A Whisper of Wings

(Kashran Cycle #1)

Paul Kidd,

Terrie Smith (Illustrator)

3.93 · Rating details · 54 ratings · 4 reviews

Romantic, passionate - often dark and terrifying, "A Whisper of Wings" is a fantasy novel set in a world of spirits, brooding forests and animistic magic. It is a tale of crumbling societies and epic war - and the hope and glory of rebirth.

“Stunning. Simply stunning”: Anthrozine USA

Honoured by the U.S. Library of Congress, 'A Whisper of wings" is now a part of the permanen ...more

Get A Copy

Kindle Edition

Published February 1st 2011 (first published December 1st 1997)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about A Whisper of Wings, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about A Whisper of Wings

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.93 ·

Rating details

· 54 ratings · 4 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of A Whisper of Wings

Apr 13, 2012 Angela Oliver rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: anthropomorphic, fantasy, dark, favourites, owned

This is, to be honest, like no book I have ever read and it is also the most Furry-esque published novel I have found. Unlike most of the anthropromorphic animal genre, it is dark and gritty and obviously intended for an adult audience. It is also a most compelling and engrossing read, with a similar feel to two of my favourite things - ElfQuest and Princess Mononoke.

Set in Australia, the dominant sentient race are a species of anthopromorphic foxes with butterfly wings and antennae, known as th
This is, to be honest, like no book I have ever read and it is also the most Furry-esque published novel I have found. Unlike most of the anthropromorphic animal genre, it is dark and gritty and obviously intended for an adult audience. It is also a most compelling and engrossing read, with a similar feel to two of my favourite things - ElfQuest and Princess Mononoke.

Set in Australia, the dominant sentient race are a species of anthopromorphic foxes with butterfly wings and antennae, known as the "kashra" - indeed, this is book one of the Kashran Cycle, but I am happy to note (especially since the other books don't seem to yet exist) it is a story in itself and comes to a satisfying conclusion. The two main characters are sisters, but very different in personality and appearance. There is Zhukora, the huntress, black of fur and blue of wing and fierce and ambitious of nature contrasted with the gentle, and mute, Shadarii, lover of life and the dance. For centuries the Kashran have followed a simple way of life - a hunter/gatherer cycle, but that is all about to change. The forest is dying, food is getting scarce and Zhukora unwittingly awakens a spirit that will change their world forever.

One of the successes of this epic story is that you grow attached both the antagonist and protagonist. It is a tragic, and spiritual tale and I would whole-heartedly suggest that anyone who calls themselves a "Furry" should make an effort to read it. Seriously, I cannot understand how after four years in the fandom it has only recently been drawn to my attention. For non-furries, however, don't be fooled - this is not Redwall - it is a lot more grim, more sexual and much less formulaic.

It is also illustrated by Terrie Smith, with a black and white picture in almost every chapter (including several pictures of different tribes at the back) and a colour one on front and back covers. I, personally, am not a huge Terrie Smith fan and think some of the pictures are fairly basic, but I am aware she is very popular. Although, as someone pointed out in the Amazon reviews, her pictures are a little too cute and pin-up for the general atmosphere of the story and you can almost imagine the heaving bosoms. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 27, 2012 Jeremy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is another great book by Paul Kidd. The characters are very fleshed out and memorable, and evolve significantly as the story progresses. If you're familiar with his work then this should feel familiar, although it is a considerably sadder story than his usual fare. There were plenty of times through the story that I honestly didn't know who (if anyone) was going to make it to the end. A great book for fans of fantasy and/or anthropomorphic settings. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 27, 2008 Kathryn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, fiction

Yep, I read it. And I enjoyed it. Not a great book by any means; a fan-fiction-y story - though with a slightly better than fan-fiction level of writing - and WAY too many footnotes (come on Paul, that’s just lazy. Terry Pratchet only gets away with that because HIS footnotes are always funny), it was also pretty, and tragic, and fantastical, and pretty, and romantic, and sweet, and pretty. Did I mention that it was pretty? Terrie Smith’s illustrations were pretty too.

flag Like · see review

Jan 03, 2020 SignsOnTheWalls rated it liked it · review of another edition

Read this in middle school, I reread it every now and again. There's a love story, a war story, some lovable characters... idk, it's foxes with butterfly wings with a class and anti-imperialist narratives, so. ...more

flag Like · see review