Customer Reviews

Wolf Queen: The Claidi Journals III

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Although Wolf Queen proves almost everything Claidi has previously learned to be lies, it's almost a relief. To learn the truth about Claidi's past life was a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed the whole series more after learning so much about her family. I was very dissapointed after briefly reading about a quarter of the book, but as I continued, I was pleased. As the story progressed, things fit into their proper place. Tanith Lee provides an addictive series with an attractive ending. The Claidi Journals series aren't books to be missed.

This book is definitely the best so far in this series. Claidi really grows as a character, becoming more independent and confident as she learns more about herself. Claidis character is very likable, as she is very human and not disgustingly perfect as some writers make their characters. The fact that she does sometimes make mistakes and that she is sometimes afraid makes her more human and allows the reader to truly relate to her. I look forward to the next book ('Wolf Wing', I believeto be released soon in the UK)!!! I highly recommend this book.

I suppose I should start by saying that if you want to experience Wolf Queen as I did, with no outside influence or any idea what is going to happen, don't read this review (or any of the others for that matter). That's what makes the book so enjoyable: the surprises! Now, on to the review.

Claidi, having left Wolf Star Rise to rejoin her Hulta friends, returns to find that everyone inexplicably hates her, and Argul is gone. The Hulta believes that Claidi had left them to be with Nemian, when she was really kidnapped and brought to the faraway Wolf Star Rise. At hearing this, Argul had gone off by himself and left Blurn in charge. Now Claidi must track down Argul, and explain to him what -really- happened.

But on the way she meets the tall, mysterious, and creepy Jelly from Wolf Tower. He just -won't- leave her alone, no matter how much distance she puts between herself and this disturbing stranger. Finally her travels bring her to the North, and Raven Tower, somewhere she never thought she would end up. But once there, will she finally learn the answers to the many questions that have been plaguing her for so long? And just who -is- this shady Jelly character?

Now, if you've decided to read this far, I'll continue by saying that I was -more- than excited to start reading Wolf Queen. I had just finished Wolf Star, and -had- to find out what was going to happen. Now, if it's answers you want, it's answers you'll get. And more than enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes. However, I was disappointed with the conclusion of the story; it just doesn't satisfy; it doesn't seem right. I believe more could have been told in Claidi's story, so it's lucky Tanith Lee is planning to write a 4th book: Wolf Wing. Hopefully in this 4th installment we'll find the closure that we -really- need, not just some hasty end that leaves us with furrowed brows and unsatisfied grumbles.

Nonetheless, if you have already read the first two books in the series, it goes without saying that you ought to read the third. It is a spectacular story, and as always, Lee is a master of storytellers. And if you don't much like the ending, just remember: there's more to come!

The people who have read this may find that though it was enjoyable, it wasn't entirely satisfying. This is because this is not the end of the series. There is one more book called "Wolf Wing" which has already been released in the UK. It sees a return of previous characters like Venn. Go to Amazon.co.uk to see about the concluding book.

After Wolf Tower I had been so excited for Wolf Star--when I purchased it I read it quickly, but something about it was a
-little- more drab than the first. Enough to not really get me on my fingertips for Wolf Queen. (I'm not saying it wasn't good, just that it didn't make me say "Okay, where's the next one?" I could have waited and lived) but I'd gotten Wolf Queen before I'd finished Star, so I read it the day after.
...The book, at first, was good but not so enticing I couldn't put it down--but soon into it, I found it hard to stop reading until the end. It has more than enough surprises and answers to keep you engrossed (deeply!) and in the end, I was very satisfied--even if there was going to be no next book, I would have been fine. Though she leaves a little to your imagination (which I tend to like, depending on how MUCH the author will leave you)it still left me with a feeling of nourishment and satisfaction. (Though some small questions are still left.)
It was another Tanith Lee triumph, and I was ecstatic in the end--it was wonderfully surprising and I love the characters each in their own way, constructed so entirely well that I could see them, hear them, feel what they felt and see in their eyes. They felt so close to me, especially Claidi. Everything she felt was so familiar to me--she reminds me, (frightningly closely) of ME. The closeness I feel to all of them is so absolute they could be standing beside me. Not all authors can make you feel like this.

If I shed tears when I finished the last page, they were surely tears of happiness. :) I am on my toes for Wolf Wing.

This book was amazing! It has so many more elements in it than the other two books. Also, you'll get every question answered that you ever asked in the other two books. If you loved the Harry Potter series, you'll like this just as much. But remember not to read this untill after you've finished the other two. I can't wait untill Wolf Wing comes to the US! Visit the author's website for info.

Other Books to read: Bolth Sides of Time, Harry Potter, Ella Enchanted, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, The Giver, The Arkadians, Cathern, Called Birdy, to Kill a Mocking Bird, The 10'th Kingdom, Driver's Ed, Face on the Milkcarton, Losing Christina 1, 2, & 3.

I loved this book the best out of all three, because it contained the most surprise and sarcasm, my favorites. Claidi is back with all her spunk and determination, this time on a quest to find Argul. Only its not going to be as easy as it sounds. Not that it sounds easy. The conclusion to a great trilogy.

I thought this book was great. A good ending for the other two books. It leads into the story then takes a turn and everything turns out different from what you expected. I think it was good but I just hope Tanith Lee comes out with more Claidi Journals because they relate to young female readers like me. Again, this book was great and you wouldnt waste your money on it.

"Wolf Queen" (or "Queen of Wolves" in some publications) is the third of four books in the Claidi quartet, a series of books that are told in diary-form by the young heroine Claidi and her travels throughout a fantasy land. In the previous instalments "Wolf Tower" and "Wolf Star" she has escaped slavery, destroyed a corrupt system, found her true love, been kept prisoner in a moving castle and escaped once more in a controllable star. Throughout all of these amazing adventures, Claidi has kept a record in her book, and untangled much of the mystery surrounding her birth and destiny.

Now all she wants to do is be reunited with her beloved Argul, and has used the floating star/tower Yinyay to track down the Hulta people, of which Argul is leader. But when she finally finds them, she is met only with mistrust and anger: in her absence Argul was told that she ran off with a former acquaintance Nemian and no longer wants to marry him. Now he has left the Hulta people, and Claidi is not going to get any help from them due to her perceived betrayal. Determined to track him down, Claidi follows his trail northwards, occasionally joined by the elusive and infuriating Jelly.

Finally she reaches the Winterlands, and the fifth exiled tower of the City - the Raven Tower. Here she grasps several more answers to what has befallen her, as well as meeting the spoilt Winter Raven and Twilight Star, the woman she's been told is her mother.

The story is becoming more and more complicated, with Tanith Lee contradicting herself or twisting character motivations or previously established plot-facts. Characters have several aliases, have lied about past deeds and go about in disguise, making it immensely difficult to keep track of who's who and what is exactly going on. Furthermore, the big revelation about Claidi's past and the designs of those calling the shots aren't really all that imaginative - it is simply personal gratitude and family squabbles that drives these characters - nothing particularly deep or important.

As well as this, Lee has lost the knack of writing in diary-form, something that made the previous books so appealing and realistic. For instance, at one stage, when Claidi is giving a fake name, she writes:

"'Pattoo,' I un-cleverly blurted, picking the name of a friend from my slave-maid days."

The problem is that if you have read the other books, you already know precisely who Pattoo is - so why would Claidi repeat this fact in her diary? The passage is obviously for the benefit of those who have not read the previous books (or need a reminder of who the character is) and therefore comes as written by Tanith Lee to the reader, not as Claidi to her journal. It lends a sense of falseness to the words that are meant to be a private and consistent diary-entry.
At other points Tanith Lee slips into writing in present-tense rather than past-tense, such as "Rushing through the avenue. He is around the next turn before I can get there. I mustn't loose him." Such urgency in the writing is lost when we realise that Claidi can't possibly be writing and chasing after Argul at the same time.

Despite all this, readers who have made their way through the previous books won't want to give up now. There are more fascinating and beautiful landscapes, including a snow-covered tower in the shape of a raven head, and small titbits of intrigue and detail that create a rich world to explore. Lee's writing and language remains clear, descriptive and involving, and her quest of self-discovery is interesting enough to continue with into the forth and final book: "Wolf Wing".

Wolf Queen is my personal favorite of all the Claidi Journals. Intriuguing, enjoyable, and interesting, this book tops all of them! As soon as I was done with it, I flipped it back over and started it again. It has a carefully woven plot, with the Hulta angry at Claidi for something she didn't do, the reappearance of the Raven tower, the continuing search for Argul and a mysterious woman who might be Claidi's mother. A definite read for all Tanith Lee fans!