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The Red Wolf Conspiracy (Chathrand Voyages #1)

by Robert V.S. Redick

3.67 · rating details · 874 ratings · 130 reviews

Told with infectious joy and enthusiasm by an immensely talented new writer this is a landmark fantasy debut. The Chathrand - The Great Ship, The Wind-Palace, His Supremacy's First Fancy - is the last of her kind - built 600 years ago she dwarves all the ships around her. The secrets of her construction are long lost. She was the pride of the Empire. The natural choice f...more

Hardcover, 560 pages

Published February 1st 2008 by Gollancz (first published January 1st 2008)

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Jul 20, 2009

edifanob rated it

Shelves: my-books, 2009-reads

Normally I write reading impressions.
But this time I wrote a review. A new experience. And I'm proud to tell that the review has been post on a blog.

"The Red Wolf Conspiracy is like a gorgeous gown. Colorful, beads, frills, buttons, ribbons, feathers, hidden pockets, scented sachets, several layers of cloth. Every detail is like a person with her own history, thoughts and plans. All bent together by a golden thread whose stich is anything but random. So far, we have disco...more

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Apr 24, 2009

This Is Not The Michael You're Looking For rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, own, high-fantasy

The first novel by a new fantasy author, The Red Wolf Conspiracy is both interesting and exasperating. Redick has woven together a complicated narrative with characters, plots, and intrigue coming from all directions. In some sense it's a fascinating world with a mad mix of unexpected elements. (Ships and pirates must be in vogue; I've read a number of fantasy/SF novels with a very large focus on ships and sailing in the last couple of years, yet have no memory of having read any with such focus...moreThe first novel by a new fantasy author, The Red Wolf Conspiracy is both interesting and exasperating. Redick has woven together a complicated narrative with characters, plots, and intrigue coming from all directions. In some sense it's a fascinating world with a mad mix of unexpected elements. (Ships and pirates must be in vogue; I've read a number of fantasy/SF novels with a very large focus on ships and sailing in the last couple of years, yet have no memory of having read any with such focus previous to that...must be the Pirates of the Caribbean effect)

The pacing of the book is strange, however. It reads fairly easily and quickly, but there are huge time segments that are just missing. Some of these can be written off as "riding on a ship can be monotonous and boring so nothing interesting happened in the last few weeks" but the jumps in time often felt rather forced and weren't always transitioned well. This also led to some rather hearty exposition in the later parts of the book where some characters would be describing to other characters about all of the events that had happened while they were gone...many such being critical events that do not appear in the book other than as exposition. Events that probably should have been appeared in the natural narrative. I don't know if this was done to keep the length of the book down, to improve the pacing, or just because it felt right to the author, but I found it frustrating to be hearing about major pieces of the plot rather than seeing it (if that makes sense).

Beyond the choppy narrative, other plot devices sometimes seemed to fall out of nowhere, or at least, seemed more forced instead of growing naturally from the world which had been described. Like the extended exposition, this was particularly common in the last quarter of the book. The ending was particularly sudden, with everything falling together in a rather quick burst; something of a letdown after all of the build-up and serving more to set up the next book rather than complete this one.

Overall, this is not a bad book, but neither is it a great one. It's an interesting new fantasy world with a complicated story but an overly simplified timeline and world-building elements that don't appear to have meshed as organically as one would prefer. Perhaps the sequel (this is the first book in a planned series; probably a trilogy but maybe more?) will be smoother.(less)

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Jan 31, 2009

Mark rated it

· review of another edition

The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V. S. Redick
Published by Gollancz UK
Published February 2008
539 pages (ARC); 384 pages (Hardback) (ARC copy received for review.)
ISBN: 978- 0575081765 (Hardback) 9780575081772 (Trade Paperback)

Argh.

Or should that be ‘Arrrgh’?

For The Red Wolf Conspiracy is an enthusiastic novel that combines tales of pirates with legends of imprisoned Lovecraftian gods, hidden treasure and general skulduggery. Part Mast...more

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Dec 25, 2011

Jason rated it

Shelves: e-books, read-2011

4.5 Stars

This was a very enjoyable novel and a fun read. It is a pirate type novel, but not in the swashbuckling typical way. Although I liked many of the characters, and Pazel is an interesting main protagonist, this is not a character study. This book works by giving us a riptide roaring fun adventure.

This book is filled with action, suspense, mystery, a bit of magic, and a whole lot of sea going fun. The world is painted vividly and it gives it a great fantastical feel. Th...more

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Mar 22, 2010

Jon rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, read-in-my-40s

3.5-3.75 stars

Although I didn't come to love many or any one character in this tale, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the world building, the creatures and Pazel's gift of languages. While epic in scope, I wasn't sickened by the political intrigue and appreciated the efforts of the counter conspiracy.

Most of the action takes place on the high seas and there are some pirates, but not in the traditional sense. Following the exploits of Pazel as a 'tarboy' made the sailin...more

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May 09, 2011

Jordan Steinhoff rated it

I really wanted to like this book.

The blurb was good and it received many good reviews It had all the character types to make a good story. The young person unexpectedly on the hero's quest. The love interest. The shadowy villain. The real villain. The various teachers.

It just got very frustrating. Other than Pazel and Thasha there seemed to be no redeeming characters. Everybody just seemed to be stupid, evil or both. As if the author had no ability to do middle ...more

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Oct 05, 2010

Richard Spilman rated it

· review of another edition

I recently had recommended to me Robert Redick’s The Red Wolf Conspiracy, a fantasy epic which is almost exclusively set aboard the Imperial Merchant Ship Chathard, a 600 year old sailing ship of immerse proportions and age that sets out on a mission of mystery and intrigue with a huge crew and equally large and varied cast of characters.

The Red Wolf Conspiracy is an engaging and simply fun fantasy romp set on another world with a complex history of imperial warfare and contentious r...moreI recently had recommended to me Robert Redick’s The Red Wolf Conspiracy, a fantasy epic which is almost exclusively set aboard the Imperial Merchant Ship Chathard, a 600 year old sailing ship of immerse proportions and age that sets out on a mission of mystery and intrigue with a huge crew and equally large and varied cast of characters.

The Red Wolf Conspiracy is an engaging and simply fun fantasy romp set on another world with a complex history of imperial warfare and contentious religious disputes as well as mages, magic, tiny creatures and “woken” animals who can think and talk. And at the heart of it all is the IMS Chathard, over six hundred years old and by far the largest ship in the empire of Arqual, and for that matter the world. The Red Wolf Conspiracy is far grittier and much more nautical than most fantasy tales I have read. I still wouldn’t quite call it nautical fiction, but it is close.

The good news for readers of nautical fiction is that Robert Redick gets it largely right when writing about ships sailing these other-worldy seas. The characters and language used aboard ship will be completely natural to readers of Georgian naval fiction. The IMS Chathard has all the rigging one might expect, – masts, yards, topsails, t’gallants, halyards, ratlines, buntlines and so on and everything seems to be in the right place. Aside from the occasional and very rare reference to hauling on “ropes” and a few other nit-picky sorts of things that caught my eye, there is very little to set a reader of nautical fiction’s teeth on edge or otherwise detract from the telling of the story.
And what a story it is. It is epic. It is sweeping. It is told from multiple points of view primarily from an omniscient vantage point but also using diaries, letters and newspaper accounts. The writing is crisp, vivid and and moves well.

All that being said, is this a story that readers of nautical fiction would appreciate? I am reminded of the quote from Lincoln whee he said, “If this is the sort of book you like, you will like this book.” It is definitely firmly planted in the fantasy genre and lovers of the genre should immediately take to it. If there is a single book that I would compare it to it would be Frank Herbert’s Dune (which is more science fiction than fantasy.) The books are obviously very different. Dune is set on a desert planet while Red Wolf takes place primarily at sea. Dune is more footnote laden and intricate, nevertheless, they both had the same tendancy to envelop me as a reader.

Not surprisingly The Red Wolf Conspiracy is relatively long in addition to being complicated, which is not necessarily a problem except that when I reached page 520 or thereabout, there was the following message:

HERE ENDS THE The Red Wold Conspiracy,
BOOK ONE OF THE CHATHRAND VOYAGES.
THE STORY IS CONTINUED IN
The Rats and the Ruling Sea

The book just ended, except that it didn’t end. The plot was unresolved. The heroine was still in peril. The crisis continued unabated. Apparently, the story continues in the next book. The Red Wolf Conspiracy, appears to be only about third of the story.
The publisher has changed the title of the next book, aware that many readers would not buy a book with the words “rats” as the first word of the title. The second book is now available titled, The Ruling Sea.
Would I recommend The Red Wolf Conspiracy to readers of nautical fiction? Yes, I would, with the caveat that it is still far more fantasy than nautical fiction. They should also be warned that the The Red Wolf Conspiracy appears to be one third of a very long single novel, the third portion of which has not yet been published. A fun read all the same.(less)

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Jun 13, 2010

D.w. rated it

Shelves: reviewed

Almost a Five star book but there are problems, specifically with resolution. This book is crying out to have some of our heroes know victory. We have heroes and people we like as well as enemies we don't throughout, but we also have a plot that just as you think it has become twisted enough, gets even more twisted.

Perhaps that is a formula for the best books in fantasy but we are generally thrown a lifeline to give us some closure, if not in everything as we have a trilogy or series...more

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Apr 29, 2010

Clay rated it

Time in fantasy moves slowly. It seemed like readers would never be able to move past the pre-industrial world, where bows and swords and daggers were the only weapons, and mechanical complexity stopped at the clock.

Thanks in great part to China Mieville, though, we have now advanced to the industrial age, and writers now routinely place their imaginations in an early 19th century mode. We have guns and cannons and machines, but not too much of any of them, and we still have plenty o...more

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Apr 14, 2010

Mike rated it

Recommends it for: Fantasy/adventure epic buffs

This is not a bad book. Possibly It rates closer to a "3.5" than a "3", but it's not a "4". The story is well-written, but even if they hadn't "announced" that it was to be the first of a series (Trilogy perhaps), you'd know it even before the ending. Not even a cliff-hanger one at that.

Mix together a bunch of formulaic story elements:

(a) underdog struggling on his own is cutoff from his family, but has mysterious friend/sponsor,...moreThis is not a bad book. Possibly It rates closer to a "3.5" than a "3", but it's not a "4". The story is well-written, but even if they hadn't "announced" that it was to be the first of a series (Trilogy perhaps), you'd know it even before the ending. Not even a cliff-hanger one at that.

Mix together a bunch of formulaic story elements:

(a) underdog struggling on his own is cutoff from his family, but has mysterious friend/sponsor,

(b) girl has old and ill father whom she adores, but evil step-mother (ok, step-consort) keeps them separated and antagonistic to each other (with evil plans thrown in for all, of course),

(c) boy meets girl, girl is clearly out of his league, but somehow boy wins over heart of girl, but alienates father (eventually coming to mutual friendship but only after messy conflicts)

(d) fantasy element of thinking, talking critters, magic & mages, and different humanoid strains

(e) boy makes friends with other underdogs and after a series of setbacks achieves temporary triumph (have to have some threads for next volume) over some of the evil consiprators,

et cetera.

Possibly, I am doing the author a disservice. The writing was acceptable. The story while predictable is interesting enough. The layout of the world and its default assumptions (regions of ocean that no one can venture into and survive) are "rich enough" to fuel the later volumes that are planned. It just wasn't compelling for me.

But that's not to say that another reader won't like it more. If these multi-plot "epics" of political and personal plotting in worlds of magic are what you like to read, then I suspect that you will enjoy this book and eagerly await the next "chapter". So, read and judge it for yourself.

I may or may not read the next volume. If I do, I won't expect anything above the level of what I found in this book. I would like to be pleasantly surprised. Rather than thinking I could have been reading another tale of Bertie Wooster and Jeeves.(less)

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May 03, 2009

Cendri rated it

I liked this book, but I wanted to like it more. This is apparently Redick's first published novel, and it shows. The world he builds is imaginative, and the story has potential, even if it does fall into a lot of the well-worn plucky-band-of-somewhat-unlikely-heroes-does-battle-against-great-evil-attempting-to-retrieve-object-of-unspeakable-evil-power tropes. The characters are likable, and some are quite interesting and creatively drawn. The biggest problem is in the plotting, where a numb...more

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Feb 09, 2011

Kiel rated it

First-time author. This one was great, prolly the best of the first-time author set. The world relies on mostly water-based transportation, so this was heavy with nautical terminology. There was also this concept of "woken" animals, animals that had attained a human level of consciousness. Magic was sketchy and not super well-developed in this book. The main character has a strange ability to understand any language he hears, but it comes with some sort of weakness where he then loses ...more

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Sep 23, 2011

Mordant rated it

Shelves: favorites

I really struggled not to give this novel five stars.

The "Chathrand Voyages" are a series of four books (the final book is about to be released in late 2011 / early 2012), high fantasy with an interesting naval twist and setting. The storytelling qualities of the author and his world building skills are remarkable. He beats Robin Hobb and Lois McMaster Bujold in my opinion and I like these two a lot.

Robert V.S. Redick has a distinct prose and style which I found...moreI really struggled not to give this novel five stars.

The "Chathrand Voyages" are a series of four books (the final book is about to be released in late 2011 / early 2012), high fantasy with an interesting naval twist and setting. The storytelling qualities of the author and his world building skills are remarkable. He beats Robin Hobb and Lois McMaster Bujold in my opinion and I like these two a lot.

Robert V.S. Redick has a distinct prose and style which I found very easy and enjoyable to read (see the first chapters on Amazon) and has created a wonderful world full of mystical islands, ships, sea creatures, numerous races and nations. Let me just mention the Ixchel first, small humanoid creatures (hand-sized) that are called "crawlies" by human sailors and usually killed out of superstition. Actually they are rather helpful than sinking ships, have a rich culture and sophisticated social structures. They are daring and bold, just lovely in a different way to he usually cute gnome race building gadgets stereotype. The Ixchel life is filled with tragedy, death and honor. Stray cats, boys, sailors, crabs or birds of prey are mortal dangers to the Ixchel who only survive because they are so cunning and brave.

I think this was my first love declaration for a smallish race in a fantasy novel. Second to them are the woken animals in this book. Strange things are happening in Alifros. It is not unheard that very rarely an animal develops intelligence and the ability to speak or communicate otherwise with humans. But in recent years the number of woken animals has risen dramatically. Among them are even two rats, who are usually cursed to live in the twilight between reason and instinct, driven and commanded by hunger and greed. Two of these rats will be part of this novel, one awakened out of empathy for human tragedy and one that became very religious as it ran to a temple for shelter, scared after the awakening. They share with the Ixchel that people fear them, kill them or capture them for show.

But hey, what is this book all about? It is mainly about introducing you to this world. The "Red Wolf Conspiracy" rather takes a backseat for a while till you are introduced to all the many vivid characters like the tarboy Pazel Pathkendle (Who has also a gift for languages granted by his mother who is a rather pretty witch. His father is a traitor, unfortunately. His sister ran away. He is connected in ways I can't tell you yet to Dr. Ignus Chadfallow), the smart and strong daughter of Fleet Admiral Eberzam Isiq, Thasha Isiq (yes, two h) who has long golden hair and isn't afraid to speak her mind. She particularly loathes nuns, monasteries, her father's lover Lady Syrarys and marrying pagan Mzithrini princes. Then there is Lady Oggosk and her fat red cat Sniraga, the worst nightmare of the Ixchel clan under the leadership oft he wise Lady Diadrelu "Dri" Tammariken. Then there is the wizard Rachmani living in a clock on board of the IMS Chathrand, the last remaining Great Ship capable of crossing the huge ocean called the Ruling Sea. All others got lost over the centuries after the worldstorm and the gigantic ship is a floating city by itself.

This marvelous ship under the command of the feared Captain Nilus Rose is supposed to bring Thasha as Treaty Bride to Simja, one of the crownless islands between Mzithrin and Arqual, two big nations who were always in religious and actually-not-so-religious conflicts for ages. The problem is… the peace is a trap. The spymaster of the Emperor, Sandor Ott himself, has a monstrous and cunning plan how he could plunge the Mzithrini into civil war. Arqual would be the laughing third party. That Thasha and the Chathrand and mostly likely everyone else would die doesn't matter to him. Arqual uber alles. But there are two wizards on board… and several other groups with their own agendas. And hundred Turach elite warriors sworn to obey the will of the Emperor. Literally. After a while even mermaids will show up!

This is the beginning of a great saga. I am already reading book two and it picks up where this book ends. Unfortunately I now have to speak about the flaws of this book: It's damn complex. So many things going on! But that is also part of the fascination. Worse are some pacing flaws, the solution for the not so final solution of the name giving "Red Wolf Conspiracy" comes cold-turkey. This book contains enough action and fascinating characters for two and I can't wait to continue reading the series.(less)

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Apr 25, 2009

Shari Mulluane rated it

· review of another edition

It did not work for me. Straight away, I was annoyed by the amount of telling and the slow start. I tend to really enjoy books where I can live in the story. It is not the characters experiencing events; it is me experiencing things through them. I never got that degree of immersion from this tale. Now telling can work, I have seen it done, but this time it kept me on the outside of things instead of pulling me in. I felt that the novel could have been so much more then it was. However, there ar...more

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Jan 29, 2011

Luke Van Wegen rated it

· review of another edition

A truly enjoyable romp through a unique fantasy world. Filled with intrigue, espionage, and plots within plots, The Red Wolf Conspiracy is set almost exclusively at sea aboard an ancient magical ship whose empire is a thallassocracy. So a brushing up of ship terms may be useful. Redick has created a highly original world with a explosive political and religious environment, unique races like the Ixchel and the Flickerman, and a cataclysmic history with left over relics including the great ship C...more

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May 30, 2009

Jeffrey rated it

Recommends it for: fantasy fans of new worlds and sailing stories

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2009

I generally liked this book, although I am not a fan of fantasy novels that end mid story so you have to wait for the second book.

The main character is Pazel, a tarboy ,who gets aboard a mighty ship carrying the daughter of an Ambassador, who is supposed to marry the Prince of their mortal enemies to stop an ongoing war between their people. Pazel, has a magical gift of languages, which enables him to speak any language. The ancient ship is full of interesting characters, the Ambas...more

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Sep 27, 2009

brian surprises aplenty rated it

This is a big, dense book that I fear might be part of a long, dense series. The number of factions to follow and keep track of are almost Dune-like. They are different kingdoms and groups of humans, flikkermen ( who occasionally flash and can deliver electrical shocks), Murths (mermaids) and Ixchel - tiny people, about 15 centimetres tall. There are also 'woken' animals who have about human intelligence.

There is also the greatship - the Chanthrand, which is a character in it's own...more

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Oct 26, 2010

Emily rated it

Shelves: faves-from-all-genres, fantasy

This was a super first novel, up in my top 5 favorites for the year so far. I love discovering new authors, especially since one or two of my favorites have not been delivering the goods lately (George RR Martin-write the book already and stop messing around and taunting your readers! Robin Hobb, write something else, preferably set in the Six Duchies!) Anyway, Robert V.S. Redick has satisfied my hunger for a fantasy world to match that of Martin's or Hobb's and it's populated with wonderful cha...more

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Oct 21, 2010

Woodge rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, adventure

The first in a four-book fantasy series, The Red Wolf Conspiracy introduces us to a plucky young tarboy, Pazel Pathkendle who soon finds himself working aboard the immense Imperial ship Chathrand. The Chathrand is on a peace mission from the Arquali capital city of Etherhorde to the island of Simja at the edge of the Mzithrin territory. Some forty years previously, the Second Sea War between the Arqualis and Mzithrinis ended. Now, in an effort to broker peace, young Thasha Isiq, the daughter of ...more

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Jun 14, 2009

Reed rated it

· review of another edition

It's one of those great things about books--you can stumble across one at just the right time, all the stars align, and the book turns out to be exactly what you wanted and needed.

That's how I reacted upon reading Robert Redick's The Red Wolf Conspiracy. A debut novel, I'd heard very little buzz about the book when I picked it up. I believe I'd seen a couple blurbs on various websites touting it's potential, so I put it on my "check it out" list. When I stumbled across a ...more

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Apr 26, 2010

Bryce rated it

The Red Wolf Conspiracy definitely has that “first novel” feel to it. The plot is in need of tightening, some of the characters are underdeveloped and the beginning and ending of the book are a little shaky. Redick also subscribes to the idea that in a proper fantasy novel, place and people names must be utterly unpronounceable.

But in spite of all that, I did enjoy the story and would recommend this book. This was my first experience with a seafaring fantasy story. I liked the “clos...more

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May 10, 2011

Lauren rated it

· review of another edition

I read this first book a year or so ago and didn't think much of it at the time but for some reason I couldn't get the story out of my head. It took me a while to remember the name and author but after reading it a second time I really enjoyed it. Redick's creation of another world reminded me a lot of Brandon Sanderson who I love but Redick's story development was a little more wild. It felt a lot like a spiral where every turn took the story to a new level of "strange". When I tr...more

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Jan 27, 2011

Kristy rated it

I picked this up at the library simply by chance. What a great book to stumble upon. Though the basic plot is one I've read hundreds of times: orphaned/troubled child/teenager versus the evil overlord/empire. Child discovers he/she has special powers, gains some loyal friends along the way and proceeds to fight the good fight. However, this was very well written and included enough mini-cliffhangers that kept me reading till the wee hours of the morning. And I certainly never felt like I wa...more

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Dec 31, 2011

Ronald rated it

· review of another edition

With The Red Wolf Conspiracy we are drawn into a complicated world of politics and treachery where everyone has a secret and nobody tells the whole truth. A smile might as well be a knife in the dark.

The story is well crafted, overall, though it does have some parts which suffer a bit due to some odd choices, perhaps made by the editor or by the author himself. It's been mentioned in other reviews, but the ending comes out of nowhere and you're left kind of shell shocked. If the next ...more

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Dec 10, 2011

Nathan Washor rated it

Another one of my favorites, Robert V. S. Redick spins a splendid tale on the high seas about the voyage of the Chathrand, the last remaining great ship which can sail across the Ruling Sea, and it’s assumed demise.

The Red Wolf Conspiracy is a book that had been on my radar for some time. I decided to finally give it a go this fall, and it quickly became one of the few novels I truly could not put down. I found myself sneaking around the house to get in another chapter – or even a page...moreAnother one of my favorites, Robert V. S. Redick spins a splendid tale on the high seas about the voyage of the Chathrand, the last remaining great ship which can sail across the Ruling Sea, and it’s assumed demise.

The Red Wolf Conspiracy is a book that had been on my radar for some time. I decided to finally give it a go this fall, and it quickly became one of the few novels I truly could not put down. I found myself sneaking around the house to get in another chapter – or even a page – when I was supposed to be doing something else (like tending to my four year old daughter or cleaning the dishes).

What was it about Red Wolf that I loved so much? First, I loved the writing. Robert V. S. Redick’s language brings you square into a fantasy pirate setting where you can taste the ocean spray on your lips, feel the sting of its salt in your eyes, and hear the tolling of the harbor bells as you drift past them on your loosely lashed together raft. The story is written so teens can enjoy it and adults can love it. No foul language fills these pages, just a lot of dreamy adventure. I haven’t read any of the Redwall series, but from what I do know of those beloved books I imagine this novel is similar in a lot of ways yet at a more advanced level appealing to both younger and older crowds.

The characters were defined quite well, and the fact that the main protagonist’s only magical power is the ability to understand other languages is quite unique. A talking animal (a mink I think) plays the part of a powerful sorcerer from another world on a mission to save both worlds from an evil wizard. Some may think talking animals amount to a childish story and not want to read it. Okay. Well you can feel that way, but you’ll be missing out on a great, great book!

The story line itself is linear, very orderly and filled with excellent scenes. One scene in particular (an underwater scene for those who have read it – but I won’t go further for fear of spoiling) left me stunned at the visualization and originality the author employs. Red Wolf Conspiracy is actually only the first part of a longer story, so you are left hanging a little – but in a place where you don’t feel you have missed out on anything. I can’t wait to read the next book – I just need to find the time now… maybe a babysitter or a house cleaner.

Due to the gorgeous writing style, in depth characterization, and unique magic powers, I am very pleased to give The Red Wolf Conspiracy 5 out of 5 stars.(less)

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Feb 16, 2011

Marshall Pickens rated it

I liked this book for two reasons. First off would be that its the first Fantasy book I've read that is set almost exclusively on ships. The slight change that gives is a nice one. The other reason I like this book is the same reason I liked the movie Inception. Inception had this crazy machine that could let you walk in someone else's dreams, yet they never took the time to explain how that worked, and I think that was great. You never questioned it, and almost didn't notice it. I think i...more

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Oct 30, 2011

Joey Comeau rated it

This is the kind of fantasy adventure I haven't read in a long time, with the twists you can see coming acting as smokescreen for the darker twists, the ones that really turn the knife. Characters are more surface than I generally like, but the world is rich, and the history and plot compelling. And the power dynamics between classes is explored in an interesting way, expanded by several other species with consciousness, and even by some animals becoming "awakened" - and while I probab...more

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Jun 09, 2011

Ranting Dragon rated it

Shelves: caleigh

http://www.rantingdragon.com/the-red-wol...

The Red Wolf Conspiracy is debut novelist Robert V. S. Redick’s first installment in The Chathrand Voyage series. Pazel Pathkendle is a lonesome tarboy hailing from one of Arqual’s many conquered territories. After a series of unfortunate events – perhaps, Pavel wonders, orchestrated by his mysterious friend Doctor Chadfellow – Pavel ends up on The Chathrand, a vast and ancient ship that is the pride of her country. The crew’s apparent mi...more

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Feb 04, 2011

Mishell Baker rated it

If you, like me, are a nerd who avidly read all the chapters on whaling in Moby Dick even though your English teacher said you could skip them, this may be your favorite book of the year. Virtually the entire novel is set on a ship the size of a city, and it sings with nautical language throughout. It’s also extraordinarily strange, in the way that you want fantasy to be strange. If you were to set Gormenghast afloat on the sea, you wouldn’t be far off, actually. It’s a bit more accessible t...more

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Sep 27, 2011

Krishnamurthy Viswanathan rated it

I really wanted to like this book. But the plot and characters were weak, especially the important ones. There were too many characters, all of them with secret agendas. By the time I got to the end of the book, I did not really care what was going on. I just wanted to finish it and read something else.
One of the things I really need in my fantasy fiction novels, is a good system of magic. There was clearly a lot of things lacking in this novel. It is set in a very interesting world. In fac...more

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About Robert V.S. Redick

Robert V.S. Redick is in his thirties and works as the editor for the Spanish and French websites of Oxfam America and as an instructor in the International Development and Social Change program at Clark University. Born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, he lives in rural western Massachusetts. While his unpublished novel Conquistadors was a finalist for the 2002 AWP/Thomas Dunne Novel Awar...more

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Books by Robert V.S. Redick

The Rats and the Ruling Sea (Chathrand Voyages, #2)

The River of Shadows (Chathrand Voyages #3)

The Night of the Swarm (Chathrand Voyages #4)

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2408602.The_Red_Wolf_Conspiracy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1233498006m/2408602.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2408602.The_Red_Wolf_Conspiracy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V.S. Redick[/url]

The Red Wolf Conspiracy (Chathrand Voyages #1)

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