Customer Reviews

The Silver Wolf

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I read this book before I realized that Alice was Anne Rice's sister. Therefore, I developed a much less biased opinion than I might have. I think The Silver Wolf's style shares a lot in common with Rice's vampire novels, but this only became obvious to me after I made the connection. However, there's enough difference between these two authors that I think the constant comparisons going on are really unfair to them both. The Silver Wolf explores the werewolf legend from a fresh angle. There is no hint of any compulsive murdering on the part of the werewolves, or bloodlust for human flesh. Indeed, they are portrayed as more human and humane than anyone else in the plot. The imagery is rich and takes on the quality of a dream from time to time. The romantic subplot between Regeanne and Maniel (werewolf main characters)is convincing but I felt that it came too late and was hastily explored.

Overall, this was one of my favorite werewolf novels. The criticisms I've heard about it, such as the plot dragging in the first half and being a bit fragmented, are true enough in my opinion, which is why I rated only four stars.

PS-the official book review states that Lucilla was Maniel's mother--I don't know where that came from, unless that particular reviewer was just confused by the fragmented storyline and numerous flashback scenes.

Regeane is a beautiful young woman with werewolf blood. Because of this, her nasty uncle has kept her captive and beaten and starved her. When she discovers that he plans to sell her to a wealthy barbarian she risks her life and escapes. The remainder of the book concentrates on Regeane's self-discovery and the other, often odd, sometimes depraved people she encounters. She's known she can shapeshift but she also learns that she has visions and can speak to the dead. Eventually she becomes embroiled in a dangerous political situation and meets her soul mate and all ends pretty happily ever after.

This book, set in Rome during the Dark Ages, is rough, meaty and often very dark. It's not a book for everyone because the author gets really graphic and vividly describes numerous vile acts including torture and assorted bodily functions. The book also goes off into tangents when the numerous secondary characters take center stage but their stories were interesting even though they rarely advanced the plot. My mind only started to wander during the times when the book got into heavy political details - which aren't my thing.

If you can get past all that, and don't mind a highly descriptive book you'll find a very interesting story that is often (at the most unexpected times) very hilarious in a morbid kind of way. I found this story, for the most part, very difficult to put down and am looking forward to the sequel which I hope ties up some loose ends.

Wolfs normally aren't my thing, and I surprised myself by picking up this book, mostly because she's Anne's sister and I wanted to know if she was as good or bad. Not surprisingly I was cringing through Regeane's first change, thinking "Oh my, how am I ever going to make it through this thing?"

Like her sister, Borchardt has a love for bringing to life the surroundings in her novel, getting sometimes carried away and filling the page with very descriptive detail. So much that at points I found myself banging my head against the wall, screaming, "I don't care about how the darn wine sauce tastes or how this stupid ruin is lying in ruins, I want some story development between Regeane and Maeniel!

Right from the beginning the story was set-up that Regeane was to be married to Maeniel. So right from the start you are already waiting for this to happen and the two of them to finally meet. But instead you are left with 300+ pages to read through instead, all building up to the marriage. I can't say most of it wasn't enjoyable, but you are so set-up for them finally getting together that the rest becomes annoying.

In my opinion Borchardt should have based her story around Regeane living in the pass with Maeniel, partly not knowing of the families secret. In other words, taken 200 pages out of the beginning and added 200 to the end. I was left unsatisfied with all this build-up of 400+ pages and only 5 to resolve it. I also got the feeling that Borchardt was avoiding story development between the two, as if she didn't know what to do with them once she got them together.

But in the end though the good outweighs the bad, and Borchardt certainly has talent. Some scenes were simply perfect, and some left me rolling on the floor laughing, such as the wedding feast. Bravo. Now if she could roll that talent into something more satisfying, Rice would have something to look out for.

Awhile ago I read The Silver Wolf by Alice Borchardt. Sister to Anne Rice. Of all the many "truths" I felt in this incredible book... I wanted to share this one. As it is not within a woman's faceted heart to deny continued creation... we may one day lose our mothers instinct and with it, our compassion.

"And never learn to glory in death as some men do. Women have the power of life and death. We, after all, give birth and the fate of humanity is in our hands. That's why men try so hard to rule us, my dear. They know if we once looked well on what they have made of human existence, we might close our legs and within our barren wombs bring the comedy to an end."

Quote from an incredible character/lady, Lucilla... may all women have the strength to love with the ferocity, the single mindedness that woman was capable of. She knew that in the world of man, a woman had to harden with courage and learn to embrace the viciousness that is in a woman's soul. For if ever the nature of man were cruel... a woman can be more so but with the sweetest smile and the most loving touch concealing the dagger in her hand.

That was not an explanation on the book... btw. It was but a moment I took from it. The story is magic. It's human nature and mans conspiracy in politics during "the" post roman era. It's an extraordinary girl, Regeane... trapped in the world of mans goals... maturing to womanhood and acceptance of who she is.. hmm.. more importantly... what she is. I thoroughly enjoyed this book... and the above referenced moment was, to me, a thought worth sharing.

I am an avid fan of the supernatural/horror genre of books and have read countless numbers of them, including those pertaining to werewolves. Although I think Borchardt's premise is fabulous (a young girl shapeshifter at the center of a web of intrigue in Rome of the Dark Ages)--indeed, it is what made me buy the book in the first place--I found that the book did not deliver. The romance that the description on the back hints at never fully materializes and the characters' dialogue and values seem as if they belong in the 1950s.

A more serious concern is the portrayal of the "good guys" and "bad guys" in a starkly black and white manner. The creation of morally ambiguous characters is the lifeblood of this genre, and Borchardt's novel seems sadly lacking in this respect.

I picked up this book with great enthusiasm, especially since I knew the author was the sister of Anne Rice. I finally gave up on it on page 278, which is over halfway. My disappointment in the book has prompted this review. If you are expecting complex characters, snappy dialogue, an engaging romance and an unpredictable plot, I would advise you to stick with Rice or Laurell K. Hamilton, or other similar authors.

This book seems like it would be a great read. It's got all the elements for great fiction, a shapchanging heroine, an intriguing historical context, and a handsome enthralling hero. It all sounds great in theory, but the reality is considerably disappointing.

The beginning of the book consists of detailed and unnecessarily graphic descriptions of the depraved actions of Regeane's Uncle and cousin. Perpetual, slovenly, drunkenness, promiscuous, vermin ridden sex, and gluttonous eating. It wouldnt be such a big deal if there was anything more to this book, but there isnt. After Regeane escapes the foul clutches of her relatives she spends her time in the amorous grip of Lucilla, an aging Roman courtesan. Lucilla introduces Regeane to the delights of sexual relations as she pleasures her in her rich Roman estate. Though Regeane does not love, or even feel attracted to Lucilla, they continue to sleep in the same bed until Maeniel comes to claim her.

I found the plot, what there was of it, to be confusing and unsatisfying, merely a subtext for as much lysencious and immoral activities as could be described. The only thing that could keep me reading was the anticipation of Maeniel and Regeanes union and even this misguided hope was dashed, as the two never consummate their marriage.

Let me conclude by saying that this was the first book I have EVER returned to the store, if all my criticisms have not made the slightest impact on your decision to buy this book, well then, I wish you the joy of it. Good day

Regeane is a child of noble blood on her mother's side, her father dead before she was even born. That blood managed to get her betrothed to a man of Charlamagne's choice. But Regeane's blood also gives her another problem. By night,thanks to her father's blood, she's wolf, and if anyone finds out, she's dead.

With her mother's death, young Regeane is left in the care of her cruel uncle Gunabald and her witless(or just plain terrified)cousin Hugo. Gunabald is a very cruel, greedy man, who sees Regeane's betrothal as a path to the life they think they deserve. However, Regeane, as well as several friends she makes in the course of the book, have different ideas. With their help, Regeane hopes to survive, and at least, if she can't escape her marriage, at least to escape Gunabald and the plans he has for her. See, he wants her to kill her new husband, or help them do it. What Gunabald doesn't realize are the political ramifactions involved in that. But, going on.

This is the story of a girl fighting to be what and who she is, in a world that would declare her a witch. The friends who help her are very intriguing people, and i wish there were whole books about some of them.

It's definetly a great story.

This is a book for those who read strictly for pleasure, who can relax and allow the author to tell her story her way. Those who prefer to read critically and who consider themselves superior to those of us who are more relaxed and uncritical in our reading will find little technical details to grouse about.

Alice Borchardt's werewolves have a distinct difference from those in other books. Her books portray the human personality and the wolf personality as two separate personalities in the same body, personalities who are compatable and able to communicate with each other. I liked this idea myself and felt it quite enhanced the tale.

Basically, this is the story of the heroine who's being used by her uncle and cousin to make them rich by marrying a barbarian noble and then in time killing him. But this is a gal who strives to be a liberated woman even in ancient Rome, and as such goes through several adventures both as a woman and as a wolf. The details are richly painted, and the action is fairly sustained throughout. It's a romance, but not too syrupy for us guys to appreciate. There are predictable elements here, but like I say, just relax and let the author tell her story and I think you'll enjoy it. (Unless you'd rather be a nitpicker).

I enjoyed the book so much I could hardly wait to get home to finish it. It is indeed writen by Ane Rice`s sister, but her style is different and in my opinion, better. Everyone has his own taste, so read the book and decide for yourself, but I think it is not really fer to compare them, as somebody already said.
The time of this book is defined, and the fact that it is not recognisable at once doesn`t make it undetermined, as some readers said. It is in the time of Charlemagne, after the fall of the great Roman empire, when Europe was in a sort of permanent struggle for power. The problem is that not many people are interested in this era and so not many recognise it.
The main charachter is a shapeshifting woman. She is promised to a man, she hes never seen and could be dangerous to her, but he too has a mistery about him.
She lives with an uncle, that doesn`t treat her very well and only keeps her around, becuse she could be useful to him (to get money).
It is a great book (if a little predictable) with some erotic elements that are wowen in the plot beautifuly. It has a lovely dark atmosphere. I recomend you read it. It won`t let you down.

I didn't buy this book because of the author or who she was related to, but because I resently bought another werewolf book, Moon Dance, and it was a bummer. I was hopeing this would be good, since I am really into werewolves, but at last I found it wasn't. I don't which was worse, Moon Dance or The Silver Wolf. I just hope someone writes a great werewolf book someday.