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Wolves of the Beyond #1
Lone Wolf
Spinoff from owl Guardians of Ga'hoole introduces Faolan, newborn wolf pup with a twisted leg. Harsh code of the pack demands such weakness be abandoned on a desolate hill. But alone in the wilderness, Faolan does not perish - a tale of survival, courage, and love triumphant.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2010
About the author
Kathryn Lasky
232 books2,176 followersKathryn Lasky is the American author of many critically acclaimed books, including several Dear America books, several Royal Diaries books, 1984 Newbery Honor winning Sugaring Time, The Night Journey, and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series.
She was born June 24, 1944, and grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is married to Christopher Knight, with whom she lives in Massachusetts.
Book 15, The War of the Ember, is currently the last book in the Ga'Hoole series. The Rise of a Legend is the 16th book but is a prequel to the series. Lasky has also written Guide Book To The Great Tree and Lost Tales Of Ga'Hoole which are companion books.
She was born June 24, 1944, and grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is married to Christopher Knight, with whom she lives in Massachusetts.
Book 15, The War of the Ember, is currently the last book in the Ga'Hoole series. The Rise of a Legend is the 16th book but is a prequel to the series. Lasky has also written Guide Book To The Great Tree and Lost Tales Of Ga'Hoole which are companion books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 749 reviews
March 11, 2012
I was really surprised that I didn't like this one. I had enjoyed what I had read of Lasky's Ga'hoole series, and I was expecting this to be comparable in quality to that.
There were two main issues I had with this book. The first one is that it is horribly dull. The beginning was very exciting, but the first two parts were uninteresting. It didn't help that the main character doesn't have that much of a personality. It started to pick up around the end, but it was too little too late for me.
The other issue I have is that the way the society of wolves was portrayed. It irked me to no end that Clans of wolves were considered "noble" as opposed to the cannibals living on the outskirts. Killing innocent wolf pups in the name of genetic purity is on the same level as killing one of your own to eat, in my opinion. I was expecting somewhat of a challenge to be made against their highly unethical practices. I would have liked this book a whole lot better if we had at least been given that.
I suppose this might be corrected future installments, but why bother? This promised to be an exciting animal fantasy, but instead I found myself bored and irritated beyond belief by the end of the novel. Honestly, I'd recommend skipping this one and picking up something like Guardians of Ga'hoole or Warriors instead.
There were two main issues I had with this book. The first one is that it is horribly dull. The beginning was very exciting, but the first two parts were uninteresting. It didn't help that the main character doesn't have that much of a personality. It started to pick up around the end, but it was too little too late for me.
The other issue I have is that the way the society of wolves was portrayed. It irked me to no end that Clans of wolves were considered "noble" as opposed to the cannibals living on the outskirts. Killing innocent wolf pups in the name of genetic purity is on the same level as killing one of your own to eat, in my opinion. I was expecting somewhat of a challenge to be made against their highly unethical practices. I would have liked this book a whole lot better if we had at least been given that.
I suppose this might be corrected future installments, but why bother? This promised to be an exciting animal fantasy, but instead I found myself bored and irritated beyond belief by the end of the novel. Honestly, I'd recommend skipping this one and picking up something like Guardians of Ga'hoole or Warriors instead.
October 27, 2014
This book was recommended to me by my 9-yr old son. He read it in class and loved it and thought I would enjoy it as well. I am so glad I read it, it was a really well told story of a wolf named Faolan who was born "malcadh" which meant he had some type of disability which in his case was a splayed paw with a swirl on the bottom pad. Malcadh pups are taken away and left to die to keep the packs strong and healthy. Faolan was rescued by a grizzly bear named Thunderheart who had just lost a cub and she became his milk mother. This story brought out so many emotions and the characters felt so real to me. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
December 28, 2011
This book frustrated me. I loved Laskey's past series on owls so it could only be assumed that this book would be similar but with wolves. However, it wasn't.
A few of my problems included -
-This book was a lot of "tell" not show. There were pages of descriptions, describing wolf packs, habits, personality, behaviors. There isn't a lot of character interaction, and it almost feels like I'm reading a textbook. The author picks up conversations in the last 30 pages or so but by then it lost me.
-The owls. I understand that the Beyond is close to the previous series of books with the owls, but it seemed the reader was contantly being drilled that the owls were close and that YES this author was the author of the Owl series. It's like this series couldn't stand alone without the random owl comparison, or sentence.
-The main character is dull. Not because there isn't a personality but because one isn't developed. This has to go with the whole "telling" not showing. So by the time the main character developed I knew nothing about them.
A few of my problems included -
-This book was a lot of "tell" not show. There were pages of descriptions, describing wolf packs, habits, personality, behaviors. There isn't a lot of character interaction, and it almost feels like I'm reading a textbook. The author picks up conversations in the last 30 pages or so but by then it lost me.
-The owls. I understand that the Beyond is close to the previous series of books with the owls, but it seemed the reader was contantly being drilled that the owls were close and that YES this author was the author of the Owl series. It's like this series couldn't stand alone without the random owl comparison, or sentence.
-The main character is dull. Not because there isn't a personality but because one isn't developed. This has to go with the whole "telling" not showing. So by the time the main character developed I knew nothing about them.
April 11, 2018
My 11 year old son's rating.
I've struggled with the ratings on the last several middle grade books we've listened to; that's why I'm just putting my son's rating. :-/
I've struggled with the ratings on the last several middle grade books we've listened to; that's why I'm just putting my son's rating. :-/
October 23, 2012
This book is of a series of 4 books with the mystifying adventures of a young wolf pup named Foalan. I am currently reading the 2nd book: Watch Wolf. Growing up i've had an undying passion for wolves, i raised two wolf pups, Megan and Shiba, of which I found as orphans and decided to adopt them. My friend recommended this book to me as she noticed i am obsessed with wolves. This book tells of a wolf pup who was exiled from his pack due to being "diffirent" Seperated from his pack and parents, he was left to die, literally. In pack law if there is a deformity in a pup, the pup is taken someplace where death is certain and the mother is banned from the pack and forbidden from returning so that the packs bloodline is not corrupted. I don't want to spoil this book so i'll only tell you my favorite part, when Foalon is left to die by the Obea, he ends up washing up on shore before a grizzly mother overtaken by grief and ready to throw her life away. The grizzly had lost her two cubs to a male grizzly who ruthlessly killed them for a chance to mate with her, when she finds Foalon she thinks of him as a gift from the heavens and a reason for living. This is my favorite part because, without eachother they both would've died. This book is a great stress reliever and a book to get your creative juices flowing.
November 12, 2021
Man, I really wanted this to be a good one. I love wolves but this had a river spirit in chapter two and it kind of made me be like, eh, no. Because she also had a Maker and it just felt wrong to me as Christian so I stopped reading. The author's writing style was very nice and the detail was beautiful but I just didn't feel comfortable reading anymore.
~Rissy
~Rissy
Want to read
July 6, 2024i need to reread this series i could fuck up a wolves of the beyond book rn
July 14, 2015
(Written by my ten-year-old daughter as part of a Language Arts assignment)
The Wolves of the Beyond, The Lone Wolf, by Kathryn Lasky is a thrilling novel about a wolf pup named Faolan as he embarks on the journey of a lifetime. This book has enticed many readers and will leave you hunting for more as you learn of a destiny written in the stars...
When a she-wolf named Moragg gives birth to a pup with a splayed paw, she knows the rules of her clan force her to leave him to die. But when Thunderheart the bear rescues him and named him Faolan, the pair become inseparable. When tragedy hits, Faolan must strike out on his own in a world full of danger.
This enchanting read will unveil your inner fangirl with a character we can all relate to. It teaches a lesson many fail to teach, the social crime of prejudice and how not to judge someone by what you see, but by their heart.
The Wolves of the Beyond, The Lone Wolf, by Kathryn Lasky is a thrilling novel about a wolf pup named Faolan as he embarks on the journey of a lifetime. This book has enticed many readers and will leave you hunting for more as you learn of a destiny written in the stars...
When a she-wolf named Moragg gives birth to a pup with a splayed paw, she knows the rules of her clan force her to leave him to die. But when Thunderheart the bear rescues him and named him Faolan, the pair become inseparable. When tragedy hits, Faolan must strike out on his own in a world full of danger.
This enchanting read will unveil your inner fangirl with a character we can all relate to. It teaches a lesson many fail to teach, the social crime of prejudice and how not to judge someone by what you see, but by their heart.
November 2, 2013
Personally, it wasn't that interesting to me. It doesn't have that much... Excitement, a hook to catch me on. I mean, the main thing I disliked though was the blandness of the main character.
The main character was too... How should I put this? Too overpowered. I get it's fictional, but this is based on survival and that kind of stuff, right? Then wolves should not be able to walk on two legs, be able to jump and pull down a cougar, and jump over a huge wall of fire. Like, seriously. If that isn't overpowered, I don't know what is.
Not to mention when he joined the pack, he had a 'broader chest' than other wolves, can gnaw better than the other wolves already... It's just not too interesting with a character who could do everything. Like conflicts? Easily solved, problem done and gone.
He killed a caribou and a cougar by himself too. Let's see- The cougar could easily win. Let's face it, cougars are bigger and have stronger jaws. Faolan would not have won. The cougar wouldn't even have bolted, anyways. Especially if it knew it's enemy was one single wolf. And then the caribou. Wolves work in pack to bring down caribou. A well-placed kick can even kill Faolan too.
But nope. He's too strong. Gotta live through it.
Plus we don't get to see much of his personality either. At first it was him learning survival instincts and then Thunderheart dies and everything is just boring. He kills stuff, eats stuff, goes and looks around a cave... We don't get to explore him much anyways.
The thing that bugged me most about this was it's main character. I'm certainly not going to read the rest of the series- Especially if this is how the main character is and if he's going to remain that way. Characters who are far too strong aren't just my taste because apparently, conflicts can be easily overcome.
Plus he's just your run-of-the-mill one special character out of all the others. Tch. Boring read, annoying main character.
The main character was too... How should I put this? Too overpowered. I get it's fictional, but this is based on survival and that kind of stuff, right? Then wolves should not be able to walk on two legs, be able to jump and pull down a cougar, and jump over a huge wall of fire. Like, seriously. If that isn't overpowered, I don't know what is.
Not to mention when he joined the pack, he had a 'broader chest' than other wolves, can gnaw better than the other wolves already... It's just not too interesting with a character who could do everything. Like conflicts? Easily solved, problem done and gone.
He killed a caribou and a cougar by himself too. Let's see- The cougar could easily win. Let's face it, cougars are bigger and have stronger jaws. Faolan would not have won. The cougar wouldn't even have bolted, anyways. Especially if it knew it's enemy was one single wolf. And then the caribou. Wolves work in pack to bring down caribou. A well-placed kick can even kill Faolan too.
But nope. He's too strong. Gotta live through it.
Plus we don't get to see much of his personality either. At first it was him learning survival instincts and then Thunderheart dies and everything is just boring. He kills stuff, eats stuff, goes and looks around a cave... We don't get to explore him much anyways.
The thing that bugged me most about this was it's main character. I'm certainly not going to read the rest of the series- Especially if this is how the main character is and if he's going to remain that way. Characters who are far too strong aren't just my taste because apparently, conflicts can be easily overcome.
Plus he's just your run-of-the-mill one special character out of all the others. Tch. Boring read, annoying main character.
November 10, 2012
I feel as if this series is very good.Personally I think LONE WOLF is the best book out of all of the books i've ever read . it starts out with an a pup named foalan that was taken by an obea to his tummfraw to die.his tummfraw was a icey river that will soon break into a massive river.And before you know it he was saved by a grizzly mother that was named thunder heart by foalan and soon became his mother.The massive bear took care of him and tought him many things. I can think of a couple of things right off the bat!She tought him how to dig for fresh onions, she also tought him how to stand on two legs,and she tought him how to fish out of a river isn't that awesome!
My favorite character is foalan.I think he is very strong,fast,scary,and last but not least sneaky.Another reason is because he knows how to make all kinds of friends.Plus he can endure all kinds of abuse.Also took on many challenges like he took name calling well and surviving the wild animals and being hurt by many things like wolves of his kind.Next compliment about him is he is very intelligent.Now for my favorite thing about him is he can take down a huge caribou.finally he knows what to do when really hard things hit.
If I had to recommend this book to any one I would recommend it to anyone who liked THE OWLS OF GAHOOLE.Also any one who likes bears,owls,or wolves.plus iI would recommend it to every on around the globe if I had to.
My favorite character is foalan.I think he is very strong,fast,scary,and last but not least sneaky.Another reason is because he knows how to make all kinds of friends.Plus he can endure all kinds of abuse.Also took on many challenges like he took name calling well and surviving the wild animals and being hurt by many things like wolves of his kind.Next compliment about him is he is very intelligent.Now for my favorite thing about him is he can take down a huge caribou.finally he knows what to do when really hard things hit.
If I had to recommend this book to any one I would recommend it to anyone who liked THE OWLS OF GAHOOLE.Also any one who likes bears,owls,or wolves.plus iI would recommend it to every on around the globe if I had to.
July 26, 2021
Written for the YA age group, the Wolves of the Beyond series follows the life of Faolan, a wolf who has been abandoned by its pack to die but, with the help of a friendly grizzly bear and wise old owl, learns to survive. Although some of the story deals with the harsh nature of the wild, it is both engaging and educational.
October 19, 2019
Lovable and twisty
December 14, 2011
I want to start off by saying that I generally love Kathryn Lasky's books- I read all but a couple of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series and all of her additions to the Royal Diaries series and thought they were fantastic. This book however was surprisingly dull. I wanted so much to like this book and, it being a kind of "kid's book" thought I would finish it in about a day when it actually took me about 3-4 days. I had to force myself to pick it up and slog through it- working diligently just to make it from chapter to chapter because I really hate to not finish a book and I was in a hurry to start The Giver, which was recommended by my boyfriend.
In the Guardians series, Lasky does a very good job of explaining things like twixt time and yeep in the context of the story without distracting from the plot and characters. Explanations in this book however seemed to stand out like ugly sores, distracting and obvious in the worst way. Things are also explained that the main character doesn't even understand like the name for the spirit of a pack running together. The explanation for what I will call the magical cave is somehow both extremely lengthy and dull while also very uninformative. I'm still not quite sure what it was- were the pictures moving? did he literally hear animals? how was he "reading" the images? did time literally stop for him? etc., etc., etc. Yet the discussion of this magical cave spans a ridiculous amount of pages and is mentioned several times afterward.
Even without lengthy and very numerous explanations, the book just doesn't flow. Faolan goes from event to event with nothing to really tie them together. The whole story is a little preposterous as well in so many various ways: Faolan is like a super wolf and unless there is a plot twist that reveals the true reason, the only explanation is that his bear mother pushed him to be more physical; The animals seem to be able to spot constellations with almost disgusting ease and see spirits literally traveling through the sky and recognize each one; this wolf manages to bring down a cougar and a full grown caribou (albeit an old one) alone- say what?; the wolf chiefs wore headdresses, necklaces, and ceremonial robes- who made those things?? the canines with no opposable thumbs??
I noticed as I was reading that my interest was piqued only when the rogue smith owl was introduced and thought maybe I would begin to like it, but as the perspective shifted back to the main character, I realized it was the just the part of me that loved the Guardians- not that I had actually begun to like this book. I read this on my kindle so I don't have a page count but honestly it isn't necessary. I only became slightly interested after part 3 started and only really liked the final chapter. The last chapter is seriously the only time when there is semblance of action and even that is very anti-climactic. This probably isn't enough to convince me to read/ pay for the next book since I'm too scared I'll be forced to wade through more pages of uninteresting character "development", unimportant observations, and lengthy explanations of every aspect of their world.
I really wanted to like this book, especially since I paid for it on my kindle while most books I had downloaded were free and because I liked Lasky's work so much, but the only saving grace for Lone Wolf were things taken straight out of her other novels and the last chapter. I would never recommend this book to anyone- especially wolf lovers. I would steer them gently in the direction of the Guardians series if they wanted an interesting and exciting novel about an almost mythical realm of anthropomorphic animals with their own ways and customs, which is what I felt this book promised to be.
In the Guardians series, Lasky does a very good job of explaining things like twixt time and yeep in the context of the story without distracting from the plot and characters. Explanations in this book however seemed to stand out like ugly sores, distracting and obvious in the worst way. Things are also explained that the main character doesn't even understand like the name for the spirit of a pack running together. The explanation for what I will call the magical cave is somehow both extremely lengthy and dull while also very uninformative. I'm still not quite sure what it was- were the pictures moving? did he literally hear animals? how was he "reading" the images? did time literally stop for him? etc., etc., etc. Yet the discussion of this magical cave spans a ridiculous amount of pages and is mentioned several times afterward.
Even without lengthy and very numerous explanations, the book just doesn't flow. Faolan goes from event to event with nothing to really tie them together. The whole story is a little preposterous as well in so many various ways: Faolan is like a super wolf and unless there is a plot twist that reveals the true reason, the only explanation is that his bear mother pushed him to be more physical; The animals seem to be able to spot constellations with almost disgusting ease and see spirits literally traveling through the sky and recognize each one; this wolf manages to bring down a cougar and a full grown caribou (albeit an old one) alone- say what?; the wolf chiefs wore headdresses, necklaces, and ceremonial robes- who made those things?? the canines with no opposable thumbs??
I noticed as I was reading that my interest was piqued only when the rogue smith owl was introduced and thought maybe I would begin to like it, but as the perspective shifted back to the main character, I realized it was the just the part of me that loved the Guardians- not that I had actually begun to like this book. I read this on my kindle so I don't have a page count but honestly it isn't necessary. I only became slightly interested after part 3 started and only really liked the final chapter. The last chapter is seriously the only time when there is semblance of action and even that is very anti-climactic. This probably isn't enough to convince me to read/ pay for the next book since I'm too scared I'll be forced to wade through more pages of uninteresting character "development", unimportant observations, and lengthy explanations of every aspect of their world.
I really wanted to like this book, especially since I paid for it on my kindle while most books I had downloaded were free and because I liked Lasky's work so much, but the only saving grace for Lone Wolf were things taken straight out of her other novels and the last chapter. I would never recommend this book to anyone- especially wolf lovers. I would steer them gently in the direction of the Guardians series if they wanted an interesting and exciting novel about an almost mythical realm of anthropomorphic animals with their own ways and customs, which is what I felt this book promised to be.
December 3, 2019
A student who is in my yearbook class was so excited when he saw my classroom library that he came bounding over to me the first week and asked me, "You have so many books! So you read a lot, right? Have you read Wolves of the Beyond?!" He was so excited. And how can a teacher kill a kid's excitement in 2 seconds? By answering, "No. I'm not sure what that is..." Well, he was so flabbergasted by my lack of knowledge that he brought me the book to read, pretty much commanding me to. And I have to say, I am pretty glad he did.
Lone Wolf is obviously the beginning of what is going to be a majorly epic animal fantasy series similar to Erin Hunter's books and Redwall. This series is a spin-off of Lasky's Ga'Hoole series yet I never found that not reading Ga'Hoole hindered the story in the least. Though it takes place in the same land as the other series, it is new characters and still includes description and a map to help with the setting.
While reading, there were 3 things that really impressed me. 1st, like most fantasy animal fiction, I am always amazed by how an author can get into the head of animals. Lasky describes the animal instincts, aggression and emotions in such a beautiful way as if she can read their minds. 2nd, the world building in phenomenal. It amazes me when an author can build such a high fantasy world for their animals to live in. Finally, the immense plot development that is required to make these epic series and ones that intertwine like Wolves of the Beyond and Ga'Hoole astonish me even more.
Mentor text for: Setting, Characterization, Plot Development, Descriptive, World Building (Mapping)
Snatch of Text: "In the Cave Before Time, he had seen two constellations of wolves. One was the starry one on the rock ceiling. The other "constellation" was not stars but the hunting and traveling formation of wolves running together. In that formation he had sensed a common feeling, a spirit of fellowship. It made him fell all the more lonely. He had wanted to run with those wolves, to be part of that "constellation," ever since he had first seen the picture." (p. 145)
Lone Wolf is obviously the beginning of what is going to be a majorly epic animal fantasy series similar to Erin Hunter's books and Redwall. This series is a spin-off of Lasky's Ga'Hoole series yet I never found that not reading Ga'Hoole hindered the story in the least. Though it takes place in the same land as the other series, it is new characters and still includes description and a map to help with the setting.
While reading, there were 3 things that really impressed me. 1st, like most fantasy animal fiction, I am always amazed by how an author can get into the head of animals. Lasky describes the animal instincts, aggression and emotions in such a beautiful way as if she can read their minds. 2nd, the world building in phenomenal. It amazes me when an author can build such a high fantasy world for their animals to live in. Finally, the immense plot development that is required to make these epic series and ones that intertwine like Wolves of the Beyond and Ga'Hoole astonish me even more.
Mentor text for: Setting, Characterization, Plot Development, Descriptive, World Building (Mapping)
Snatch of Text: "In the Cave Before Time, he had seen two constellations of wolves. One was the starry one on the rock ceiling. The other "constellation" was not stars but the hunting and traveling formation of wolves running together. In that formation he had sensed a common feeling, a spirit of fellowship. It made him fell all the more lonely. He had wanted to run with those wolves, to be part of that "constellation," ever since he had first seen the picture." (p. 145)
May 2, 2023
I think the people rating this 4/5 stars are kids without many books under their belts and are just the target audience or adults that aren't familiar with other animal books like this.
My primary complaint is that it seems like it wants to be Warriors so bad that it's willing to not make sense to achieve it. Thunderheart is a character. Literally the main clan and main character of Warriors. They call humans two legs. There's clans for some reason even though they are wolves. It seems like there are smaller packs within the clans, but it gets a little confusing. It would make more sense in the story and for the animals if you just had the packs. It eventually clears up a bit on the LAST PAGE, but feels pointless when, again, you could just have the packs.
A few times made me a little uncomfortable. All the times Faolan gazes into Thunderheart's eyes as he sucked on her teat. It's not wrong or vulgar but those times are like the most described scenes in the book and it felt weird.
I also don't understand why he gets so mad when she says things like his kind. Firstly, where did he get the idea it was bad? Thunderheart didn't teach him that and it's not like he doesn't know they are different species. It felt very much like a weak problem to move him somewhere else without having to put much context. He doesn't even look around for her, just immediately heads to the next place with no other thoughts on anything. When he returns, how does he know it's Thunderheart? Not by scent or anything. He just assumes?
Faolan isn't bad, but there isn't much to him. He's just kind of there and doing stuff without much personality or reason. It's also somewhat frustrating that lot of wolf things gets described, such as honoring a kill, but then ends the paragraph with "but Faolan doesn't know any of that." Why are you telling me now, then? It feels out of place. Tell me all this when another wolf explains it to him and we learn together, not random things added in that he doesn't even know.
I found it extremely irritating that she used their full names every single time they spoke. Duncan MacDuncan, Angus MacAngus, etc.
Finally, I didn't like that she doesn't explain anything until a few pages later, going backwards from introduction to explanation.
I think it has potential, which I hope comes out more in the next book, but I just didn't like this one at all. I was bored, irritated, and frustrated the whole time.
I liked Guardians of Ga'Hoole and thought Horses of the Dawn was okay, so hopefully this series will pick up like those did.
My primary complaint is that it seems like it wants to be Warriors so bad that it's willing to not make sense to achieve it. Thunderheart is a character. Literally the main clan and main character of Warriors. They call humans two legs. There's clans for some reason even though they are wolves. It seems like there are smaller packs within the clans, but it gets a little confusing. It would make more sense in the story and for the animals if you just had the packs. It eventually clears up a bit on the LAST PAGE, but feels pointless when, again, you could just have the packs.
A few times made me a little uncomfortable. All the times Faolan gazes into Thunderheart's eyes as he sucked on her teat. It's not wrong or vulgar but those times are like the most described scenes in the book and it felt weird.
I also don't understand why he gets so mad when she says things like his kind. Firstly, where did he get the idea it was bad? Thunderheart didn't teach him that and it's not like he doesn't know they are different species. It felt very much like a weak problem to move him somewhere else without having to put much context. He doesn't even look around for her, just immediately heads to the next place with no other thoughts on anything. When he returns, how does he know it's Thunderheart? Not by scent or anything. He just assumes?
Faolan isn't bad, but there isn't much to him. He's just kind of there and doing stuff without much personality or reason. It's also somewhat frustrating that lot of wolf things gets described, such as honoring a kill, but then ends the paragraph with "but Faolan doesn't know any of that." Why are you telling me now, then? It feels out of place. Tell me all this when another wolf explains it to him and we learn together, not random things added in that he doesn't even know.
I found it extremely irritating that she used their full names every single time they spoke. Duncan MacDuncan, Angus MacAngus, etc.
Finally, I didn't like that she doesn't explain anything until a few pages later, going backwards from introduction to explanation.
I think it has potential, which I hope comes out more in the next book, but I just didn't like this one at all. I was bored, irritated, and frustrated the whole time.
I liked Guardians of Ga'Hoole and thought Horses of the Dawn was okay, so hopefully this series will pick up like those did.
May 4, 2012
This story was amazing! It reads like a cross between The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling and A Wolf Story by James Byron Huggins, both of which I love and have reread many times. The story is powerful and compelling. It is the first book set in the world of Ga'Hoole that does not focus primarily on the Owl kingdoms. It was wonderful to read, and I immediately started book two after finishing book one. I could not wait until I had even written my review. I had to know what happened next.
It is the story of Faolan, a young wolf who is left to die because of a birth defect. He ends up on an ice floe in a river during the spring thaw. He is plucked from the river by a she-bear, who has just lost her cub to a cougar. The bear decides to raise him. Over time he comes to realize he is different. He grows and learns from his second milk-mother Thunderheart. She realizes she will go to the long sleep and tries to prepare Faolan. But life is not always fair and much befalls Faolan during the winter. Soon he is in search of the Wolves of the Beyond.
You cannot help but fall in love with the characters in the book. My only complaint is the covers are a little too 'Disney' for the actual content of the books. It looks like it will be the beginning of an amazing trilogy. I highly recommend them!
Read the rest of the review and with links to other reviews of books by the author on my blog Book Reviews and More. And also an author profile and interview with Kathryn Lasky.
It is the story of Faolan, a young wolf who is left to die because of a birth defect. He ends up on an ice floe in a river during the spring thaw. He is plucked from the river by a she-bear, who has just lost her cub to a cougar. The bear decides to raise him. Over time he comes to realize he is different. He grows and learns from his second milk-mother Thunderheart. She realizes she will go to the long sleep and tries to prepare Faolan. But life is not always fair and much befalls Faolan during the winter. Soon he is in search of the Wolves of the Beyond.
You cannot help but fall in love with the characters in the book. My only complaint is the covers are a little too 'Disney' for the actual content of the books. It looks like it will be the beginning of an amazing trilogy. I highly recommend them!
Read the rest of the review and with links to other reviews of books by the author on my blog Book Reviews and More. And also an author profile and interview with Kathryn Lasky.
October 14, 2011
Born with a splayed paw with an odd spiral design on the pad, Faolan is left to die. But Fate intervenes and the moments old wolf pup is quickly adopted by a heartbroken grizzly bear, affectionately named Thunderheart. Lone Wolf is the story of Faolan's first year of life.
I have not yet read the previous owl series by the same author, so I really had no idea what to expect. I was more than pleasantly surprised and am looking forward to sharing this book and the rest in the series with my son.
I was particularly moved by the depth of spirituality displayed in such a child-friendly manner, as well as the respect given to all living creatures. Lasky's hunting scenes are powerful and the respect afforded to the dying animal is a lesson to all humankind.
Faolan's journey from abandoned pup, to adopted grizzly/wolf, to future pack member was heartening. Lessons were harsh, but not too harsh for young readers, and resulted in a maturing and intelligent young wolf destined for greatness and a compassionate heart.
I only gave this 4 out of 5 stars because it ended much to aburptly, in a way that made it nearly impossible to not pick up the next book in the series (as well as now needing to get out and pick up the owl series as well).
Great quick, but insightful, read for adults. Even better read for kids.
I have not yet read the previous owl series by the same author, so I really had no idea what to expect. I was more than pleasantly surprised and am looking forward to sharing this book and the rest in the series with my son.
I was particularly moved by the depth of spirituality displayed in such a child-friendly manner, as well as the respect given to all living creatures. Lasky's hunting scenes are powerful and the respect afforded to the dying animal is a lesson to all humankind.
Faolan's journey from abandoned pup, to adopted grizzly/wolf, to future pack member was heartening. Lessons were harsh, but not too harsh for young readers, and resulted in a maturing and intelligent young wolf destined for greatness and a compassionate heart.
I only gave this 4 out of 5 stars because it ended much to aburptly, in a way that made it nearly impossible to not pick up the next book in the series (as well as now needing to get out and pick up the owl series as well).
Great quick, but insightful, read for adults. Even better read for kids.
March 6, 2017
This book is about a wolf pup, named Faolan, who was abandoned as a cub due to a strange marking on his paw and twisted leg. Thunderheart, a bear who just lost her cub, finds Faolan and cares for him. One day, Faolan goes out hunting in a cold winter storm. He gets lost and can't find Thunderheart. Then, he wanders off into the Outermost, a place where dangers and other wolves lurk. Will Faolan find out what happened to Thunderheart and survive the Outermost? Read to find out.
My favorite part was when Faolan gets accepted into the MacDuncan clan after proving himself worthy. He also makes lots of new friends that accept him.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes animals, adventure, action, and a little bit of revenge.
My favorite part was when Faolan gets accepted into the MacDuncan clan after proving himself worthy. He also makes lots of new friends that accept him.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes animals, adventure, action, and a little bit of revenge.
June 3, 2019
I disliked the way the story was told. The way the book would switch people's point of view or how the setting and people would change between chapter and chapter and with no warning was a little confusing. Plus new characters would be introduced with no reason to the main plot. The plot itself was vague and hard to find as well. The prologue they gave at the beginning didn't help anything but set the story up and give the smallest amount of background knowledge. One thing that did bring up the book was how the bear raised the wolf. To me, this portrayed that anybody can raise a "child" if they know what they're doing.
October 21, 2020
I loved the book it was so cute and if you are wondering what the name of the wolf is it is foalan.
May 10, 2024
First in a series.....an imperfect newborn wolf cub is abandoned by his pact and found and saved by a Grizzly bear mother bereaved for the lost of her cub. Highly recommended.
August 4, 2017
The first half was good but it got very boring and no plot I'm not reading the rest of the series
November 12, 2021
This is the first book in the ‘Wolves of the Beyond’ series, telling the tale of Faolan, a wolf cub abandoned at birth because of his twisted paw. From the very beginning the factual errors bothered me – Faolan is abandoned because “the pack cannot have weakness,” whereas in reality wolves protect and care for their weak and sick. Faolan survives because he is adopted by a bear, which would have eaten him in real life. When he is only a yearling, he kills a cougar, an animal against which even a full-grown wolf stands no chance. The author feels the need to point out random things like how many toes a wolf has, but does not seem to know basic facts about their behaviour, pack structure and so on.
The story meanders widely over the course of the series, wandering into fantastical territory with elements like reincarnation and a magic stone that will cure all the wolves’ deformities when it emerges from a volcano. It is childishly written, yet some of the deeper themes are likely to go over children’s heads. Having toiled through six books to get there, the ending feels very unsatisfying and inconclusive.
Not recommended.
The story meanders widely over the course of the series, wandering into fantastical territory with elements like reincarnation and a magic stone that will cure all the wolves’ deformities when it emerges from a volcano. It is childishly written, yet some of the deeper themes are likely to go over children’s heads. Having toiled through six books to get there, the ending feels very unsatisfying and inconclusive.
Not recommended.
November 28, 2010
This new series, set in the world of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, can be read completely independently. (At least, this first book apparently can, because I've only read the first Ga'Hoole book, and didn't feel at all lost or spoiled.) It tells the tale of a young wolf with a splayed paw, cast out from the pack due to his deformity. He ends up being raised by a bear, and this mix of species helps illustrate the differences in animal behavior.
As with the Ga'Hoole book I've read, Lasky combines a compelling plot, an intricate fantasy mythology, and real animal behavior and psychology to create an exciting, fascinating read with three-dimensional characters. I'm glad to be in on (almost) the ground floor for this one, instead of having to catch up through fifteen already-published books. Reading this is a bit of an emotional roller coaster, because I'm such a sucker for animal stories. Can't wait to read the next one!
As with the Ga'Hoole book I've read, Lasky combines a compelling plot, an intricate fantasy mythology, and real animal behavior and psychology to create an exciting, fascinating read with three-dimensional characters. I'm glad to be in on (almost) the ground floor for this one, instead of having to catch up through fifteen already-published books. Reading this is a bit of an emotional roller coaster, because I'm such a sucker for animal stories. Can't wait to read the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2019
Review by Grace, age 8, 4/20/19
Floron was a wolf with a splayed paw. This means one of his paws has a spiral cut on it, and he was born like that. The wolves had rules that if any of the young pups have a splayed paw, twisted hip, no tail, or any kind of disease or disability they would be given to a special she-wolf called an "obra" who would set the pups down by the rushing river and leave them to - you know - die.
The parents of those wolves would be set out of the tribe, never to breed again, so there would be no bad bloodlines in the clan. On the rare occasion when one of the pups with disabilities returns they would be placed on the lowest level of the wolves - a "gnaw" wolf.
Floron was found by a grizzly bear that he called "Thunder Heart." The bear took care of him, taught him to run faster than any wolf, and taught him to stand on his hind legs. But later that winter she had told him that he could go out and hunt things when she was asleep. But she woke up too early and forgot about Floron going. She died in an earthquake in late winter.
But Floron had found a pack to watch. There was one good "gnaw" wolf, but he was treated horribly and Floron did not want to be part of that clan. When he found another clan it seemed perfect, but his paw prints with the splayed paw left a mark that was like a foaming mouth disease. The wolves were forced to try to drive him into the fire. But he jumped over the fire and later that day he was got into that clan as a gnaw wolf because he had proved himself.
The rest of the story is about him surviving and hunting and hiding.
I liked this story because it's a survival story and I love those. I also like stories about animals that don't wear clothes and don't have humans. This is the only book I can compare to Wings of Fire!
Floron was a wolf with a splayed paw. This means one of his paws has a spiral cut on it, and he was born like that. The wolves had rules that if any of the young pups have a splayed paw, twisted hip, no tail, or any kind of disease or disability they would be given to a special she-wolf called an "obra" who would set the pups down by the rushing river and leave them to - you know - die.
The parents of those wolves would be set out of the tribe, never to breed again, so there would be no bad bloodlines in the clan. On the rare occasion when one of the pups with disabilities returns they would be placed on the lowest level of the wolves - a "gnaw" wolf.
Floron was found by a grizzly bear that he called "Thunder Heart." The bear took care of him, taught him to run faster than any wolf, and taught him to stand on his hind legs. But later that winter she had told him that he could go out and hunt things when she was asleep. But she woke up too early and forgot about Floron going. She died in an earthquake in late winter.
But Floron had found a pack to watch. There was one good "gnaw" wolf, but he was treated horribly and Floron did not want to be part of that clan. When he found another clan it seemed perfect, but his paw prints with the splayed paw left a mark that was like a foaming mouth disease. The wolves were forced to try to drive him into the fire. But he jumped over the fire and later that day he was got into that clan as a gnaw wolf because he had proved himself.
The rest of the story is about him surviving and hunting and hiding.
I liked this story because it's a survival story and I love those. I also like stories about animals that don't wear clothes and don't have humans. This is the only book I can compare to Wings of Fire!
February 15, 2018
The author was very creative in coming up with these characters and this world. But the story itself was very uneventful to me. I was listening to the audiobook and I would find myself tuning out too frequently. I’m still curious about the next book though. Maybe it’ll redeem the series.
July 3, 2017
This is a really boring book and it's full of complicated words. I don't want to read the rest of the series.
March 1, 2022
bland
March 31, 2024
Probablement le livre qui m’a fait aimé la lecture. J’en garde un très bon souvenir.
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