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A review by rhodered
Wolfsbane by Rhiannon Held
4.0
Firstly, this series is by far the best of its genre, to the point where it easily transcends genre and becomes literature. So, my rating is for a strong work of fiction.
Normally, I don't like plots in which anything takes place in dreams or visions. It's a mark of what a good author Held is that she kept me reading even though a great deal of this book takes place in visions. Three characters are drugged without their knowledge and fall into stupors in which they have visions/dreams so strong that they feel like the real world. Each vision is of an alternate history - if X had occurred instead of Y four years ago (when this series started), what would you and your life be like now?
This is very much a middle novel, bridging the past story arc (the first three novels) and what is clearly coming up next. The visions work well for this, because everyone looks back at where they came from, how the triumph of the last story arc's conclusion was Not Inevitable, and who they are at their deepest roots. (The amnesia plot in book 8 of Naomi Novik's Temeraire's series works in a somewhat similar fashion.) Also, the story introduces and examines a new foe, the Russians, without devolving directly into conflict. We know a war is coming, but we can take our time getting there.
Most interesting to me: many of the lead characters re-examine or re-learn what it is to be an alpha/leader. How much is inevitable/nature and how much is learned as opportunities and pressures work on you through life? I don't know any other paranormal writer who ever examines this, so this alone is worth applause.
Plus, happily, many of the main characters are women. Men don't get short shifted, nor are they treated as just romantic objects. They are all full human beings. But the main focus is on women. We meet Dare's first wife; a Russian former assassin; a damaged girl/child who is the daughter of the former Roanoke, etc. We also see how Dare's adult daughter's dramatic temper manifests as an adult. And how Allison, the head of a Californian pack is coming along. And, we learn how the beta Selene differed from the alpha Silver who she ultimately evolved into in past books.
The character who really stood out for me this time was John's human wife Laura. She only has a moderate role in this ensemble play, but she is very much the break out star. Her role is also infuriating, perhaps especially to readers who have struggled with glass ceilings. She is an absolutely fantastic natural Alpha. Her husband is a just ok Beta. Since he's a changer though, he's the only one officially allowed to have power in his pack - any power she has derives from him. She's the power behind the throne, the whispering advisor, the true leader. I really hope her story continues in future books in a big way. Silver's story has already proven you don't need to be a big bad physical wolf to take on leadership. What can Laura's role be but an extension of that story?
Leadership's not about brawn. It's about skills, native talent, determination, caring, cleverness, etc.
So, I guess this is really at its heart a feminist novel.
Normally, I don't like plots in which anything takes place in dreams or visions. It's a mark of what a good author Held is that she kept me reading even though a great deal of this book takes place in visions. Three characters are drugged without their knowledge and fall into stupors in which they have visions/dreams so strong that they feel like the real world. Each vision is of an alternate history - if X had occurred instead of Y four years ago (when this series started), what would you and your life be like now?
This is very much a middle novel, bridging the past story arc (the first three novels) and what is clearly coming up next. The visions work well for this, because everyone looks back at where they came from, how the triumph of the last story arc's conclusion was Not Inevitable, and who they are at their deepest roots. (The amnesia plot in book 8 of Naomi Novik's Temeraire's series works in a somewhat similar fashion.) Also, the story introduces and examines a new foe, the Russians, without devolving directly into conflict. We know a war is coming, but we can take our time getting there.
Most interesting to me: many of the lead characters re-examine or re-learn what it is to be an alpha/leader. How much is inevitable/nature and how much is learned as opportunities and pressures work on you through life? I don't know any other paranormal writer who ever examines this, so this alone is worth applause.
Plus, happily, many of the main characters are women. Men don't get short shifted, nor are they treated as just romantic objects. They are all full human beings. But the main focus is on women. We meet Dare's first wife; a Russian former assassin; a damaged girl/child who is the daughter of the former Roanoke, etc. We also see how Dare's adult daughter's dramatic temper manifests as an adult. And how Allison, the head of a Californian pack is coming along. And, we learn how the beta Selene differed from the alpha Silver who she ultimately evolved into in past books.
The character who really stood out for me this time was John's human wife Laura. She only has a moderate role in this ensemble play, but she is very much the break out star. Her role is also infuriating, perhaps especially to readers who have struggled with glass ceilings. She is an absolutely fantastic natural Alpha. Her husband is a just ok Beta. Since he's a changer though, he's the only one officially allowed to have power in his pack - any power she has derives from him. She's the power behind the throne, the whispering advisor, the true leader. I really hope her story continues in future books in a big way. Silver's story has already proven you don't need to be a big bad physical wolf to take on leadership. What can Laura's role be but an extension of that story?
Leadership's not about brawn. It's about skills, native talent, determination, caring, cleverness, etc.
So, I guess this is really at its heart a feminist novel.