Synopses & Reviews
In the shadow of an abandoned castle, a wolf pack seeks shelter. the she-wolf's pups will not be able to survive the harsh Transylvanian winter. And they are being stalked by a lone wolf, Morgra, possessed of a mysterious and terrifying power known as the sight. Morgra knows that one of the pups born beneath the castle holds a key to power even stronger than her own power that could give her control of this world and the next. but the pack she hunts will do anything to protect their own, even if it means setting in motion a battle that will involve all of nature, including the creature the wolves fear the most Man.
Review
"As in his Fire Bringer, Clement-Davies's new fantasy novel features talking animals (Vargs, or wolves, instead of deer), a militant pack with a power-hungry leader, a prophecy involving a newborn that proves gifted (a white wolf who has the Sight, which can be used to see the future, heal and even control others) and the author creates imaginative mythologies (here drawing on everything from Christianity to 'Little Red Riding Hood')....Despite sophisticated language and some complex concepts, such as the origins of evil, the author's clever plot twists (such as which wolf eventually claims to be Wolfbane) make the thick novel well worth the commitment. Strong female characters also provide a refreshing change to the often male-dominated science-fiction/fantasy field." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Animal fantasy fans have all they can wish for and then some in this hefty novel of heroic proportions. Wolves are the animal of choice in this epic saga, set in the long ago woodlands of Transylvania....This sprawling, ambitious novel has it all: action, adventure, and apocalyptic battles. Also blended in are morality tales with their roots in history, religion, mythology, and ecology. Ideal for teens who are looking for a challenging read." Children's Literature
Review
"This long, dark fantasy draws on tales and folklore of Romania and the Balkans, as Clement-Davies (author of the acclaimed Fire Bringer) explains in an author's note at the end. Readers who like Watership Down and fantasy sagas will appreciate this epic tale about wolves and its examination of issues of destiny, evil, bloodlust, and loyalty." KLIATT
Review
"[M]ay be a good choice for readers who have outgrown Brian Jacques's 'Redwall' series (Philomel) and are ready for a more complicated animal fantasy." School Library Journal
Review
"Clement-Davies (Fire Bringer, 2000) returns with another powerful animal fantasy, in which wolves pit instinct against legend....Above all, this is a story about stories: how they educate, enrich, and comfort, but also entrap within the dead weight of myth. As much as the reader will learn about wolves, close attention will reveal even more about what it means to be human." Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
David Clement-Davies is a journalist and travel writer. He lives in London.