Customer Reviews

Wolfkin

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Suchen Kebleva, the female protagonist in Corvidae's WOLFKIN, is an unlikely heroine. A fantasy/medieval version of an accountant, she minds the household and keeps the records. Little does she know her life will change, drastically, and that everything she believes in will be challenged.

Jozerf is an angry, driven man, a recluse, who harbors a dark secret and an even greater vulnerability. It is this secret that makes him do the bidding of an exiled wizard who has his own political agenda.

But it is his vulnerability, and Suchen, which threaten him the most.

A shapeshifter story, an adventure tale, a medieval type fantasy, a quest story, a gripping romance, an essay on prejudice and beliefs... WOLFKIN is all this and more.

What it really is is superbly written original fantasy with fabulous characters that will make you depressed to turn the final page, because you must leave them for awhile.

Corvidae promises a sequel. I'll be first in line to buy it.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Suchen Keblava had led a fairly uneventful life until recently. She was the Steward of Kellsjard, and quite possibly the only woman anywhere in the world to hold such a position. She is fiercely loyal to her liege, Lord Auglar. Suddenly however, her peaceful existence is shattered one day, when the wizard, Ax, comes to her with a mission that only she can carry out.

Yozerf Trihychyl has been alone for most of his life, a half-breed who fits into neither a human world, nor a wolfkin one. He is tainted, an outcast, no matter which race he turns to; all they see is his mixed heritage, making him unworthy of their trust or respect. Then Ax comes to him, claiming the life debt owed him, for having saved Yozerf from death many years ago.

Suchen's mission is to find and protect a young noblewoman, Trethya, and keep her safe from death by her enemies, with the help of the Sworn, warriors loyal only to Lord Auglar, Suchen, and each other. Trethya is the one person privy to a dreadful secret: her Council is holding Rozah, Queen of the entire kingdom of Jenel, prisoner. They want all of the power ruling the kingdom can bring. Their intent is to force Rozah into marriage with the sorcerer Jahcgroth, who will take her away to his own kingdom, and leave Jenel to the Council... or so they think. He has an agenda of his own that he is revealing to no one.

Suchen and the Sworn set out on their journey, finding Trethya to lead her back to Kellsjard where she will be safe. Along the way, they meet up with Yozerf, their unlikely and reluctant ally promised by Ax. Yozerf's unique gifts as a wolfkin (shape changer) and an Aclyte will help them fend off the armies... and the dreaded Red Guard (also shape changers), sent by the Council to capture Trethya and bring her back into submission and to prevent her from revealing their evil plot. Treachery is everywhere, making Suchen's small army unsure of whom to trust, and seriously hindering their mission.

Ms. Corvidae has written a stunning fantasy in this novel. Romance is definitely not the dominant theme, but it is woven in as a key part of the plot nonetheless. The characters are so vividly portrayed, one will see them everywhere around. They are realistic, forcing the reader to know them and empathize with them. They will also remain in memory long after the final page is turned.

The plot is incredible and compelling; making the pages turn on their own accord. Secrets and surprises abound, always unexpected and never boring. The conclusion is shocking, leaving a few mysteries in its wake. This reviewer can only hope that is a hint of more adventure to follow in future books. Ms. Corvidae has made a diehard fan here, who now intends to run out and purchase the rest of her books.

First, our embittered hero, Yoserf, encounters the wizard Ax in the forest, who calls in a life debt by requiring him to watch after a lady who holds secrets that could either save or destroy the kingdom. Then our heroine, Suchen, encounters Ax, and he directs her to find and protect the lady as well. After Ax precipitates the plot, it takes off on its own without further interference from the mysterious magician.

Soon thereafter, Suchen, Lord Augler's Steward, and Lord Augler's Sworn go off in search of Lady Trethya so that she may relay her dire news to Augler. They locate her, but all might have come to naught if the wolf who had been aiding her had not come to their aid as well during a bandit attack. Then, later, more bandits attack, and this time they are aided, as well as joined, by Yoserf himself.

Yoserf is a half-breed (member of the race called Aclytes, people who are forced into near servitude by the ruling humans. It takes some time for Suchen and the Sworn to be able to trust him and he them, even though he provides them assistance. Even though fetching Trethya turns out to be more dangerous and politically heated than they imagined, he manages to get everyone to Lord Augler's castle just in time for disaster to strike when an evil spell puts Lord Augler in a coma and his thanes imprison his innocent wife for the crime. How Suchen and Yoserf discover the perpetrator and deal with the knowledge carried by Lady Trethya, as well as sort out their growing attraction and racial prejudices, comprises the remainder of this tightly woven novel.

After enjoying Ms. Corvidae's Winter's Orphans, I was quite eager to read Wolfkin. The two books have certain similarities -- they are relatively short and set in fantasy worlds. With Winter's Orphans, the novel felt too short, but Wolfkin takes place in a more abbreviated space of time. The pacing was fluid, with few wasted areas, and yet still it had sufficient substance.

Especially at the beginning of the book, the author manages quite a few nice passages and descriptions. One that stuck with me was: "Suchen stumbled slightly in the yard, where the mud had hardened in the shapes of hoof- and footprints." However, describing the hero's red hair as insane could have stopped at one time instead of several times.

One of the things I fully appreciated about Wolfkin was that the author did not give in to the temptation, if she even felt it, to make Yoserf an alpha male. Capable and determined, yes, bitter, yes, but not alpha. Individuals who can change into wolves -- wolfkin -- appear throughout the book and are thought of as evil, although this feeling is overcome in the end when it is expedient to the plot. My curiosity about these creatures was definitely invoked, especially when our hero was not automatically their leader. There are many others to whom he bows his head, and his similar wolfish actions in other parts of the novel worked well.

There is one plot twist near the end that frustrated me because it was too predictable and one even closer to the end that really caught me by surprise, opening up the worldview for more books by this author. There is so much going on here that I would welcome more time to explore all the possibilities. I hope in the future the books will be longer and more detailed since obviously my wishes are the only ones that should matter! I recommend Wolfkin as a compact fantasy read with a satisfying cross-cultural romance.

ETA: I think it's been re-released from Mundania Press-- track it down, you won't be disappointed!

By TT reviewer Amy L. Turpin

Yozerf Trihychyl owes a life debt to the wizard, Ax. After thirty-four years, Ax has offered him a chance at freedom for doing a simple task. But since when has any task Ax has sent him on been simple? The half-breed Aclyte soon finds himself within the band of humans he has been charged with helping and protecting and their welcome isn't a friendly one. Banding with the humans goes against his every instinct, but if he would be free of Ax's influence in his life, this is a task he must complete. His freedom and the fate of the known world depend on it.

Suchen Keblava is the steward for her Lord Auglar in his kingdom. Trained in swordplay and battle as a man, she is approached by Ax as well. Telling her of a pending evasion from the north by the Undying Emperor Jahcgroth, he sets her with the task of escorting a young noblewoman, Trethya Selista, back to meet with Lord Auglar. With the promise of sending her aid in an unlikely form, Ax departs and leaves Suchen to convince Auglar to allow the quest, and also leaves a cryptic message for the Lord.

With his fears all but confirmed as to the state of the Queen of Nava Yek, where Lady Selista is bringing the final confirmation, Lord Auglar sends Suchen with his Sworn to bring the Lady to him. Once they have Lady Selista in hand however, soldiers from Nava Yek ambush them and would probably have overtaken them if not for the stranger Yozerf. Suchen is immediately in awe and fearful of him, but the fear soon turns to admiration and their tenuous alliance is formed.

The Sworn soon find out that they have gotten into more than they bargained for. Their world had gone mad, it seems, when serving maids turn into grotesque gargoyles and wolves attack selectively in a town full of people only to disappear. Suddenly, getting back to Kellsjard alive seems to be just one step beyond their reach. On reaching Kellsjard, they find not the haven they hoped, but more problems.

Treachery and deceit lie within their midst, and the blame is passed around, with Yozerf among the suspects. With the upcoming battle approaching and everything hanging in the balance, it's time to ask if the ends truly justify the means.

With fantastic characterization and intelligent dialogue creation, author Corvidae has created a fantastical world with wide cultural diversity. For the lover of fantasy and fantasy romance, this book is definitely for you! A page-turner from start to finish, you won't want to miss WOLFKIN.

Knowing the ice is taking control of his land and making it more and more hostile, Emperor Jahcgroth decides the only way to save his people and his rule is to relocate to a more hospitable locale. He chooses Jenel, persuading the corrupt advisors to the young Queen Rozah that marriage between the royals is good for both countries.

The famous wizard Ax believes the end justifies the mean. In that regard he sends Suchen and her sworn warriors to safely escort Trethya. Next Ax dispatches Yozerf to assist his warriors even as Suchen and the other escorts begin to understand the importance Trethya plays in a world going mad. Now instead of a convoy, they are on a quest to free Rozah from her stifling wardens and from the necromancer Emperor Jahcgroth. However, though with them, the warriors detest Yozerf as an unworthy half-breed. Yozerf does not help himself with his fellow freedom fighters as he distrusts everyone.

Fans of romantic fantasy will fully enjoy WOLFKIN, a strong entry due to the fully developed key cast members and a realm filled with magic that seems to exist. The story line is filled with twists and turns so that the reader is never sure what will happen next, but Elaine Corvidae never loses sight of the prime theme of her tale. Readers will look forward to more adventures in the world of Jenel perhaps a final confrontation between an amoral magic practitioner and an angry young man with an ax to grind.

Harriet Klausner

Wolfkin really grabbed me. I read the book in one sitting and found myself wishing for another to continue Yozerf's tale. Yozerf was my favourite character, I always loved the idea of shapeshifters, but Suchen's part in the story was good too.

I was shocked at what happened to Rozah, it really surprised me, which is unusual in a lot of fantasy. Some of the books I have read are so obvious that two chapters in I know what's going to happen in the end. Not so with Wolfkin.

Get this book, you'll love it.

Reviewed by Mark E. Cooper

The Wolfkin trilogy is incredible reading. Do you ever read something and wish so much that a movie would be made about it. This is that book but I really don't need or want a movie because you know they never get these things rights. I have been re-reading the Wolfkin trilogy for years now. Whenever I have read a particularly bad fantasy novel I come back to this set of books and fall in love with fantasy again. The story is so exciting, the action is fantastic, and the relationships and romance are very moving. You will experience so many emotions while reading these books. All of the characters are well developed and complex but Yozerf is an especially memorable character. You will never forget this story. One of my favorites of all time. It's never gotten the attention it deserves. Do yourself a favor and read ALL of her books because they are all great but if you have to choose just one this is it! You can't get Wolfkin at amazon for kindle yet so until then get it from fictionwise. Download Mobi pocket reader and it's a very easy conversion.

reviewed by Sherryl King-Wilds for www.fantasynovelreview.com

Summoned by Ax the wizard to protect the lady Trethya Selista, the lives of Suchen (Kellsjard's steward), the Sworn of Kellsjard's lord, and Yozerf (a humanoid half-breed) are forever changed.

As Suchen and the Sworn travel with Trethya, they are stalked by Trethya's pursuers, for Trethya holds the key to the fate of a kingdom's queen. Enter Yozerf, the embittered half-breed who is discriminated against almost everywhere he goes. Yozerf, is, however, pledged to his duty of protecting Trethya. He also ends up guiding the Sworn and Suchen away from Trethya's enemies.

Suchen and Yozerf soon share a bond, one which is tested time and again by jealousy and conspiracy until Wolfkin's conclusion explodes with unanticipated revelations.

Blood, battle, and instinct stride through the dynamics of Wolfkin. As well, Wolfkin clenches the mind of the reader with vivid, concise detail--not a dull moment in this story! Once again, Elaine Corvidae has produced a page-turner the reader will not be able to put down.

Grade: A+

Suchen Keblava was the steward of Kellsjard, a powerful Northern lord. The sorcerer called Ax informed Suchen that she was to give Lord Auglar a message. The Council was corrupted and Queen Rozah Rejana was being held captive. The queen would be forced to wed the Emperor Jahcgroth, who in turn planned to take over the entire Circle Kingdoms.

Suchen and the Sworn (army) were sent to meet Queen Rozah's ally, Lady Trethya, and escort her safely back to Lord Auglar. Trethya had vital information to pass.

Ax sent Yozerf Trihychyl, one of the Aclytese race, to help in the quest. Humans often considered his race no more than servants. Yozerf did not care for the Humans with good reasons. However, he owed Ax his life and agreed to do as asked. Yozerf was more than an Aclytese half breed though. He was a warrior ... and more!

Before it all ends, this group must battle winged demons with gargoyle shaped bodies, betrayal from within, and sorcery!

**** A very good story here! Well written, full of suspense, and a small romance to boot! Definitely worth your time to purchase and read this fantasy novel! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

Suchen Keblava was the steward of Kellsjard, a powerful Northern lord. The sorcerer called Ax informed Suchen that she was to give Lord Auglar a message. The Council was corrupted and Queen Rozah Rejana was being held captive. The queen would be forced to wed the Emperor Jahcgroth, who in turn planned to take over the entire Circle Kingdoms.

Suchen and the Sworn (army) were sent to meet Queen Rozah's ally, Lady Trethya, and escort her safely back to Lord Auglar. Trethya had vital information to pass.

Ax sent Yozerf Trihychyl, one of the Aclytese race, to help in the quest. Humans often considered his race no more than servants. Yozerf did not care for the Humans with good reasons. However, he owed Ax his life and agreed to do as asked. Yozerf was more than an Aclytese half breed though. He was a warrior ... and more!

Before it all ends, this group must battle winged demons with gargoyle shaped bodies, betrayal from within, and sorcery!

**** A very good story here! Well written, full of suspense, and a small romance to boot! Definitely worth your time to purchase and read this fantasy novel! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.