- Hardcover: 496 pages
- Publisher: Tor Books; First Edition edition (Jun 1 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0765306727
- ISBN-13: 978-0765306722
- Product Dimensions: 24.7 x 16.3 x 3.9 cm
- Shipping Weight: 835 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #348,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
The clash of cultures and the limits of loyalty form the thematic framework of Marillier's compelling new stand-alone fantasy. Readers familiar with the author's Sevenwaters trilogy (Daughter of the Forest, etc.) will feel comfortable with the Dark Ages setting. Young Viking Eyvind dreams of serving the god Thor and the nobleman Ulf as an elite Wolfskin warrior. While training, he's charged with teaching Ulf's prickly younger brother Somerled, and the two become blood brothers, swearing lifelong loyalty. But the oath isn't enough to quiet suspicions about Somerled's ambitions to become a king and the means he might take to accomplish them. The two join Ulf on a voyage to a legendary land, "a place of warm sea currents, of verdant islands and sheltered waterways," home to the peaceful Folk of the Light Islands, ruled by King Engus. Though Engus extends a hand of friendship to the sea rovers, his niece, the young priestess Nessa, has her doubts about the warlike newcomers. When a foreign fever decimates the Folk but leaves the seafarers untouched, the truce begins to unravel. A multilayered plot, intriguing characters and lyrical prose distinguish a novel that, long as it is, never feels padded.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
The only things young Eyvind has ever wanted--passionately!--are to be a Viking warrior, a Wolfskin, and to serve the mighty war god, Thor. One summer night during his fifteenth year, Wolfskins take Eyvind from the home of his mother and into the mountains for the harrowing warrior's initiation. Eyvind passes with flying colors and quickly earns a reputation as the strongest, most fearless Wolfskin in his jarl's retinue. He is now sure of his life path: a short but glorious life as a Wolfskin, with perhaps a woman and a child or two, leading to an honorable warrior's death. The gods have other plans for Eyvind, however--plans that will take him to a strange land of unsurpassed beauty, to a wild young priestess who saves his life and captures his heart, and ultimately to the edge of sanity, where he will either find his unique soul or lose it forever. An engrossing, beautifully written work of historical fiction and a portrait of a man's fierce struggle to find his own truth. Paula Luedtke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Winter bites hard in Rogaland. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Winter bites hard in Rogaland. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good read!,
By Ramona "Mona" (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Wolfskin (Paperback)
I had mixed feelings about Wolfskin. There's no question that this is a good book. The writing is great, with interesting history, and an exciting plot. However, compared to other Marillier books, this was a disappoinment. The relationship between Eyvind and Nessa was sweet, and they were both extremely likeable, but their romance was pretty boring. I was more interested in the story of the antagonist and Margaret. But even so, I would recommend giving this book a shot, since it can be quite suspenseful at times.
4.0 out of 5 stars
nice, but not brilliant,
By
This review is from: Wolfskin (Hardcover)
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing is beautiful, though not brilliant, and the story flows nicely with enough of a balance between action and character development.Probably the main reason why I wouldn't give this book five stars is because I feel that it doesn't quite live up to its potential. Marillier has plenty of wonderful ideas for plot and and characters, but at times I felt a little cheated, as though she had taken the 'easy way out'. For instance, I immediately liked the main character Eynvind and his introduction to an elite warrior society known as the Wolfskins. The fact that Eynvind's brother is already an extremely successful member of this group makes for an interesting situation, I thought (younger brother, wants to prove himself, has to live up to his older brother's example, etc.). Although there are trials to overcome for Eynvind, however, he moves through them relatively quickly and without major problems, becoming one of the leading warrior himself very soon. The ending is similarly promising, and similarly disappointing. Marillier sets up a numbers of problems and obstacles for Eynvind to overcome, and he indeed struggles for a while, but in the end all the problems seem to disappear rather too easily, without a sufficient explanation. It almost feels as if she had gotten bored or run out of steam and just wanted to finish the book as quickly as possible. As I said, I truly enjoyed this book overall and would recommend reading it, but I was not 100% satisfied.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another masterpiece,
By
This review is from: Wolfskin (Paperback)
I can't wait for book 2. I found this Sunday at my local Barnes and Noble...took it to my favourite pub, and was so engrossed I let my beer get warm *lol*. Before I knew it I was halfway through and finished it last night. Evyi and Nessa made for fine hero's in the tale. Somerled, while twisted and devious, had a certian spark that you can't help but hope he comes around. Once again Marillier has struck gold.....
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