Customer Reviews

Wolfcry: The Kiesha'ra: Volume Four

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I was just disappointed with the direction Atwater-Rhodes took with the story. The book had interesting and sad points, so it was fairly well written. But, not wanting to give it away, it depends solely on the person to know if you will like it or not. I still love Amelia Atwater-Rhodes as an author (having ownership of all her books). So, give it a read if you've read the other books in the series. Let me know what you think.

Oliza is the child of two warring clans, the Serepentie and the Avians, and the hope for the end of segregation between the species. Despite the weight of the responsibility thrust upon her at such a young age Oliza loves the Wyverns Court created by her parents and is willing to sacrifice anything to bring the worlds together. But, years of hatred and distrust, despite 20 years of peace and the end of bloodshed, is not easy to let go of. Will Oliza be able to braid these two worlds into one society or is a future of disaster all she can look forward to?

Wolfcry is the fourth book of The Kiesha'ra books which begain with Hawksong, one of my favorite books ever. As the series has moved on the politics and mythology of Oliza's society has become more complex and a little harder to understand. Despite this I found Wolfcry to be an engrossing read with surprising twists throughout the story that I would have never expected when I picked the book up. Although I believe this book would totally lose anyone who is not familiar to the series as a whole it is definately a must read for those who have come this far in the Kiesha'ra world.

I've followed Amelia since the start and own every novel except this one. And there is a reason for that. I think Amelia is a fantastic writer but I found Wolfcry to be sadly lacking.

**SPOILERS**

I found lots of incongruity with this novel. After viewing the future, Oliza was willing to go so far as to suffer poison, the clipping of her wings, and losing her winged forms--yet still it wasn't successful. I think if she was really dedicated she should have killed herself or something. I'm not even really sure what her plan for the lions was. There was no place they could've left her where she wouldn't be able to bargain and as we see, she was able to find her way back.

I was very disappointed that she abdicated the throne. It seemed her primary concern was that she couldn't chose a male mate that would satisfy both the avians and the serpents and that she couldn't produce any heirs. Who says she had to? It seemed that the avian and serpentiente cultures were pretty accepting of her lesbian relationship, was there no possible way they could accept a female ruling on her own. History has seen female rulers that could lead, for example, England's Queen Elizabeth. Under her, the country experienced the first peace in years and culture flourished--i.e. Shakespeare. Oliza could rule on her own and then later adopt someone as her heir. Speaking of-I felt it would be story logical for Sive and Salem to get together but Amelia probably felt that would be too reminescent of Danica and Zane.

Over time, I feel that the two cultures would further split apart, especially if there is no pressure for cultural exchange. The three avians that beat up Urban proves that even those who have never experienced war are quick to revert back to old prejudices. If Wyvern Court does not remain, I see that in a few generations, the two civilizations will become so far removed. They will probably no longer make an effor to understand each other and because they are so different, probably go to war again.

I also felt that the characters such as Danica and Zane became painfully flat. They were not like the characters that ended a centuries old war. Oliza was not a particulary endearing character, I just couldn't symphatize with her like I could Danica. I understand that Oliza didn't particulary feel anything for her suitors. I was expecting Amelia to provide her a love interest within the wolves while I was reading the flap. I guess compared to the other great love story of the Kiesha'ra, Betia and Oliza's relationship feels so lacking sparks and equality. The thing about her child just seems random and thrown in to provide her more angst material.

Even though Oliza kept saying how much she loved Wyvern's Court, she didn't make me feel it and in the end, I do believe that she had selfish motives. She didn't even seem sad to leave her parents-and ruin their dreams.

So, not as good as the previous novels, disappointing, full of plot holes.

WOLFCRY, the fourth installment in Amelia Atwater-Rhodes's Kiesha'ra series, is an emotional, suspense-filled adventure. Oliza Shardae Cobriana, heir to Wyvern's Court, is considering male suitors from both the serpiente and avian races. She knows that choosing one will mean repercussions from the other, and maybe even war. On an evil night, one of her serpiente suitors is beaten so badly that he will never dance again, and as Oliza tries to help him while preventing a riot and a war, she is kidnapped. It doesn't help matters that at times she seems to slip into madness, having spells in which she is not aware of what's happening.

Oliza tries to remain clearheaded, but the pack of lions who hold her clip her wings, the worst fate possible for an avian, and drug her so she cannot change shape. They take her deep into the forest, and when she begins to think clearly again, she realizes that weeks have passed.

A wolf tries to help Oliza make her way in the woods, and she senses that it's a female who chooses not to change into human form out of fear. When she meets the local wolf tribe and its pack leader tries to assault her, Oliza knows why the female is afraid. After escaping, she collapses from hunger and illness; the wolf returns to Betia, its human form, to save her life.

The two survive together and encounter a tribe called the Obsidians, a rebel group. They're taken in and the bond between Betia and Oliza grows. They enjoy their time with the tribe, but eventually Oliza discovers that guards from Wyvern's Court are out looking for her. The two women return to find that tensions have heightened even more between the avians and the serpiente. Oliza's cobra father wants her to choose a mate, thinking that this will bring the people closer together. She learns instead that her spells are a sign of magic that would be dangerous in any child she might carry. The magic allows her a glimpse into a future that is frightening enough to show her that she must make a very tough decision if she wants both races to survive.

Each title in this series has dealt with racial prejudice and its devastating results. While readers will be fascinated by Atwater-Rhodes's fantasy setting, it is obvious that the messages about the dangers of intolerance translate to reality as well. The cultures should be able to mix, but instead they resist each other. Oliza knows that while the people aren't ready to accept each other and live with one another, she can't make the traditional choice. To continue her line and her parents' vision would mean war. The stunning conclusion to WOLFCRY is both discouraging and hopeful for the future at the same time.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

Sadly disappointed with the forth volume. Character development was strongly lacking, and the storyline unfortunately did not flow. In fact the whole story felt as though it was rushed along to fit a slapdash ending that made no rational sense.

To go into further detail, it seemed as though the characters were written to fit the story, and not the story written to fit the characters. I highly enjoyed her other books, yet I will think twice in buying the next volume in this series.

I LOVED Hawksong and Snakecharm. Falcondance was ok, I was neither over joyed by it, or P.O'd at it. Wolfcry though.... I was very anger at the way it turned out. I dont have anything wrong to say about Lesbians, but the stories outline was a bit fuzzy. I only read it once. I was too freaked out and upset and outraged over the story to pick it up again. My dad has also been reading the series. I told him, there's no need to get excited over this one, Oliza isnt all that great, and Danica and Zane are hardly ever in it. That brings up another matter. Zane and Danica are great examples of young love. They show you that it doesnt matter who you are, of what race or skin color, if you love someone you will always be able to love them.

I naturely thought the child of the great Zane and Danica would be another great character, I was wrong. She wasnt what I was expecting. I am very discouraged from reading anymore in this series. My very devoted church-going friend has told me I should burn the book. I know that I will most likely never read this book again, and all it will be doing is taking up space on my already crowded bookshelf, but I want to have a complete series.

Anyhow, this is all I really have to say, but I hope that I am not the only one that is disappointed in this book.

I want the Amelia Atwater-Rhodes that wrote Hawksong and Snakecharm back!

I couldn't stop reading to begin with. Sadly, half the reason I was so drawn to pick it back up each time I put it down was simply because I was so confused by the going ons, I had to know what happened. In fact, my confusion did even let up until the last few pages of the book and when I finally did understand what all had happened, I certainly felt tricked and more then a little cheated.

The ending seemed entirely rushed. Like the author had great plans for the whole conspiracy which would all be revealed in the last few chapters... only to have it die when it was all quickly swiped under the carpet. It was all pretty much nothing. Great.

The romance... perhaps wasn't may style, but I was not pleased. The entire beginning of the story leads you to the assumption that one of these two boys your becoming attached to, will be with Oliza. And to have that entirely not happen, let alone to have a new romance (that somehow I did not see coming) throw in? I felt cheated. I will not look to this book to satisfy my longing for a good romance ever.

In the end, I haven't completely written off Amelia as a writer. I used to idolize her as a child, perhaps because she was a young writer, something I longed to be. But her writing is seeming more immature the older I get. I hope for a more polished story with the next book.

i loved the first two books in the Kiesha'ra series and the thrid one falcondance was not bad but Wolfcry made me so angry i almost counldnt finish it. not many books are like that for me but this book was a really big let down. i think Atwater-Rhodes might be losing her touch.

I was very excited when I finally got my hands on this book. Hawksong had been amazing, and even if Snakecharm and Falcondance hadnt lived up to my expectations I was hoping that the return to the Cobriana line would make things right.

I was sadly disappointed.

The story itself was well-written. I found no places where I stumbled as I had in previous novels, and the incident with the first wolf pack gave it a more adult feel. The kidnapping was also very exciting, and I had hopes for some type of falling-for-the-captor thing. Then I hoped for her falling for a white viper. Neither happened.

And while I applaud Ms Rhodes for taking the book where she did, as many authors rarely do, I just could not enjoy the end of the story.

****SPOILER*****

When I realized Oliza was going to end up mating with Betia I started hoping that she would change her mind and get with a male. I dont know why, but I just did not like Betia's character at all, nor did I see any sparks between her and Oliza. It seemed like a very flat thing, and very predictable, much as I hoped otherwise. I think that there was potential for Oliza and a white-viper to become mates, which is really something I would have wanted, versus what did happen. I think the story would have just flowed better and been more interesting.

Also, while I understood her reasons, I hated that Oliza abdicated. It just didnt seem to fit very well, and after Danica and Zane struggled so much to pull their two words together into one she was seperating them again.

****END SPOILERS*****

All in all I had mediocre feeling towards this book. The writing was good, and I enjoyed the plot, which kept me hooked, but the decisions of Oliza just didnt sit well with me in the end.

I understand that because the information learned in Falcondance, Oliza either had to be a lesbian or never have children. I loved Hawksong and Snakecharm, I thought Falcondance was pretty awful and Wolfcry seems to have given me the same opinion. I don't understand how the first two books were amazing, yet the third and fourth were so awful. I have nothing against lesbians, I'm all for loving who you want but it's such a far cry from Hawksong and Snakecharm. It looks as if Atwater-Rhodes has either slipped or has began rushing to get these books out. Sadly to say, I'm too discouraged to want to read the fifth one.