Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart

Jane Lindskold

Book 2 of The Firekeeper Saga

Language: English

Publisher: Tor Books

Published: Aug 24, 2002

Description:

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.

**

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.

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.