingrid because she’s sassy and I liked her character arc. The ending was satisfying and gave closure to the aftermath of the events. All in all, I would rate it 8/10

Millie

15th November 2024 at 12:52 pm

I really enjoyed reading this book over half term. I felt like it was a very good way to take a break from everything. Every night before bed I found myself picking it up again. I also really enjoyed the mix of horror and adventure. I especially liked where it was set. In an ordinary and kind of boring town which has no communication with the outside world. I think Sel was my favourite character, and I really liked his personality. A very good book

Louis Ardingly

15th November 2024 at 12:20 pm

Spoilers!

Bite risk is very interesting; it has lots of plot twists and strange elements of humour. It reveals that we are all sheep and we don’t question what is really normal. It is interesting and it shows if you have the money you can hide anything from anyone as they built a wall around Tremelog. It is cool that their best friend is the creator of Sequest, the evil company that experiments on them to create weapons. I honestly give this book a 10/10.

Chris, Ardingly

15th November 2024 at 10:11 am

*WARNING SPOILERS*

I’m never a huge fan of horrors yet a big fan of the dystopian genre. But this book was an incredible read, A fantastic mix of dystopia and horror with a genuinely interesting story. I just couldn’t put this book down! Some great things this book did were plot and pacing: The plot was very well written and felt well thought out (something a lot of books can’t seem to do right). For the majority of the book the story was well-paced, though I felt like some parts of the story (the end for example) were too cluttered and rushed. The character development was a bit inconsistent too, For example, I feel like they forgave Ingrid way too fast. But overall, this is an amazing book if you want a little bit of mystery, some well-done horror and a great story. 8.5/10

Sam

14th November 2024 at 10:10 am

Bite risk was a good mix of horror, unknowing and comedy. I really enjoyed the plot twists and the I thought the book was quite fast paced and that definitely suited me. My favourite moment about the book is when Ingrid stats to aim the tranq at them and then pigeons start crashing into Ingrid’s face. I think the mystery and tension the writer was able to create was good and overall I think it was a great read.

Red, Seaford Head

13th November 2024 at 9:11 pm

SPOLIER ALERT!!!

‘Bite risk’ by S.J Wills is very skilfully written novel with a good plot backed up by an intriguing setting. Its pacing was like a barrel of gun powder rolling down a hill; starting slowly and then picking up pace before exploding at the end. It almost felt like the story was meant for a thicker book.

It starts in a way that makes you as the reader curious as to what is happening in this world of strange beasts. The unveiling the whole truth as the main character knows it. Even from early on, the book was constantly dropping clues about the truth; Harold’s conspiracy instantly triggered me to thinking that something was wrong and that is just one of the examples where the whole mystery side to it was very satisfying.

Contrary to what my classmates were saying, I felt that the ending was not as good as the rest of the book. The final climax would have been more impactful if there had been more time for the reader to feel a great sense of doom. It was like you were being hit several times in a row before you had even felt the pain of the last blow; first a moment of excitement as the protagonists escape Tremorglade, then the huge twist of them realising the truth, another mini climax as they get caught by Sequest, followed by another twist when we find out that Pedro survived, and finally the big climax when the drone sequence happens. You may say this is simply the nature of a thriller, but I felt it to be rather excessive. Furthermore, I felt that the revelation of the simulation slightly undermined earlier parts in the novel, making me feel like the characters were never really on to anything because Sequest was always a step ahead and the ending was just a bit of deus-ex-machina.

On the whole, despite my many criticisms, this is still an awesome book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy and thrillers. Finally I would rate this a (and I know you have been waiting a long time for this and could fall asleep at any moment) 8/10 or 4 stars if you can’t be bothered to do the maths yourself.

Isabella St Paul’s catholic college, Y8

10th November 2024 at 11:06 pm

Review on bite risk
4.8/5
I usually wouldn’t pick up a horror book on the shelf but after hearing about the story I decided to give it a try as it was in my school’s library.
As soon as I turned the cover I realised it’s almost impossible to put the book down from all the plot twists and mysteries! It kept me on the edge of my seat – not expecting the twists and turns in this story and how it all puzzles together at the end perfectly . Overall an amazing book and perfect for people who enjoy mysteries, terrors and fiction!

Elsie – Ardingly

8th November 2024 at 9:34 am

I really enjoyed reading this book, the amount of plot twists made you never want to put the book down. The amount of surprises kept you engulfed in the book! It had a good balance of humour and terror. The way the author created a book in which the children’s ‘normal full moon’ is so different to ours shows how good a writer she is; it really shows through out her book. I would definitely recommend reading this book as overall it was a good read.

Aidan Y11 St Paul’s Catholic College

7th November 2024 at 1:02 pm

MAJOR SPOILER ALERT:

I thought this book was OK. I liked the ideas that the author proposed, and I think that it could have been very interesting. I liked that Ingrid developed as a character but I feel that it was too sudden and easy, but it was nice having another member added to the main ‘gang’. The twist that the rippers only exist in the main town was cool and added to the ‘evil organisation’ that Sequest was. Speaking of Sequest, I don’t think that overall, they were written amazingly. The person who died as a ripper (I can’t remember his name) coming back I felt was unnecessary and got rid of lots of tension and sadness, and I would have rather had him stay dead. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I didn’t think that it was great.

Vivienne, St Pauls

7th November 2024 at 12:56 pm

This book was really good!!!
I really enjoyed all the characters and the twists. And the whole concept about the werewolves and drones was really cool!
My favourite part was that pigeon scene when they all fall other than Ingrid and her 2 friends. I would definitely read more from this author.
I rate this book a 7/10!!

Joshua

6th November 2024 at 7:51 pm

I really enjoyed this read because of the gentle humour that mixed well with the horror side. I like the way the start is more relaxing and includes some humour then you progress to when you know that someone is clearly purposely releasing people and accidents start to happen. I especially like when Sel wakes up after sneaking into the mayor’s house and almost immediately notices it is not his actual room because until you find out it, makes you think a lot of things, like where is he and how did he get there. I also really like the idea that they send sound waves through the air. I would really recommend this book to anyone who loves horror and also if you like dystopian books.

Coco Ardingly College Year 8

6th November 2024 at 9:05 am

This book was filled with stomach turning plot twist and cliffhangers that made me hold my breath. I saw Sel’s reality become flipped and the struggle he went through to dig out the truth. The fast-paced plot kept me on the edge of my seat and never failed to surprise me. I loved watching the characters develop through the book, especially when the manipulation of his relationships was revealed to Sel. Overall, I thought that the aspect of kids walking around with tranquiliser guns and locking their parents up was a bit like a video game, which I personally didn’t really like. However, I was pleasantly surprised, and I found the book a perfect twist of horror, adventure and humour. Definitely a good book for those who love thrillers.

Rose

5th November 2024 at 7:41 pm

I thought Bite risk was an interesting book. It is not usually something I tend to read but it was nice to read something different for a change. This book has multiple different aspects of horror for young readers. It is a perfect introduction to some slightly scary aspects but it is not too full on or gory. The book was however in my opinion a little slow and hard to get into but once you started reading it you can’t put it down. I think the author could have built the characters up more as I personally did not truly understand them. Especially Sel and Eleanor. This book isn’t really my thing but I think it is an amazing book!!

Lizzie, year 8, Ardingly

5th November 2024 at 6:56 pm

My review on ‘Bite Risk’ by S.J. Wills

I found this book so interesting and almost impossible to put down! I liked that it was quite easy to follow and I thought it was the perfect mix of fantasy and horror. It kept getting better and better with every page I turned. The massive plot twist at the end left me completely shocked, I would have never guessed it! I think the author was really good at keeping the reader on the edge of their seat whilst creating a range of creative and witty characters. I loved when I could relate to the characters in this book.

A great read for fantasy and horror lovers!

Nancy – Y8 – Seaford Head

29th October 2024 at 1:44 pm

Bite Risk Review:
I really enjoyed reading ‘Bite Risk’ by S.J Wills as it was placed in a completely alien world which opened lots of doors for imagination. One particular idea I thought made this book even more spectacular was the way that each character had unique personalities and had different lifestyles, I thought this made the novel more interesting as you learned more about the characters along the way. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who enjoys to read Sci-Fi and Fantasy. In the end, the whole mystery was revealed which I found very exhilarating as your prediction on who was good or bad was either revealed wrong… or right! Overall, I think the book is very eye-catching and thrilling. Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down!!

Sophie

29th October 2024 at 9:33 am

I think Bite risk was all right, but the things I would change would be the characters’ personalities and have some action – like have some at the start then some at the end so you could be able to get hooked into the book rather having a boring start and a good end and a alright middle; those are the things I would change

Evie R-S Y8 Seaford head

28th October 2024 at 11:19 am

SPOILER ALERT!!

I thought this book was pretty good – it’s not something I’d normally read so it’s nice to have a change. I think this book is the perfect introduction to horror for young readers since it’s not too full on and not too gory and graphic. I love how S.J Wills mixes dystopian and horror with just the right amount of comedy to lighten up the mood. My favourite part in the book was when Pedro came back in the end and spread the disease to everyone because it saved everyone but also was disastrous for the whole world. The thing I think could be improved in this book could maybe be building on Sel and Elena’s characters more and showing how they evolve through their journey. One other thing that I thought could be built on is the pace of the book since I found the start -the first half of the book- to be quite slow and a little hard to get into but the ending was definitely worth the wait.
Overall I’d give this book a 6/10 because it’s not really my thing but I think lots of other people could really enjoy it.

Ciara~ St Pauls

24th October 2024 at 9:29 pm

~Bite risk~
Rating: 3.5/5
Gripping and well written, good pace throughout, it flowed really well however there are a small amount of plot holes where the subject wasn’t fully explored , I wish that S.J Wills expanded on some of the points made. Even though it wasn’t my favourite book, it was still an enjoyable read with a large range of twists and turns that keep you on edge. I also loved the comedic elements that were brought into the story, I recommend this book to people who enjoy horror and mystery.

Darcy, Year 8, St Paul’s Catholic College

20th October 2024 at 8:57 pm

This book is a captivating page-turner that will keep you hooked from the very beginning. The unique premise of adults turning into dangerous creatures during a full moon adds an exciting twist to the supernatural genre. The fast-paced plot, filled with unexpected twists and turns, will keep you guessing until the very end.The author has created a world that is both intriguing and terrifying, with well-developed characters and a gripping storyline. The children’s responsibility of locking up the adults is a clever concept that adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.
If you’re a fan of supernatural thrillers, this book is a must-read. With its engaging characters, exciting plot, and unexpected twists, it’s sure to keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat.

Vala – Year 8 – Ardingly

16th October 2024 at 11:33 am

Bite Risk – Review
A fairly good book that can leaves you questioning the pages on who the culprit could be. I liked how S.J. Willis used the modern-day society to turn it into a completely different universe. I wasn’t a fan of this book though; for me it was rather boring in places because I prefer books that are faster paced. Moreover, I struggled to identify the main storyline, and I am also not a fan of horror… many reasons why it didn’t quite work for me. However, I totally understand why for people like this book and if I liked the horror genre this would have been a great book.

Lara St Paul’s

13th October 2024 at 6:00 pm

In my opinion I haven’t read a lot of horror books but I will definitely be reading more if they’re like this book. It was fast paced with some thrilling plot twists that were really well written and same with the characters. Although it was a horror and focused on a somewhat serious situation I feel like the author still managed to put in funny and memorable moments into it so out of 5 I would rate it a 4.3/5

Esmé Y8 Ardingly College

9th October 2024 at 9:19 am

Bite risk
4.5/5 stars
S.J. Willis
I usually don’t enjoy books with topics with supernatural elements such as werewolves, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book and all the character inside. I would personally say this is more of a mystery than anything else and it had me hooked right from the beginning. You never knew where it was going to take you and who you were going to suspect next. My favourite part of the book is when Sel befriends his lifelong bully (or so he thought). Also, at the end of the book, when we find out the main villain, my jaw was on the floor. I do not know how she wrote such a marvellous novel. It was also fun picking up the clues to work out by the end. Thank you, S.J. Willis, for writing such a masterpiece, and I am excited to read the sequel of this book.

Holly, Ardingly

2nd October 2024 at 9:14 am

This book is the kind of book that you just can’t put down. The constant plot twists keep you on the edge of your seat. You never know who to trust and as peoples’ true intentions come to light just as things start going wrong means you never know what happens next. It is a story of people trying to escape from the cages they have been trapped in sometimes literally. It proves that you can’t always believe what you hear. My favourite thing about this book is the bravery of the characters, even when something happens to show how far people go to hide their secrets, they keep on fighting to find the truth so that people don’t have to be afraid anymore. This book kept you guessing and the ending was one of those endings when suddenly everything seems to make sense and it seems really obvious despite the fact that before that point nothing had seemed to make sense. Overall a brilliant book.

Jahara Ardingly

1st October 2024 at 4:24 pm

I thought this book was amazing! I loved this book and thought the plot twist at the end was perfect and found it so nice when everything clicked into place. I also found it quite interesting how children began to accept locking their parents up as something normal. A very good book – I would definitely recommend it to someone who likes fantasy and Sci-Fi.

Oscar

25th September 2024 at 12:15 pm

Bite risk was a perfect mix of a bit of horror, mystery and comedy and it suited me perfectly and I loved the amount of suprises there were and how the story flowed throughout the whole book. One of my favourite parts of the book is when Sel was sneaking into the mayor’s house and when he got through the window he broke his arm and then he still went on into the mayor’s house and found him out of his cage. It was also the perfect mix of horror, mystery and comedy.

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