Journeys to the Heartland

The Wolves of Time #1

by William Horwood

An age of heroes is dawning ...The time has come for the wolves of Europe to take back their ancient Heartland. For centuries is has been corrupted and poisoned by the Mennen and by the evil Magyar wolf-pack. Only by reclaiming it can the true gods be reborn and the natural order restored. All over Europe, wolves are beginning the quest in anser to a mystical summons. Together they become the Wolves of Time. Together they will herald a new age...

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Animals, Wolves, Animal Fiction, Nature, Novels

610 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

William Horwood is an English novelist. His first novel, Duncton Wood, an allegorical tale about a community of moles, was published in 1980. It was followed by two sequels, forming The Duncton Chronicles, and also a second trilogy, The Book of Silence. William Horwood has also written two stand-alone novels intertwining the lives of humans and of eagles, The Stonor Eagles and Callanish , and The Wolves of Time duology. Skallagrigg, his 1987 novel about disability, love, and trust, was made into a BBC film in 1994. In addition, he has written a number of sequels to The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

In 2007, he collaborated with historian Helen Rappaport to produce Dark Hearts of Chicago, a historical mystery and thriller set in nineteenth-century Chicago. It was republished in 2008 as City of Dark Hearts with some significant revisions and cuts under the pen name James Conan.

Reviews

[Annika Howells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book when I was a kid. I even recreated the landscape map in my school playground and started my own wolf pack.

[River · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very well written and you can definitely tell that there was a lot of passion behind the landscapes and routes that each of the characters takes. Never before have I read a book that spent this much time describing how the environment was and was interacted with. Usually that is a mild peeve of mine, over-explaining the scene, but in this case it never gets annoying. If you asked me to paint some of the locations that we visit in this brick of a book, I could make up a bunch.

However.
What the heck was with the humans? And that one in the middle of the book in particular? Why did we suddenly go balls to the walls (pun intended) with the super detailed information about something that really really didn't need to be that dark and detailed... And in general, the humans seemed like a detriment to the story. Once again, not enough of one to make the book unreadable but...

Enjoyed the journey, the characters were interesting and it gave me Watership Down vibes sometimes. Would I recommend it? Sure, but note that there are a bunch of very 'shocking' bits that would not be best for younger people or those uncomfortable with gore/mature subject matter.

[Cabo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This in a nutshell is a Lupine Epic.

If you come to this book expecting a short, fast plot and shallow writing you may as well back away from the pretty booksies now.

Journeys to the Heartland is something I wish more animal Point Of View novels were! It's an adult epic following the magic of wolves drawn together for a higher cause, the world building and characterization is truly masterful.

This book deserves a lot more recognition than it gets, 5 stars.

[Fuzzball Baggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

That one super-detailed peeing scene was weird but the rest of the book was awesome

[Marc · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the beginning, it was, in one word, boring. Once the wolves meet each other, the story starts going finally, but the word 'wolf' is overused when they address each other. And there are of course the (luckily, just a few) chapters where not the wolves but some Mann is central, and have, in my opinion, absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the story. Or at least they didn't add anything valuable.

There is also quite some violence, just a bit too much for my liking, but most importantly: at moments WAY too graphical and cruel.

Add to that the fact that no matter where in the book, I could have easily put it down and not ever reopen it. As the story progresses, you get a liking for some of the characters, but not enough to hold my interest, and too late in the story.

Overall, it just wasn't that great a story I hoped it would have been. Still, someday I might just read the second volume...

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say, an absolutely riveting story. The lore is some of the more creative and fascinating that I have read. I was very impressed with the rich history and compelling characters. Each character felt unique and very fascinating, while in the beginning it may be hard to keep track of each character, and their journeys can be quite slow, but half way through the book it picks right up and is very difficult to put down. Now, when I mention that the story can be slow, I don't mean boring. William Horwood's writing is so absolutely breathtakingly beautiful that one must slow down and really savour the lush descriptions and immerse oneself in the settings. I would describe reading this novel as an experience, it really feels like you are a part of the wolves journey. This is not a fast read but is certainly a gem and definitely among the best wolf/animal fiction available.

[Degenerate Chemist · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave this book all I could and I never got more than 200 pages into it. It has not aged well. There are some good ideas in this story but it is weighed down by info dumping and flat characterization. This novel and its style is very much a product of 90s epic fantasy tropes. So if you don't mind those, this book might go down a bit easier.

[Keegan Cantwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want my honest opinion...I HATED this book! Every chapter was stuffed with unnecessary information, and the characters were dull and not very wolf-like. It took me until about 100 pages through just to remember all their names and who was going where etc. The wolf characters are so mysterious and unpredictable that besides all the lore dumping and unnecessary lecturing, there is literally nothing about their personalities and what-not, which is what makes them so dull. Everything is plot driven, not character-driven, so that you have literally no idea what is about to happen next, or the REASON for it happening...it just happens, and that's just the way it is.

The journey aspect and religious themes of loyalty and perseverance were a nice touch, but those good aspects are drowned out by the erotic sexual themes and violence (it's not the good kind). Early on, I made the mistake of ignoring certain comments other wolves made or the narrator made towards a female wolf that was travelling with the group. Subtle sexual and, frankly, perverted ideas were injected wherever possible for no apparent reason, and as the book went on, all of it culminated in a very disturbing, twisted scene that only a corrupted mind could conjure up. Horrified, I put the book down. If you are looking for a pleasant, easygoing book about a fictional wolf pack, I would steer clear of this erotic fantasy.

[Lone Wolf · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Journeys to the Heartland' tells the tales of various lone wolves from disparate regions of Europe as they travel towards the mythical Heartland of their kind. Here, they come together to form the prophesied pack, the Wolves of Time, destined to restore their fallen gods and reclaim the world from Man.

The adventures of the different wolves as they journey to the Heartland are fairly engaging, but I found this book rather disappointing. The author has clearly only done cursory (if any) research on wolves, and much of their behaviour is inaccurate. As with his 'Duncton' series, there is a strong religious element that at times feels almost like a lecture. He also seems to be obsessed with sexual deviancy – in every book of his I’ve read, at least one character has been a sexual deviant of some kind, and this one is no different. Huntermann, the human antagonist of the wolves, is in an incestuous relationship with his daughter, and incest is also common among the lupine protagonists – if real wolves mated with their relatives even half as often as he suggests, they would be extinct by now due to the detrimental effects of inbreeding!

It’s not a dreadful read, and if you enjoyed the 'Duncton' books you will probably enjoy this, but those with knowledge of wolves will be irritated by the factual errors, and some may be put off by the violence and sexual themes.

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was riveted by this book. BUT I only gave it 4 stars in the end for 3 reasons:

It was too obviously part of a series and couldn't properly stand alone.

The ending was contrived and corny - I could hear Jarvis Cocker singing 'Happy Ending'! Hahahaha!

Why, oh why did he have to use the terms 'Mennen' and 'Mann' as - apparently - Wolvish language for 'people'? It interrupted my reading and at a couple of points almost drove me to abandon the book, it was so intrusive! As the whole book took place in English, I find it hard to understand (or perhaps I do not WANT to understand) why WH placed such emphasis on the Teutonic - and why was such terminology ascribed to Wolvish as well as the human characters all having Teutonic/Germanic identifiers?

How can one be so enthralled and yet so aggravated by the same book? Tut!

*annoyed and irritated of Port Albert*

[Bryn Hammond · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a Duncton junkie. This was awful.

[Heather Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it - loved the whole series!

[Casimir Laski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first novel of what was originally planned as a trilogy, Journeys to the Heartland features many of the hallmarks of Horwoord’s xenofiction works, chief among them an incredible ambition and a tendency for the author’s reach to exceed his grasp. The narrative follows a group of wolves from various subspecies across Europe, who journey to the center of the continent, the mythical homeland of the first of their kind, while being pursued by a tyrannical pack that has corrupted their traditions. Meanwhile, various conflicts between different human nations erupt in the background as the world appears poised to enter a post-humanity age.

Horwood manages to imbue the narrative with a sense of grandiose scope and scale, even if it does occasionally come off as cheesy, and while his prose can at times be slightly bloated and clunky, the rich worldbuilding and fairly strong, if somewhat cliched characterization make this an otherwise-worthwhile read sadly let down by its lackluster sequel. [7/10]

[Geoff Battle · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Horwood's work can be tough going at times, however his words bring a sadness and poignancy. The story follows a diverse set of wolves from across Europe, each grieving for loss of love, relations or times past. They hope to form a pack and regain lost territory: The Heartland. The story meanders somewhat, although pulls together at enough points throughout to ensure you keep reading. It feels at times padded, and if you can make it through those chapters, then you'll be content at a well wrapped up conclusion, and probably pick up the second book if you're out of first choice material.

[Jackie Wadsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel bad giving this just a three star rating because it's a very deep, good book.

I just couldn't be bothered with it. That is more of a failing within myself rather than anything wrong with the book. I have read long and complicated books (Dickens, Thackery, Mantel etc) and I enjoyed Horwood's Duncton Wood books but I just couldn't get enthusiastic about this. Normally when I've got ten minutes free I can't wait to read, but I just didn't want to with this. It's a shame because I think it's a real fantasy epic, but... not for me.

I've given three stars because I think it's probably very good but it just didn't grab me. And life is too short to read books you're not enjoying.

[WolfLover · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about the formation and adventures of the fabled Wolves of Time, whom destiny says are supposed to restore the godhood of the wolf deity, Wulf, who has been cursed to live mortal lives for one thousand years. The full story is split over two books, this one and its sequel, Seekers at the Wulfrock. It can get quite dark and disturbing in places (definitely not for children), and some of the wolf behaviour is not very realistic, but it is an interesting story nonetheless.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this just got better and better as it went on.
There is cruelty, mostly the actions humans regularly take and seem to think are OK. Cos humans are more important than all other life. Yeh, right. Only humans think that, of course.
How thick we must be as a species, to destroy the only home we have. Mr Horwood is big on the environment, and it's a feature of this book, too.
As the Manics said, 'Man kills everything'.

[Mazil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, though the narration is heavy-handed, as is the foreshadowing and “spiritual” style. I’d recommend reading Duncton Wood and sequels first. If you enjoy those, this is a worthy and wolfy successor.

[Steff Wallner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolut genial geschrieben; eins der BESTEN Bücher

[caroline Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, it was very difficult to put it down once I started reading it

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book quite a few times now, and never get bored of it. Definately one of my favourites

[MH · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story lessened by factual errors and religious preaching.
Contains sex and violence – so not a book for kids.

[N.D. Wisard · Rating 1 out of 5]

TBH I don't remember reading this other than not enjoying it very much. Maybe I'll reread it and see if it grows on me.

[Miles Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book, even though it was one I was incredibly excited to read. At first, I thought perhaps my problems with it were simply a product of the time it was written in (as was the case with Duncton Wood, written by the same author 15 years earlier.) however, no matter how hard I tried to overlook the flaws, I simply couldn't.

I tried again and again to finish it, but never made it past halfway.

This book is incredibly, and painfully sexist. The book establishes this right off the bat with quotes such as "none of you are fit to be leaders! A cripple, a weakling, and a female!"

Of 6 main characters, the one female wolf's motivation boils down to her want to fall in love and have children, 'as any female wolf would'. Where the males have politics and hierarchies and a role to play in the prophecies of the gods of old, her conflict, as told in the very blurb of the book, hinges on a love triangle.

This is not limited to the main characters, either. The good mothers in this book are all dead, and surviving females are adulterous and sly, who have wormed their way into leadership by being physically attractive.

Whilst the main male characters can be quite enjoyable to read in their fascinating setting of a wolf-populated Europe, the pacing grinds to a halt when Horwood tries his utmost hardest to write his best impression of the female mind, rather than a good character.

I'm still keeping the hardback though, it's very pretty.

[Clodagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing my obsession with all things wolvish. This is a fantasy type book that I picked up in the library in Callan. Some of what the author writes about wolves would follow on from the factual "Wolf Totem" for example that they are extremely clever, assimilate to their surroundings and the hierarchy of the pack. It's set in the present time and wolves are almost extinct, but something is guiding individual wolves from all over europe to some sacred place, they don't know why, they just know they have to get to The Heartland.
The book is a critique of human "civilisation" and our destruction of the planet. I found myself punching the air when Klimt savages a Mann (as the wolves call us). Yeah, you show that f*cking hunt scum.
Written in very dramatic, emotional language.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I SO BADLY wanted to like this book. In my quest to read all animal-point-of-view adult fiction, I'd been eyeing this one since I was fourteen. Finally I got a copy for a buck online, and the whole time I thought "people call my writing long-winded and unreadable, and yet this made it to the shelves." I hate to be so vitriolic about an animal fiction writer, but I only made it through because of my childhood resolve. In the author's defense, he set up a great premise (gods being banished to 100 years of mortality and now on the cusp of reckoning). But then it went nowhere.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book is amazing.
It took me a bit to get into, especially since it's a bit older and the writing style reflects that, but the plot is very intriguing, the world building is masterful, and the characters are unspeakably well-written. This book really makes you feel something; it's bigger than just the story, with real themes and real meaning that go beyond the book itself. Honestly I don't really have the words to describe it; it's just a masterpiece.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely remember preferring this book to Dunction Wood, because Wolves. It is an epic saga though, and it took me a long time to even find my own copy of this book. As such, I haven't read it since it was available at the Orange library, but I'd love to read it again. Must add it to my read again list! It was definitely worth five stars, but my memory is hazy on the details.

[Saar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geweldig boek! Ik ben altijd gek geweest op fantasy, maar dit eerste boek van de cyclus heeft mij werkelijk verrast. Heel origineel, met alle nodige ingrediënten voor een goede fantasy maar vanuit een geweldig interessante hoek.
Om even bij stil te staan wat wij mensen andere soorten soms aandoen en om voor een keer de mens als 'the bad guy' te zien i.p.v. de held die de dag redt!