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applegnreads's review against another edition
3.0
sort of bizarre, sort of interesting
this can be said about: the world, the gender/sexual whatnot, the all male characters, the plot
this can be said about: the world, the gender/sexual whatnot, the all male characters, the plot
being_b's review against another edition
4.0
Best when focusing on the werthreat, the wolfthreat, and their interactions with the wolfless. Weaker (and somewhat heavyhanded) when trying to make points about gender equality-- it's difficult to take a book that's 95% about Men being big muscly sweaty blunt violent Men with other Men and try to make a point that women are awesome yay. Can't have your cake and eat it too.
tsemoana's review against another edition
5.0
The story takes place in this Norse-based culture where Wolfcarls, men who bond together with a wolf, protect the villages from trolls. In return, when a she-wolf has a litter, they choose a number of boys from the villages to join them and eventually bond with the new pups.
This happens to the main character of the book, Njall. Njall is the oldest son of a jarl and destined to follow in his father’s footsteps and lead the villages. Until the wolfcarls knock on their door. Njall is fascinated by the wolf accompanying the wolfcarl and decides to join them. This is only the start of his new life in which he does not only find new friends and bonds with a wolf of his own, but in which he also learns that life is not as black and white as he grew up believing. Things are not always what they seem.
I love the fact that it uses Norse mythology, history and culture as a base, I’ve always been a mythology/history nut so… :D I also love the fact that they obviously researched their stuff. The names, culture, behaviour (of men and wolves)… The attention given to the trolls and elves to make them both fit the mythology/culture and keep them different from those generic fantasy trolls and elves… It all created such an interwoven whole that sucked me right in and kept me there.
http://www.tsemoana.net/?p=451
This happens to the main character of the book, Njall. Njall is the oldest son of a jarl and destined to follow in his father’s footsteps and lead the villages. Until the wolfcarls knock on their door. Njall is fascinated by the wolf accompanying the wolfcarl and decides to join them. This is only the start of his new life in which he does not only find new friends and bonds with a wolf of his own, but in which he also learns that life is not as black and white as he grew up believing. Things are not always what they seem.
I love the fact that it uses Norse mythology, history and culture as a base, I’ve always been a mythology/history nut so… :D I also love the fact that they obviously researched their stuff. The names, culture, behaviour (of men and wolves)… The attention given to the trolls and elves to make them both fit the mythology/culture and keep them different from those generic fantasy trolls and elves… It all created such an interwoven whole that sucked me right in and kept me there.
http://www.tsemoana.net/?p=451
rmgmorrow's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Listen I read the Dragonriders of Pern as a kid too, and this book doubles down on the mind link in a way that I was always frustrated those didn't. There were a few points where the plot dragged a little, but overall it was engaging and fun. Made me really want to lie down on a floor with a dog or four. Recommended for people who read the Pern books (obviously) and people who like classic high fantasy, but also have a tolerance for some weird sex stuff.
keishbby's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: War and Homophobia
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really good book, and the narrator put so much emotion into it. But it was also a book that dealt with a strange world where consent...yeah, I will get into that.
Think Vikings with mega wolves. Wolves they communicate telepathically with. They all live together and protect the rest of the land from trolls. And I get where the authors are coming from with their we do as wolves do. Still it makes for hard reading.
The story is about Isolfr, a Jarl's son who becomes a wolfcarl. About his companionship with his wolf Viradechtis and how they explore this to him new world of wolves and men. And lots of troll hunting.
And this is where the spoilers about consent starts.
So, the main character goes through the entire book being afraid of the rapes that will come. He thinks about it and is all She is worth it. I will make this sacrifice for her. But srsly man, you are gonna get raped! And he does have 2 encounters before that to make him more comfortable, but I never get the impression that he ever likes men. Or will...
To the rape then. See, when his wolf is in heat everyone gets on edge, as they always do. All the male wolves wants to sire pups on her and he feels this. And those bonded with male wolves feels the need to. The need to take him. And so they do. As they always do with those bonded with female wolves.
I was all, damn, I would not bond a female wolf. BUT, I sure would not bond a male then if they go all barbaric. Still, not all do. One is nice, then it gets brutal and he is in bed for days after it. Wtf is wrong with this world. Can't they just go easy?
I also did not like the whole this is my sacrifice thing. Yes I would have liked it so much more if he had been attracted to men. And if they men they had been nice and not all we are wolves. Hey Viradechtis did not suffer as he did! SO men are worse.
It is their way. Still the dread he felt...
But it is a good book. I liked the world. I would read more from this world, and I would wish someone would change the ways things are done.
Narrator Chris Chambers
I really felt Isolfr through his voice. He did a great job with getting in all the emotions Isolfr felt. He sure made it easy listening to it.
Think Vikings with mega wolves. Wolves they communicate telepathically with. They all live together and protect the rest of the land from trolls. And I get where the authors are coming from with their we do as wolves do. Still it makes for hard reading.
The story is about Isolfr, a Jarl's son who becomes a wolfcarl. About his companionship with his wolf Viradechtis and how they explore this to him new world of wolves and men. And lots of troll hunting.
And this is where the spoilers about consent starts.
Spoiler
So, the main character goes through the entire book being afraid of the rapes that will come. He thinks about it and is all She is worth it. I will make this sacrifice for her. But srsly man, you are gonna get raped! And he does have 2 encounters before that to make him more comfortable, but I never get the impression that he ever likes men. Or will...
To the rape then. See, when his wolf is in heat everyone gets on edge, as they always do. All the male wolves wants to sire pups on her and he feels this. And those bonded with male wolves feels the need to. The need to take him. And so they do. As they always do with those bonded with female wolves.
I was all, damn, I would not bond a female wolf. BUT, I sure would not bond a male then if they go all barbaric. Still, not all do. One is nice, then it gets brutal and he is in bed for days after it. Wtf is wrong with this world. Can't they just go easy?
I also did not like the whole this is my sacrifice thing. Yes I would have liked it so much more if he had been attracted to men. And if they men they had been nice and not all we are wolves. Hey Viradechtis did not suffer as he did! SO men are worse.
It is their way. Still the dread he felt...
But it is a good book. I liked the world. I would read more from this world, and I would wish someone would change the ways things are done.
Narrator Chris Chambers
I really felt Isolfr through his voice. He did a great job with getting in all the emotions Isolfr felt. He sure made it easy listening to it.
elzabetg's review against another edition
3.0
The premise was good ((hence the 3 stars)) but elements of it were slightly disturbing to me.
tellingetienne's review against another edition
5.0
I devoured this in a day. there are so many amazing little gender and sexuality and social behavior things happening in this book it was a feast.
corpsesoldier's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t know exactly how I would have felt about this without having the context of the dialogue it’s having with pern, but it’s really interesting look at community and autonomy while existing in a culture built on foundations that occasionally strip its members of consent. Whether you can make peace with it, and if you can, how, and if what you gain is worth what you lose, and whether “worth it” is a useful idea at all. And also, like, there are fuck off big wolves you soulbond with and that’s pretty sick.