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Wolves of the Beyond #2
Shadow Wolf
The second installment in bestselling author Kathryn Lasky's staggering WOLVES OF THE BEYOND series, a spinoff of the legendary Guardians of Ga'Hoole books.
The wolf pup Faolan was born with a twisted paw, a slight defect that caused his wolf clan to abandon him in the forest to die. But Faolan, with the help of the grizzly bear who raised him as her own, survived.
Now he's made it back to his clan as a gnaw wolf, the lowest ranking pack member. And the hardships are just beginning. Another gnaw wolf, Heep, is jealous of Faolan and sets him up for failure. As if these humiliations are not enough, Faolon is framed for the murder of a wolf pup. Faolan must catch the culprit in time and prove he deserves to be a full member of the clan.
The wolf pup Faolan was born with a twisted paw, a slight defect that caused his wolf clan to abandon him in the forest to die. But Faolan, with the help of the grizzly bear who raised him as her own, survived.
Now he's made it back to his clan as a gnaw wolf, the lowest ranking pack member. And the hardships are just beginning. Another gnaw wolf, Heep, is jealous of Faolan and sets him up for failure. As if these humiliations are not enough, Faolon is framed for the murder of a wolf pup. Faolan must catch the culprit in time and prove he deserves to be a full member of the clan.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2010
287 people are currently reading
3192 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Lasky
266 books2,257 followersKathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
May 4, 2012
Kathryn Lasky, in the forward wrote: "I have always thought that writing is not a solitary performance, but a collaborative - one between an author and the past-what she has read, listened to, and absorbed. The shoulders of giants are not just reserved for scientists as Newton suggested, but writers and artists perch there as well. If I have overlooked in my acknowledgments any giants, I apologize." She might be standing on the shoulders of giants but I am sure generations to come will consider her a giant that they stand upon. This second book in the Wolves of the Beyond series is incredible. I literally could not put it down. I have been alternately reading this series and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole books at the same time. Both are amazing series set in the same world. According to Lasky there will not likely be more books in the Hoolian series, but there is a fourth announced for the Wolves and hopefully we will get many more tales of the Wolves to read.
This book continues the story of Faolan. He has joined one of the packs as a Gnaw wolf. Faolan has a great heart and the other wolves know there is something special and different about him. Some respect and appreciate that. Most are superstitious and fear him to some extent. Faolan, not being raised in the pack, also seems to keep making mistakes. But now Faolan has an opportunity, for the Watch Wolves need a new member and a competition is underway, a gaddergnaw, to determine the best known wolves from the clan. But Faolan has an enemy and one who is determined to destroy him.
...
Read the rest of the review and with links to other reviews of books by the authors on my blog Book Reviews and More. And also an author profile and interview with Kathryn Lasky.
This book continues the story of Faolan. He has joined one of the packs as a Gnaw wolf. Faolan has a great heart and the other wolves know there is something special and different about him. Some respect and appreciate that. Most are superstitious and fear him to some extent. Faolan, not being raised in the pack, also seems to keep making mistakes. But now Faolan has an opportunity, for the Watch Wolves need a new member and a competition is underway, a gaddergnaw, to determine the best known wolves from the clan. But Faolan has an enemy and one who is determined to destroy him.
...
Read the rest of the review and with links to other reviews of books by the authors on my blog Book Reviews and More. And also an author profile and interview with Kathryn Lasky.
August 31, 2021
The young wolf, Faolan, having previously been abandoned to die due to the malformity of having a spiral marking on his paw, has now returned to his pack and is being given the opportunity to become a "gnaw wolf." To do so he must prove himself worthy. However the current gnaw wolf, Heep, a despicable wolf modeled after Uriah Heep of David Copperfield fame, has other ideas for Faolan. Heep, like the Dickens character, is a sycophant who displays insufferable humility until backs are turned and the knives come out. Faolan, on the other hand, is naively trusting of Heep. In the end, their true characters are discovered by the pack.
June 1, 2015
The book Shadow Wolf by Kathryn Lansky is about a wolf Faolan who was born. With a twisted paw and is rejected from the pack. Continuing from the first book Faolan has to try and fit into his new pack ands a low ranking gnaw wolf. As he encounters many obstacles along his way in the pack he finds solutions and ways to make life as a gnaw wolf easier.
Overall I thought this was a great book just like the first one. I would recommend this book and series to people of all ages and people who are into reading fantasy and just getting away from reality.
One thing I didn't like about the book was just how they treated the wolfs of lower rank, but it is just one of those things that feed to a better outcome and gives the characters more thrive to succeed in the pack. Overall a great book though and recommend that all people go out and read this amazing novel.
Overall I thought this was a great book just like the first one. I would recommend this book and series to people of all ages and people who are into reading fantasy and just getting away from reality.
One thing I didn't like about the book was just how they treated the wolfs of lower rank, but it is just one of those things that feed to a better outcome and gives the characters more thrive to succeed in the pack. Overall a great book though and recommend that all people go out and read this amazing novel.
February 7, 2017
Everything that is wrong with this series is perfectly encapsulated into one volume here, in Shadow Wolf. While I enjoyed the first book, Lone Wolf, for its entertaining narration and the adorable relationship between Faolan, an abandoned wolf pup, and Thunderheart, a grizzly bear who adopts Faolan as her own, it became apparent by the end that Faolan was going to fall victim to Kathryn Lasky's habit of making her protagonists insufferable Mary-sues. It happened with Coryn in Guardians of Ga'Hoole, and you can bet that Lasky has not learned her lesson since then.
I explained what I Mary-Sue is in my Fell review, but I know people don't want to go searching for a random review of a book they never heard about, so allow me to explain once more.
A Mary-Sue is a perfect and ideal character, excelling in nearly everything they try and being adored by everyone except the villians. There are several different types of Mary-Sue, some being self-inserts for the authors to serve as wish fulfillment, some able to get away with acting like complete brats but still loved by any and all characters around them, but Faolan, seems to be every single type rolled into one. The only members of the cast who hate him are evil, he can speak several different languages without explanation, he perfects any new skill he tries for the first time, and his disability, a splayed paw, does not hold him back at all. In fact, it even helps him in some cases! Faolan, simply put, is the worst Mary-Sue I have ever encountered in published fiction, no contest.
So what is this novel actually about? I don't remember much, as my brain made it a task to remove most of my memories of this series to make room for things worthwhile, but from my vague recollections, the basic plot is about some kind of "olympic games", the wolf society holds for disabled wolves in the lowest ranks of the pack as a chance to ascend. Faolan has a good chance of winning, but his dreams are squandered when hes framed for the murder of a wolf pup.
One of the few things I do remember of this novel is being bored out of my skull. Aside from Mary-sue overlord Faolan, all the other characters are as interesting as wet cardboard. The antagonist, Heep, (you can tell hes the antagonist because he doesn't like Faolan. That obviously means hes evil!) doesn't fare much better, as he constantly flip-flops from hostile to submissive, and never shuts up about being humble! It gets so annoying I wanted to throw the book out the window!
If you've read any book ever, you'll see the ending coming a mile away. The moment circumstantial evidence starts stacking up against Heep, he panics and runs off, proving his own guilt then and there, even though if he had just kept his cool the biased, stubborn and tradition-loving leaders most likely still would have declared Faolan guilty. Good job, you idiot!
So Faolan goes on to win the games because he succeeds at literally everything he does, and I proceeded to vomit from the amount of bullshit this novel was trying to spoon feed me.
There is nothing else to complain about that I didn't already complain about. Faolan is unrealistically perfect and cannot be related to, and its very frustrating when no one calls him out on his rare mistakes and just jumps on the "Faolan is great" bandwagon when he hasn't done anything to win them over. Just don't waste your time with this series and stick with good old Guardians of Ga'Hoole. Except for the ones with Coryn in them. Because he's just as bad as dumb Faolan here.
I explained what I Mary-Sue is in my Fell review, but I know people don't want to go searching for a random review of a book they never heard about, so allow me to explain once more.
A Mary-Sue is a perfect and ideal character, excelling in nearly everything they try and being adored by everyone except the villians. There are several different types of Mary-Sue, some being self-inserts for the authors to serve as wish fulfillment, some able to get away with acting like complete brats but still loved by any and all characters around them, but Faolan, seems to be every single type rolled into one. The only members of the cast who hate him are evil, he can speak several different languages without explanation, he perfects any new skill he tries for the first time, and his disability, a splayed paw, does not hold him back at all. In fact, it even helps him in some cases! Faolan, simply put, is the worst Mary-Sue I have ever encountered in published fiction, no contest.
So what is this novel actually about? I don't remember much, as my brain made it a task to remove most of my memories of this series to make room for things worthwhile, but from my vague recollections, the basic plot is about some kind of "olympic games", the wolf society holds for disabled wolves in the lowest ranks of the pack as a chance to ascend. Faolan has a good chance of winning, but his dreams are squandered when hes framed for the murder of a wolf pup.
One of the few things I do remember of this novel is being bored out of my skull. Aside from Mary-sue overlord Faolan, all the other characters are as interesting as wet cardboard. The antagonist, Heep, (you can tell hes the antagonist because he doesn't like Faolan. That obviously means hes evil!) doesn't fare much better, as he constantly flip-flops from hostile to submissive, and never shuts up about being humble! It gets so annoying I wanted to throw the book out the window!
If you've read any book ever, you'll see the ending coming a mile away. The moment circumstantial evidence starts stacking up against Heep, he panics and runs off, proving his own guilt then and there, even though if he had just kept his cool the biased, stubborn and tradition-loving leaders most likely still would have declared Faolan guilty. Good job, you idiot!
So Faolan goes on to win the games because he succeeds at literally everything he does, and I proceeded to vomit from the amount of bullshit this novel was trying to spoon feed me.
There is nothing else to complain about that I didn't already complain about. Faolan is unrealistically perfect and cannot be related to, and its very frustrating when no one calls him out on his rare mistakes and just jumps on the "Faolan is great" bandwagon when he hasn't done anything to win them over. Just don't waste your time with this series and stick with good old Guardians of Ga'Hoole. Except for the ones with Coryn in them. Because he's just as bad as dumb Faolan here.
May 4, 2023
3.5
Wow, what a huge comeback from book one. I'm glad I decided to press on.
I didn't like all the constant recap. It seems like every few pages was just a reminder of what happened in the book I just read before this one, or that was just covered. Reminders of everything that happened, the situation he was in, the lineage of certain wolves, etc.
The parts with Gwynneth and Faolan seemed kind of pointless. Why would she tell him any of that or share that information with him? Hey, I know you were struggling with this, but I just wanted to let you know something about it that will make things much worse for no reason. It kind of ties in at the end, but all that could have been taken out and just implied. The book could have been a little shorter with a little less filler that way.
I thought the song he sings for the little golden pup on page 87/88 was beautiful and well thought out. I really liked how that scene was written overall.
This one had a lot more story and explanation to it. It had a crazy plot twist, character development, and an exciting event she really made me look forward to. At the end of this one, I am ready to move on with the series rather than wondering if I should DNF it like I did at the end of the first one.
Wow, what a huge comeback from book one. I'm glad I decided to press on.
I didn't like all the constant recap. It seems like every few pages was just a reminder of what happened in the book I just read before this one, or that was just covered. Reminders of everything that happened, the situation he was in, the lineage of certain wolves, etc.
The parts with Gwynneth and Faolan seemed kind of pointless. Why would she tell him any of that or share that information with him? Hey, I know you were struggling with this, but I just wanted to let you know something about it that will make things much worse for no reason. It kind of ties in at the end, but all that could have been taken out and just implied. The book could have been a little shorter with a little less filler that way.
I thought the song he sings for the little golden pup on page 87/88 was beautiful and well thought out. I really liked how that scene was written overall.
This one had a lot more story and explanation to it. It had a crazy plot twist, character development, and an exciting event she really made me look forward to. At the end of this one, I am ready to move on with the series rather than wondering if I should DNF it like I did at the end of the first one.
September 6, 2018
The book I chose to read for my summative is Wolves of the Beyond: Shadow Wolf. The genre of this book is Fiction, since there aretalking wolves in the story. The story takes place in the forest, becausewolves’ habitat is the forest. It takes place in the past, when there were not
many humans, just forests and trees.
The theme words “Being Yourself” and “Never Give Up” stood out to me in this book while I was reading. Foalan is a young wolf who was given birth with an injured paw, who wasn’t trustworthy enough to be in the pack. He wanted to be one of them, and never gave up. The message is to be yourself, but never give up easily. He is a gnaw wolf, the lowest ranking wolf in the pack. The pack as the right to do anything to him, since is a low ranked character. Heep, a model wolf, could not consider Foalan as a wolf pack member, because Foalan has no knowledge about not idea of what is going on, or in other words, doesn’t observe the area that much.
Foalan is the main character in the book. The minor characters are Edme, The Sark of the Slough, Morag, Mhairie, Caila, Dearlea, The Whistler, Heep, Duncan MacDuncun, Brangwen, \ Snowdon, Tearlach, Brecco, Liam MacDuncun, Winks, Brecco, Kinnaird, Creakle, Gwynneth, Finbar, Lael, Cathmor, Leitha, The Little Pup, Tamsen, Greer, Dunbar MacHeath, and Bryan. Heep, a model dire wolf, was once a senior gnaw wolf, the pack knows him as the “alpha”. The Little Pup shows up in the plot, when he gets murdered. The Whistler was part of the byyrrgis that was chasing Foalan, because of Heep in the plot. Edme, a dire wolf, that has only one eye, because it worn torn out when she was a pup by Dunbar MacHeath. She is also one of the survivors that survived the earthquake. The Sark of the Slough is a lone female dire wolf. She said she has witch like powers because “Sark” means “Witch” in Old Wolf. Sark lived in the Slough part of the Beyond, and that’s where she got her full name. Dunbar MacHeath is the cruel leader of the abusive MacHeath Clan. He was the one who killed the young she-wolf, Edme, and also tore out her eye before her death. His clan was also the one who abused Foalan. Gwynneth, is a masked owl that had witnessed the Little Pup’s death, but she only heard it. Some characters in the story only had some lines and the other didn’t describe their personality, or didn’t give any hints.
In the beginning, Foalan wakes up from a dream that sent shivers down his spine.
He was dreaming of memories that he had, and it has to do with how he broke this paw. The next day, Foalan was meeting up with the pack, and questioning some members of how he could be a great member. But, from the looks of the pack, he was nothing compared to them. No matter how he tried, he would just go the other way around. Then, the pack started chasing after a moose, but Foalan out ran them, and the moose got away. The lowest ranking member shouldn’t run farther then his masters. Soon, that lead to the Dunbar MacHeath’s clan abusing him. The most interesting thing that happened in the beginning was when the clan was planning to punish Foalan due to the moose, but someone suggested to bite him, and I didn’t know it would go that far.
In the plot, Foalan witnessed a wolf grabbing a little pup by the teeth in the forest, and went back to the pack area to tell them the story. But what he didn’t know was that an owl, Gwynneth, was listening from afar, and flew back faster than Foalan ran. Since the owl heard, but didn’t see the death scene, she couldn’t
tell who was the murderer, so she made up theories that it might be Foalan. Heep, was the real murderer, and he decided to frame Foalan about the death. The pack started looking for droppings and left overs of the pup in the forest, but strangely, the pup smelled like Foalan. Foalan started to chase the real murderer, but he has to be careful, since his own pack his chasing after him.
Foalan started to search throughout the forest, and gathered the bones he had found on his way. He thought, What animal would have done this? How could an animal be angry at its prey? However, on the other side, Gwynneth is also looking for the bones and showing them to Sark. Soon, rumors about Foalan, were spreading around the pack. Some heard that he carved a constellation from the perspective of his second milk giver, Thunderheart the grizzly bear.
The conclusion was the pack started to believe Foalan was not the one who murdered the pup, and also started suspecting Heep, because he started stuttering in his sentences. At last, they accepted Foalan has an official pack member, and kicked Heep out.
The big ideas about this book is to always be yourself and not wanting to be other people and pretending. You must try hard to achieve your goal or dream. Foalan worked hard for the pack, but the pack didn’t pay attention to him, but he still tried to be at the top instead of the bottom. I think that’s what everyone should do if they had a goal to achieve. In that way, they will become the person they will want to be in the future. This book can change your mind right away when you want to give up.
I think this is a good book, I would give it 6 out of 10, but this is not the type of my style of genre. It was not interesting at first, but it got me when it was in about the 100th page. I recommend this book to the readers who has low self-esteem and confidence.
many humans, just forests and trees.
The theme words “Being Yourself” and “Never Give Up” stood out to me in this book while I was reading. Foalan is a young wolf who was given birth with an injured paw, who wasn’t trustworthy enough to be in the pack. He wanted to be one of them, and never gave up. The message is to be yourself, but never give up easily. He is a gnaw wolf, the lowest ranking wolf in the pack. The pack as the right to do anything to him, since is a low ranked character. Heep, a model wolf, could not consider Foalan as a wolf pack member, because Foalan has no knowledge about not idea of what is going on, or in other words, doesn’t observe the area that much.
Foalan is the main character in the book. The minor characters are Edme, The Sark of the Slough, Morag, Mhairie, Caila, Dearlea, The Whistler, Heep, Duncan MacDuncun, Brangwen, \ Snowdon, Tearlach, Brecco, Liam MacDuncun, Winks, Brecco, Kinnaird, Creakle, Gwynneth, Finbar, Lael, Cathmor, Leitha, The Little Pup, Tamsen, Greer, Dunbar MacHeath, and Bryan. Heep, a model dire wolf, was once a senior gnaw wolf, the pack knows him as the “alpha”. The Little Pup shows up in the plot, when he gets murdered. The Whistler was part of the byyrrgis that was chasing Foalan, because of Heep in the plot. Edme, a dire wolf, that has only one eye, because it worn torn out when she was a pup by Dunbar MacHeath. She is also one of the survivors that survived the earthquake. The Sark of the Slough is a lone female dire wolf. She said she has witch like powers because “Sark” means “Witch” in Old Wolf. Sark lived in the Slough part of the Beyond, and that’s where she got her full name. Dunbar MacHeath is the cruel leader of the abusive MacHeath Clan. He was the one who killed the young she-wolf, Edme, and also tore out her eye before her death. His clan was also the one who abused Foalan. Gwynneth, is a masked owl that had witnessed the Little Pup’s death, but she only heard it. Some characters in the story only had some lines and the other didn’t describe their personality, or didn’t give any hints.
In the beginning, Foalan wakes up from a dream that sent shivers down his spine.
He was dreaming of memories that he had, and it has to do with how he broke this paw. The next day, Foalan was meeting up with the pack, and questioning some members of how he could be a great member. But, from the looks of the pack, he was nothing compared to them. No matter how he tried, he would just go the other way around. Then, the pack started chasing after a moose, but Foalan out ran them, and the moose got away. The lowest ranking member shouldn’t run farther then his masters. Soon, that lead to the Dunbar MacHeath’s clan abusing him. The most interesting thing that happened in the beginning was when the clan was planning to punish Foalan due to the moose, but someone suggested to bite him, and I didn’t know it would go that far.
In the plot, Foalan witnessed a wolf grabbing a little pup by the teeth in the forest, and went back to the pack area to tell them the story. But what he didn’t know was that an owl, Gwynneth, was listening from afar, and flew back faster than Foalan ran. Since the owl heard, but didn’t see the death scene, she couldn’t
tell who was the murderer, so she made up theories that it might be Foalan. Heep, was the real murderer, and he decided to frame Foalan about the death. The pack started looking for droppings and left overs of the pup in the forest, but strangely, the pup smelled like Foalan. Foalan started to chase the real murderer, but he has to be careful, since his own pack his chasing after him.
Foalan started to search throughout the forest, and gathered the bones he had found on his way. He thought, What animal would have done this? How could an animal be angry at its prey? However, on the other side, Gwynneth is also looking for the bones and showing them to Sark. Soon, rumors about Foalan, were spreading around the pack. Some heard that he carved a constellation from the perspective of his second milk giver, Thunderheart the grizzly bear.
The conclusion was the pack started to believe Foalan was not the one who murdered the pup, and also started suspecting Heep, because he started stuttering in his sentences. At last, they accepted Foalan has an official pack member, and kicked Heep out.
The big ideas about this book is to always be yourself and not wanting to be other people and pretending. You must try hard to achieve your goal or dream. Foalan worked hard for the pack, but the pack didn’t pay attention to him, but he still tried to be at the top instead of the bottom. I think that’s what everyone should do if they had a goal to achieve. In that way, they will become the person they will want to be in the future. This book can change your mind right away when you want to give up.
I think this is a good book, I would give it 6 out of 10, but this is not the type of my style of genre. It was not interesting at first, but it got me when it was in about the 100th page. I recommend this book to the readers who has low self-esteem and confidence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2018
I liked this more and less than the last one.
More because there was some actual plot and an antagonist, less because Faolan spiraled into not only being spechul, but being a spechul cliche. Also it was pretty obvious who the murderer was.
I bet money he's a reincarnation or something.
More because there was some actual plot and an antagonist, less because Faolan spiraled into not only being spechul, but being a spechul cliche. Also it was pretty obvious who the murderer was.
I bet money he's a reincarnation or something.
August 19, 2020
I can’t give a better review than my ten year old son’s. After he read the book, he came to me, hugging it in his arms tightly and said earnestly, “I just finished this book and I already MISS it!” I told him he should write a review. Here it is, word for word - see pic for proof! —> “This book has to be the best book I’ve ever read. The mystery, curiosity, and excitement you get from it is extraordinary. I give it 5 hearts. I think everyone should get to read this book and I hope they enjoy it as much as I do.”
November 5, 2020
This book is probably my favorite book so far but if you saw that this book is a spoiler it isn't really a spoiler. But you have to get to like the last picture to see the part where Faolan is being hunted and he isn't really even getting hunted it is Heep who gets hunted but they can't find him and he now lives in the outermost but this is my favorite book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2020
Excellent book. I love all of the characters and the clans. the actions of Faolan in this book surprised me a bit. as always the characters are great. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes animals.
dnf
June 13, 2023i can't do this y'all. it's getting on my nerves and i don't really want to read it anyway. idk why but so far i just don't like the wolves of the beyond series. i really didn't like the first book and that feeling is continuing with this book.
dnf at 4%
dnf at 4%
February 18, 2018
I liked this one much better. Stuff actually happened and there was a logical storyline to follow. It has redeemed the series a little bit.
November 4, 2018
(My 12 year old son's rating.)
May 10, 2024
Good story.
March 1, 2018
This is the second book in the series and it just as good as the first novel as we learn more about the character of the main wolf named Faolan. The major theme of this book is hidden secrets. The author presents the idea that secrets will not remain hidden and will reveal themselves eventually. Faolan is betrayed by the other gnaw wolf in the pack who is jealous and wants to get rid of him. He accused Faolan of murdering a pup and Faolan has to work to prove his innocence. As this happens, he learns more about the pack structure and the secrets that cause them to judge others unfairly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2020
Inspiring! This story is filled with empathy, passion, wisdom and compassion! LOVE THIS!
May 26, 2012
Dans l'ombre de la meute est dans la continuité directe du premier tome de la nouvelle saga pour les 9-12 ans de Kathryn Lasky, Le royaume des loups. On y suit les aventures d'un jeune loup abandonné à la naissance à cause d'une malformation, et élevé par une ours. Dans ce second opus, Faolan a rejoint la meute, mais qu'il est difficile de s'intégrer, et de prouver que l'on vaut parfois mieux que ce que les autres peuvent attendre de nous !
Encore une fois, cette histoire manque de profondeur. Faolan a beau être attachant, le fait qu'il soit victime la plupart du temps n'aide pas à en faire un héros dont on apprécie de suivre les aventures. D'autant plus que lesdites aventures n'ont pas spécialement l'air d'aller dans une direction précise. Alors certes, on en apprend plus sur les mœurs de ces loups, même si l'on est en droit de se demander où s'arrête la fiction, mais est-ce que cela suffit à préserver l'intérêt sur la durée ?
Très honnêtement, à 9 ans, ça fait encore illusion, mais je ne suis vraiment pas sûre que ce soit le cas à 12 ! La destinée de ce pauvre loup est à peine évoquée dans ce deuxième tome, et c'est bien dommage puisqu'il semble en avoir une, pourquoi ne pas la développer plus avant ? Faolan grandit, il apprend et évolue au fil de ses aventures et de ses rencontres, c'est bien joli, mais encore ? On est en droit de se demander où tout cela nous mène.
Plein de tendresse et d'émotion, certes, mais sans réelle surprise ni suspens. On voit la conclusion se profiler à pas de géants, même à 9 ans ! Avec les Gardiens de Ga'Hoole, Kathryn Lasky nous avait habitués à bien mieux...
Encore une fois, cette histoire manque de profondeur. Faolan a beau être attachant, le fait qu'il soit victime la plupart du temps n'aide pas à en faire un héros dont on apprécie de suivre les aventures. D'autant plus que lesdites aventures n'ont pas spécialement l'air d'aller dans une direction précise. Alors certes, on en apprend plus sur les mœurs de ces loups, même si l'on est en droit de se demander où s'arrête la fiction, mais est-ce que cela suffit à préserver l'intérêt sur la durée ?
Très honnêtement, à 9 ans, ça fait encore illusion, mais je ne suis vraiment pas sûre que ce soit le cas à 12 ! La destinée de ce pauvre loup est à peine évoquée dans ce deuxième tome, et c'est bien dommage puisqu'il semble en avoir une, pourquoi ne pas la développer plus avant ? Faolan grandit, il apprend et évolue au fil de ses aventures et de ses rencontres, c'est bien joli, mais encore ? On est en droit de se demander où tout cela nous mène.
Plein de tendresse et d'émotion, certes, mais sans réelle surprise ni suspens. On voit la conclusion se profiler à pas de géants, même à 9 ans ! Avec les Gardiens de Ga'Hoole, Kathryn Lasky nous avait habitués à bien mieux...
February 11, 2011
if you loved the Guardians series, you will love this one as well...
Once again, Kathryn Lasky steps into the world originally carried on the wings of owls, now it is in the pawsteps of wolves as the life of Faolin, born into the MacDuncan clan as a Malcadh, or deformed pup, and taken to a place to die, he had been found by the Grizzly sow that Faolin had called Thunderheart, who raised him and taught him as she would have a grizzly cub, the result being a wolf that is far stronger and faster than any other...
However, now that Faolin is back with the MacDuncan clan as a gnaw wolf, he is finding it difficult to mesh into the social niche his status gives him...
When he had, out of ignorance, disrupted the sacred proceedings of a pack hunt, he is taken before the Council of wolves and given appropriate punishment, yet he also learned of a unique opportunity for him to break out of the stygma of being a gnaw wolf, a chance to become a member of the Sacred Watch that is charged with guarding the ring of volcanoes containing the Ember of Hoole. His journey to that point was far from easy however, as he faced the malicious attentions of a jealous fellow gnaw wolf, and being framed for the viscious murder of a Malcadh pup that was waiting to die. After he cleared his name, he also succeeded in another task... he was now a member of the watch. Yet his trouble was far from over, as Faolin must race as fast as he could to rescue the bones of his beloved Second Milk-Giver Thunderheart from the one who had framed him....
Once again, Kathryn Lasky steps into the world originally carried on the wings of owls, now it is in the pawsteps of wolves as the life of Faolin, born into the MacDuncan clan as a Malcadh, or deformed pup, and taken to a place to die, he had been found by the Grizzly sow that Faolin had called Thunderheart, who raised him and taught him as she would have a grizzly cub, the result being a wolf that is far stronger and faster than any other...
However, now that Faolin is back with the MacDuncan clan as a gnaw wolf, he is finding it difficult to mesh into the social niche his status gives him...
When he had, out of ignorance, disrupted the sacred proceedings of a pack hunt, he is taken before the Council of wolves and given appropriate punishment, yet he also learned of a unique opportunity for him to break out of the stygma of being a gnaw wolf, a chance to become a member of the Sacred Watch that is charged with guarding the ring of volcanoes containing the Ember of Hoole. His journey to that point was far from easy however, as he faced the malicious attentions of a jealous fellow gnaw wolf, and being framed for the viscious murder of a Malcadh pup that was waiting to die. After he cleared his name, he also succeeded in another task... he was now a member of the watch. Yet his trouble was far from over, as Faolin must race as fast as he could to rescue the bones of his beloved Second Milk-Giver Thunderheart from the one who had framed him....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2012
SAME REVIEW AS BOOK ONE AND BOOK THREE OF THE SERIES:
The Wolves of the Beyond trilogy is a spin-off by the author of the Guardians of the Ga'Hoole -- the YA series, and also a motion picture, about owls of the Beyond. Shadow Wolf is Book Two of this newer series: Wolves of the Beyond.
Although written for a young adult audience, I still enjoyed most of it (although my vast knowledge of wolves kept pointing out the wrongs and rights about the book). I found the series interesting tales as long as you don't seek to learn about the true behaviors of wolves. The information is there, but very brief and quite lacking. Understood for a YA book, but still a disappointment for a wolf-adorist such as myself. Or for young people trying to learn more about real wolves through stories rather than through more difficult adult books. However, I do, will and have read everything about wolves (no matter the age range) that I have been able to find since I was a youngester myself, and I borrowed this series from my 11 year old neice who has fallen into her aunt's (ME!!)pawprints of adoring wolves.
Overall, a cute and very easy to read story with large print and just over 200 pages, including artwork. Just read the book for entertainment and not to learn about, or teach your children about, the true ways of wolves.
The Wolves of the Beyond trilogy is a spin-off by the author of the Guardians of the Ga'Hoole -- the YA series, and also a motion picture, about owls of the Beyond. Shadow Wolf is Book Two of this newer series: Wolves of the Beyond.
Although written for a young adult audience, I still enjoyed most of it (although my vast knowledge of wolves kept pointing out the wrongs and rights about the book). I found the series interesting tales as long as you don't seek to learn about the true behaviors of wolves. The information is there, but very brief and quite lacking. Understood for a YA book, but still a disappointment for a wolf-adorist such as myself. Or for young people trying to learn more about real wolves through stories rather than through more difficult adult books. However, I do, will and have read everything about wolves (no matter the age range) that I have been able to find since I was a youngester myself, and I borrowed this series from my 11 year old neice who has fallen into her aunt's (ME!!)pawprints of adoring wolves.
Overall, a cute and very easy to read story with large print and just over 200 pages, including artwork. Just read the book for entertainment and not to learn about, or teach your children about, the true ways of wolves.
May 6, 2022
I am no longer going to read any more of Kathryns' books.
Edit 2/25/2020:
If I remember correctly, it just got very boring and predictable. You have to really love wolves and I think I much preferred the owl series. Then I got tired of that series. There are only so many ways to describe the battles and issues. I feel like her writing is repetitive and dull now. I guess I grew out of her books.
Edit 2/25/2020:
If I remember correctly, it just got very boring and predictable. You have to really love wolves and I think I much preferred the owl series. Then I got tired of that series. There are only so many ways to describe the battles and issues. I feel like her writing is repetitive and dull now. I guess I grew out of her books.
July 22, 2022
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous one. There was a lot of special wolf jargon that I didn't really care for but it's understandable why it's there and the amount of explanation needed. Faolan's eerie acceptance of the norms of the wolves social code felt off-putting. Hopefully this changes in the next book. It's still an enjoyable read just not as memorable and definitely more dark. The introduction of new characters was refreshing.
May 15, 2025
The tension is good, and we get to see the culture of the wild clans, and they are cruel and hypocritical.
Wolves with birth defects are to be left to die, but it is the worst crime a wolf can commit to kill these pups and put them out of their misery instead of allowing the elements to claim them slowly.
They're so cruel to these wolves with varying levels of disability, needlessly. They're bitten, thrown, throttled and abused.
Interested to see how this is hopefully challenged.
Wolves with birth defects are to be left to die, but it is the worst crime a wolf can commit to kill these pups and put them out of their misery instead of allowing the elements to claim them slowly.
They're so cruel to these wolves with varying levels of disability, needlessly. They're bitten, thrown, throttled and abused.
Interested to see how this is hopefully challenged.
February 22, 2022
Realy Good Book! I can almost imagine I am there with all of them!
August 9, 2022
As Faolan is making his way in the world despite of his differences, one realizes that you should not give up. Kathryn Lasky paints a picture with her world and inspires her readers to be like Faolan and to take another look their differences because that's what makes them special.
November 16, 2013
This book isn't realy good
August 4, 2022
I was shivering while rading it, 100% exciting!! xD
September 12, 2023
Its awesome
Book
Book
October 25, 2024
I love this book, I love Katherine Lasky's worldbuilding, however...
The treatment of disability in the series- this book in particular, is ASTONISHING. I understand writing about ableism, writing it doesn't mean condoning it, but in some parts it sounds like the author is trying to make it SEEM as though the pack ways are right. Faolan seems to have more of an issue with Heep than the higher ranking wolves who force him to submit.
These dire wolves of an ableist society, who run on laws that don't even allow gnaw wolves social mobility, are "Noble", while any wolf outside the pack is usually made out to be an outclanner, like a bandit or pirate of the Beyond, a lawless wolf that gets fun out of hurting and torturing others.
I think it would be interesting to see a book about some wolves (that aren't part of the 5-6 books) break off from the idea of the "Great Order" and pursue something like the Sark did. Speaking of her, the Sark of the Slough is the only 100% correct wolf here. No one else.
One example of the ableism kind of being painted as "right" is after Faolan asks Mairie (I don't think that's how her name is spelled though) why he can't hunt or run in a byrgis, she 'calls him out' for being selfish and tells him that a pack is more than one wolf. But something she and the narrative seem to forget is the fact that EVERY OTHER WOLF CAN HUNT. There is no reason not to let Faolan hunt, yet they do.
Speaking of Faolan, he isn't even disabled! The splayed paw pup was only taken because Shibaan didn't like the look of it. It's a good reason to explain why he's a gnaw wolf, but it still feels like an excuse to not write a disabled character. I'm not a fan of 'chosen one' protagonists, which Faolan also definitely is.
When he finishes his trial, the dialogue from Duncan McDuncan implies that Lasky believes the system of the packs is what makes Faolan a "good clan wolf". His only crime was to try hunting, and while he did mess up the byrgis, he wasn't permitted to hunt, which would've likely allowed him to understand the signals. It's incredibly unfair, yet never addressed.
The treatment of gnaw wolves isn't even justified. By all means they COULD still prevent malcodhs from having pups, but not abuse them like this. They just don't want to. When the malcodh pup is killed, the wolves are horrified despite SENDING HER TO DIE in the first place.
In Guardians of Ga'hoole, if the owls treated each other like this, it'd be considered horrendous and evil. But with the dire wolves, it's treated as noble and normal.
I love her books, but I feel as though this is something that no one seems to have said anything about.
additionally: i'm not a fan of lochynvyrr. it's supposed to show the wolves' hunting as good, but I don't think any prey would acknowledge themselves as "worthy to be eaten". I'm not a fan of the noble predator trope shown in some xenofiction. If I was a prey animal I would simply look away. I wouldn't even acknowledge my hunter. But it's just a pet peeve.
The treatment of disability in the series- this book in particular, is ASTONISHING. I understand writing about ableism, writing it doesn't mean condoning it, but in some parts it sounds like the author is trying to make it SEEM as though the pack ways are right. Faolan seems to have more of an issue with Heep than the higher ranking wolves who force him to submit.
These dire wolves of an ableist society, who run on laws that don't even allow gnaw wolves social mobility, are "Noble", while any wolf outside the pack is usually made out to be an outclanner, like a bandit or pirate of the Beyond, a lawless wolf that gets fun out of hurting and torturing others.
I think it would be interesting to see a book about some wolves (that aren't part of the 5-6 books) break off from the idea of the "Great Order" and pursue something like the Sark did. Speaking of her, the Sark of the Slough is the only 100% correct wolf here. No one else.
One example of the ableism kind of being painted as "right" is after Faolan asks Mairie (I don't think that's how her name is spelled though) why he can't hunt or run in a byrgis, she 'calls him out' for being selfish and tells him that a pack is more than one wolf. But something she and the narrative seem to forget is the fact that EVERY OTHER WOLF CAN HUNT. There is no reason not to let Faolan hunt, yet they do.
Speaking of Faolan, he isn't even disabled! The splayed paw pup was only taken because Shibaan didn't like the look of it. It's a good reason to explain why he's a gnaw wolf, but it still feels like an excuse to not write a disabled character. I'm not a fan of 'chosen one' protagonists, which Faolan also definitely is.
When he finishes his trial, the dialogue from Duncan McDuncan implies that Lasky believes the system of the packs is what makes Faolan a "good clan wolf". His only crime was to try hunting, and while he did mess up the byrgis, he wasn't permitted to hunt, which would've likely allowed him to understand the signals. It's incredibly unfair, yet never addressed.
The treatment of gnaw wolves isn't even justified. By all means they COULD still prevent malcodhs from having pups, but not abuse them like this. They just don't want to. When the malcodh pup is killed, the wolves are horrified despite SENDING HER TO DIE in the first place.
In Guardians of Ga'hoole, if the owls treated each other like this, it'd be considered horrendous and evil. But with the dire wolves, it's treated as noble and normal.
I love her books, but I feel as though this is something that no one seems to have said anything about.
additionally: i'm not a fan of lochynvyrr. it's supposed to show the wolves' hunting as good, but I don't think any prey would acknowledge themselves as "worthy to be eaten". I'm not a fan of the noble predator trope shown in some xenofiction. If I was a prey animal I would simply look away. I wouldn't even acknowledge my hunter. But it's just a pet peeve.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2024
The plot was a lot more engaging than the first book, however, I can't overlook the glaring ableism and sexism. I noticed it in the first book and I held hope that it would be challenged in the second book. But nope, I was wrong. God was I wrong. I'm just going to bullet point my issues here:
Disabled pups are said to be 'cursed' and are sent to die. If they somehow make it back to the clan alive, they are allowed to join as the lowest ranking wolf and must endure constant humiliation and abuse. The parents of the disabled pup are forbidden to remain a couple and are cast out of the pack, never to be seen again........And not a single character questions or challenges the morality of this practice?? t's treated as the most normal, nonchalant thing in the world. Maybe I could overlook this if the wolves, bears and owls werent constantly yapping about how 'dignified' and 'civilized' the clan wolves are. I'm sorry but there's nothing civilized about killing disabled children.
Every couple of years the clans make a spectacle of watching all the disabled people compete for a chance to become a member of the 'watch', which is what this book is about. We are told multiple times that this a huge source of entertainment for the wolves and owls, and I can't help but feel my skin crawl reading that.
If a shewolf can't get pregnant, she is cast out of the clan or forced to become the obea, a wolf tasked with the job of murdering pups. If you can't make babies, you must kill them.
This author makes a point to overly describe how ugly, hideous, undesirable and pathetic the female characters are. If the Sarc of the Slew, the Obea or Edmae is on the page, the author makes a point to remind you MULTIPLE TIMES that these females are ugly and/or pathetic. I dont mind it being said initially to describe a character but holy shit stop talking about their looks.
Also this book is about a disabled pup who was sent to die by the obea, but was 'murdered' by a wolf....excuse me? Is not leaving an infant on a ice raft to drown not murder? I don't see why the clan suddenly gives a fuck about what happens to these pups. Just because the obea doesn't put her fangs on the pups, doesn't mean that she isn't a killer either. But I don't even blame her, I blame the clan and the chiefs who force this indoctrination on the entire pack. The entire clan is much of a murderer as the 'murderer' himself. I just don't understand why there isn't a single voice of reason in the pack. it's as if the entire clan is oblivious to the hypocrisy.
Also, again, this author needs to stop demonizing ravens. I get it, the author likes owls, but portraying ravens as stupid, annoying scavengers is wrong. Especially considering that ravens actually have symbiotic relationships with wolves, unlike owls.
Disabled pups are said to be 'cursed' and are sent to die. If they somehow make it back to the clan alive, they are allowed to join as the lowest ranking wolf and must endure constant humiliation and abuse. The parents of the disabled pup are forbidden to remain a couple and are cast out of the pack, never to be seen again........And not a single character questions or challenges the morality of this practice?? t's treated as the most normal, nonchalant thing in the world. Maybe I could overlook this if the wolves, bears and owls werent constantly yapping about how 'dignified' and 'civilized' the clan wolves are. I'm sorry but there's nothing civilized about killing disabled children.
Every couple of years the clans make a spectacle of watching all the disabled people compete for a chance to become a member of the 'watch', which is what this book is about. We are told multiple times that this a huge source of entertainment for the wolves and owls, and I can't help but feel my skin crawl reading that.
If a shewolf can't get pregnant, she is cast out of the clan or forced to become the obea, a wolf tasked with the job of murdering pups. If you can't make babies, you must kill them.
This author makes a point to overly describe how ugly, hideous, undesirable and pathetic the female characters are. If the Sarc of the Slew, the Obea or Edmae is on the page, the author makes a point to remind you MULTIPLE TIMES that these females are ugly and/or pathetic. I dont mind it being said initially to describe a character but holy shit stop talking about their looks.
Also this book is about a disabled pup who was sent to die by the obea, but was 'murdered' by a wolf....excuse me? Is not leaving an infant on a ice raft to drown not murder? I don't see why the clan suddenly gives a fuck about what happens to these pups. Just because the obea doesn't put her fangs on the pups, doesn't mean that she isn't a killer either. But I don't even blame her, I blame the clan and the chiefs who force this indoctrination on the entire pack. The entire clan is much of a murderer as the 'murderer' himself. I just don't understand why there isn't a single voice of reason in the pack. it's as if the entire clan is oblivious to the hypocrisy.
Also, again, this author needs to stop demonizing ravens. I get it, the author likes owls, but portraying ravens as stupid, annoying scavengers is wrong. Especially considering that ravens actually have symbiotic relationships with wolves, unlike owls.
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