Book Review – Wolf Captured

Wolf Book 4
Derian, Firekeeper and Blind Seer have been drugged and are trapped on a boat in cages designed by someone who knew their strengths. And that’s the good news. Their old pal Waln Endbrook is back and seems to be holding a grudge. Firekeeper shows that she is in fact not able to ignore all discomforts; she seems to suffer from seasickness. That doesn’t prevent her from kicking some major ass. But unfortunately when you are stuck on a ship with another on the way there isn’t a lot that you can do.

Harjeedian, who I envision as Avery Brooks portraying Hawk in Spencer for Hire, is their captor. He is bringing them to his teachers who want something from them. Things really start to get interesting when they get to u-Seeheera “the first city”. There are animals everywhere and more importantly Royal Animals. Here they finally learn what it is that the leaders of this land want. Firekeeper is to teach them how to speak to the Royals.

Derian really shines in this story. He meets up with the keeper of the horse and moves in at the Stable to learn more about this new culture. While there he meets up with a Royal Horse and is offered a ride, which is of course unheard of. I almost got ready to slap him a few times as he and the minstrel start acting like 16 year olds over a woman. But if I slapped every be man for being a man…I would be very tired. Meanwhile Firekeeper and Blind Seer have gone to the islands where most of the Royal animals live. They learn many new things; some are almost too incredible to believe. Some are, I am not going to say disappointing, because we need to see how it is written. I think she may have the chops for it. I hope so, I hate getting invested in a great story and have them turn it into a soap opera.

Oh, don’t forget love…apparently it’s what makes the world go round.

Book Review – The Dragon of Despair

Wolf Book 3

All is not well in the land. Melina has married The Healed One and the Duchess Kestrel is the first to know. Settlers have pushed into the Iron Mountains to settle, much as Prince Barden did. Derian goes to check out the settlement and place grave markers thus fulfilling his promise. Firekeeper goes to see her family and finds out that the Royal animals are not pleased. In fact there is talk of war with the humans if the settlers do not leave. Firekeeper travels as fast as she can back to King Tedric to let him know and to find out what he will do about it

Meanwhile Elise is asked to lead an expedition back to New Kelvin to find out what Melina is up to as well as trying to save Citrine’s sanity. She travels to the Kestrel holdings to get Citrine comfortable with the group that will be going New Kelvin and to have everyone tutored in the language by Grateful Peace.

Is Elise still in love with Doc? Does Firekeeper have new enemies and not just the 2 legged kind? What is the secret that the healed one knows? Is there really a dragon? How the hell is Elise going to get into New Kelvin again when they were fugitives the last time they left? Is Melina still a raging byotch? Does a wolf shit in the woods?

All these questions and more are answered in Book 3 and I just bought the last 3 books in the series, I have no idea how this is going to turn out, but I think this is one of the best series I have read in a long time.

Book Review – Wolf’s Head, Wolf’s Heart

Wolf Book 2
Found it!

The Pledge child has been swindled. Sapphire and Shad are getting married. Sir Jared and Lady Elise try to pretend that they aren’t falling for each other. Firekeeper is still causing an uproar with the well to do. And that’s just in the first few pages.

Firekeeper is back and King Tedric needs her help, but this time her loyalties may be divided because the Royal animals including her Pack want her to help them. We learn much of the back story of the Royal animals, and find that they too have had moments in their history that show them at their worst. The humans want the magical items for themselves to keep them safe. The animals want the magical items for themselves to prevent history from repeating itself. Whose orders does Firekeeper follow?

This not so simple request brings old friends and new into the most foreign of foreign lands New Kelvin. Everyone seems to undergo a transformation and for some it’s more than skin deep. On the other hand, Lady Melina is the same cold hearted bitch that she was in the first book; in fact she kicked it up a notch. I would say I want to smack the crap out of her, but honestly. She scares me. I think I will just keep my mouth shut and read.

Book Review – Through Wolf’s Eyes

Wolf - Book 1

What happens when you mix a feral potential princess brought up by wolves, and not just any wolves but Royal wolves. The difference being Royal wolves can “talk” and have their own society; an ageing king that needs an heir; and an Earl who sets out on an expedition to find the king’s banished son? Courtly intrigue at it’s best.

Firekeeper is a two legged wolf. She is not as fast or strong as her kindred, but she can do something that no other wolf can do, produce fire. When word comes of other two legs in their forest Firekeeper’s world changes forever, she must learn to live like a human surrounded by people with their own agenda. She is accompanied into the human lands by her friend Blind Seer and the Royal Falcon Elation. Firekeeper’s only human friend is Derian the youngest member of the Earl Kestrel’s party that found her. It is his job to try and teach her to be human.

What I really liked about the story is that even though Firekeeper is way out of her element she is never mistaken as weak. Whenever a snide remark is made on the way she eats or dresses she does better than brush it off, it is of no consequence what so ever. You can’t help but cheer her on, it reminds you of every awkward situation you have ever been in and wished you handled better. That’s not to say there are not problems. Firekeeper has trouble making friends because everyone sees her as a rival to the throne.

This is more than a coming of age story, and it is far better than the usual people talking to animal stories. There are political shenanigans, friendships, betrayals, kidnapping, battles, evil magic and just a hint of love.

I can’t wait for the next two books. This was one of the series where I couldn’t find the 1st book but I had the next two. Now if I could just find book 2.