Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart (Wolf, Book 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jane Lindskold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 18, 2003

A tale of humane wolves, beastly men, and a brilliant heroine who must find her way in a dangerous world

Raised by intelligent, language-using wolves, brought back to the human society at the court of Hawk Haven, young Firekeeper had to learn to cope with human society and its complexities . . . and discovered that, for someone raised in a wolf pack, the politics of a royal court were neither complex nor wholly unfamiliar.

But the happy ending of Through Wolf's Eyes has proved to have consequences. Hawk Haven and Bright Bay are unifying, but the power balance of the neighboring lands is threatened by this prospect. New intrigues abound. The rulers of Bright Bay, it transpires, have been hoarding a collection of forbidden magical artifacts . . . which Queen Gustin took with her when she abdicated, intending to use them to restore her power. Melina Shield is still scheming to obtain them, and she's older, smarter, and more devious than the Queen. And the even-more-devious civil service of neighboring New Kelvin would like to get their hands on that magic as well . . . .

Which will make life very hard for Firekeeper. Because the powers of the world have decided who'll be required to obtain those much-contended-for magical articles. It'll be her.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Human behavior and the pack mentality remain at intriguing odds as Lady Blysse Kestrel, aka Firekeeper, plunges deeper into the workings of human society in this stirring sequel to Through Wolf's Eyes (2001). Though she has progressed in her understanding of bipedal folk, Firekeeper, a human raised by intelligent wolves, still considers people unnecessarily convoluted in their ways. She has little tolerance for court life, and her language skills haven't improved much at all. She would rather be running with the pack than prancing before royalty. Luckily, with the aid of her animal friends, Firekeeper helps to foil an assassination plot, which in turn leads to the gathering of old allies in a quest to regain lost magical items. With loads of chutzpah and not much to go on, the group heads out into unknown territory. Firekeeper's animal companions show more of their nature here than in the previous novel, bringing their own needs and skills to the mix and adding an extra layer to the romantic plot. Lindskold uses her knowledge of wolf pack behavior to good advantage, both in the actions of the wolf Blind Seer and in the engaging character of Firekeeper. A few loose plot strands will presumably be tied up in the next installment.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

As King Allister of the Pledge seeks to unite the lands of Hawk Haven and Bright Bay into one kingdom, his rival, the exiled Queen Valora, plots to recover her throne by stealing three magical artifacts from the royal treasury. The task of retrieving the stolen items falls to the young woman named Firekeeper, raised since childhood by intelligent wolves and newly introduced to the society of humans. Lindskold's sequel to Through Wolf's Eyes draws its greatest strength from its feral heroine, whose animal sensibilities lend a unique perspective to the foibles of human society. Rich details and intriguing characters make this fantasy series a good choice for most libraries.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 768 pages
• Publisher: Tor Fantasy; First Edition edition (August 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812575490
• ISBN-13: 978-0812575491
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,237 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great followup to the first book, August 28, 2002

By 

S. Raines - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart (Hardcover)

This book is a continuation of the story of Firekeeper and friends that started in Through Wolf's Eyes. However the story in this volume is very complete (in fact I thought it the last until I read otherwise), so you don't need to worry about being left with a cliffhanger. It should be preceded by the first book though.

The story concerns three stolen magical artifacts that were in Bright Bay. On a basic level the book is a quest to regain them. On another level it's a book about the humans on the quest (Doc, Derian, Elise, and Firekeeper) continuing to mature. I loved the book on both levels, maybe because these four characters and Blind Seer are my favorites in the series.

This book has less political intrigue than the first since much of it takes place outside the courts, so it has a more adventure-like feel. It's also nice to get a chance to see a bit more of the countryside, and a new city that I found intriguing. There's also a neat interlude with a conclave of the Royal Beasts, which has some good storytelling in it.

All in all, an excellent sequel.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just as good as the first, August 27, 2002

By 

"neadods" (MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart (Hardcover)

Often sequels aren't as good as the first in a series, but Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart is just as much of a page turner as Through Wolf's Eyes. It can be read as a standalone novel -- enough information is given so that new readers can figure out who is who -- but because it begins a few months after Through Wolf's Eyes ends, it is hard to write a detailed review without spoiling both books.

Head/Heart is, technically, a quest story; a group of people are tasked to go somewhere and do something. What makes this book stand out is how that basic concept becomes a the foundation to a tightly woven web of political intrigue spanning four kingdoms.

We meet again all the main players from the first book - Firekeeper, the woman raised by wolves; Derian, the man with the unenviable task of civilizing her; Elise Archer, trying to find her place as a future baroness; Melina Shield, the woman who will sacrifice anything for personal power; her daughter Sapphire, who seeks power of her own; a multitude of Kings and Queens, and more. We are also introduced to several new characters and a new society that was only hinted at previously.

This might be set in a fantasy medieval world and it might star a half-feral woman, but I guarantee you that this book has all the plots, counter-plots, alliances, betrayals, and fast-paced action as any adventure movie or spy novel. I wasn't able to put it down.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Fantasy Novel, August 30, 2002

By 

Ranger Xenos "rangerxenos" (Connecticut United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart (Hardcover)

I first heard of the author Jane Lindskold when I came across her first novel in this universe, Through Wolves Eyes, at a science fiction convention last year.

I fell in love with her main characters, Firekeeper, a human girl raised as a wolf, and her pack mate, the wolf Blind Seer. I was ecstatic when I found out that a sequel was in the works. I just finished Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart, and it was even better than the first book in the series.

The author does a wonderful job with her human and animal characters, and weaves a story that you can't put down until it's finished. I am always sad to have such a wonderful book end, and I anxiously await the next book in this series.

If you like Fantasy, and are an animal lover, this book and the first are for you!