Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30453 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-29
• Released on: 2008-07-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 320 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Rising fantasy stars Monette (Mélusine) and Bear (Whiskey & Water) subvert the telepathic animal companion subgenre so thoroughly that it may never be the same. The inhabitants of a cold and perilous world grounded in Norse/Germanic mythology depend upon the brutally violent wolfcarls, men who bond telepathically with huge fighting trellwolves, to protect them from monstrous trolls and wyverns from further north. When the northern threat suddenly intensifies, Isolfr, a young wolfcarl, and his wolf-sister, Viradechtis, a Queen wolf destined to rule her own pack, are thrust into key roles in their civilization's desperate fight to survive. The meticulously crafted setting and powerful, often moving rendition of characters and relationships—human and nonhuman alike—result in a brutal and beautiful novel about the meaning of honor. Never blushing as they consider the ultimate sociological, sexual and moral underpinnings of a what-if often treated as coy wish-fulfillment fantasy, the authors have boldly created a fascinating world that begs further exploration. (Oct.)
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From Booklist
In a culture in which villages are protected by men bonded to giant telepathic wolves that constitute the key line of defense against trolls, who come from the north and leave devastation in their wake, those wolf-brethren are respected—and used as bogeys to scare misbehaving children. Njall, a jarl's son and heir, is chosen to fill his family's duty to the wolfheall. He goes, despite his father's disapproval, because the wolfheall is the only thing standing between his people and death. Chosen by a trellwolf bitch, he enters into the strange, brutal, ultimately fascinating world of the wolf-brethren. Monette and Bear pull no punches, neither with violence or sex. The world they depict is fraught with a sense of wonder rare even in fantasy, also with the traumatic aura of a place where nearly every custom is foreign. They have taken one of the most escapist of fantasy subgenres, in which humans and animals meld, and turned it into something powerful and surprisingly deeply human; certainly, both human and wolf politics play magnificently well. Schroeder, Regina

Review
“Ancient grudges and ruthless schemes are simply business as usual to the Faerie court in Bear's complex and involving contemporary fantasy. Campbell-winner Bear (Worldwired) overturns the usual vision of Faerie, revealing the compelling beauty and darkness only glimpsed in old ballads and stories like 'Tam Lin'."--Publishers Weekly on Blood and Iron by Elizabeth Bear "Set in the wondrous city of Melusine, Monette's extraordinary first fantasy novel focuses on two captivating characters from two very different worlds. Monette is a highly original writer with her own unique voice.”--Publishers Weekly starred review of Melusine by Sarah Monette

Customer Reviews

Too many characters, lost interest in story.
I am a big fan of Sarah Monette's Melusine series and I thought I would like this book. I tried reading A Companion to Wolves and about 1/3 of the way through I still didn't know who was a wolf and who was human. I had trouble with the character's names (which seemed to keep changing). Basically this book failed to interest me and I couldn't keep reading it.

I'm giving it 3 stars though, because perhaps it was just me being dumb and having a difficulty grasping the different words and names.

Reads like bad fanfic.
I bought this book because I had read some positive reviews on LJ, and, as I love fantasy and like homoerotic themes, I thought I'd give it a try. Sadly, I'm very disappointed with it.

Unlike the other not so enthusiastic reviewers I have nothing against m/m sex scenes - in fact the homoeroticism was part of my decison to buy - and am not even squeamish about rape or non-con when there are believable reasons for it. The thing is I just couldn't buy this world. It seems the writers came up with the mating frenzy scenario and its consequences for the human bond partners first - and then had to invent a world where this concept could fit in. And it shows.

Like some reviewers before me already mentioned, it's somehow curious how the humans are infected by the wolves' sex drive but not their other urges. The argument that sex is the strongest drive doesn't convince me.

All in all, I can read this kind of story - and in the same quality of writing - for free on the net (just go to any major fanfic archive). This one's definitely for re-sale!

You won't be able to put it down.
A Companion to Wolves is a wonderful, engaging story. I couldn't stop reading- I stayed up all night and finished it in one sitting.

The characters- both human and otherwise- are all interesting and complex. I loved that the non-human characters didn't think or act like humans.

The book took a lot of traditional fantasy tropes and turned them on their heads. If you're tired of quests, over the top romance, and happy fuzzy talking pets, then you'll love this book.