“Every bit as absorbing as the first volume, The Tempering of Men is compelling and intensely readable. Told from multiple perspectives, the characters are well-drawn and distinct, especially Brokkolfr and Amma, his amusingly maternal wolf-sister. Monette and Bear each excel at creating unique worlds when writing solo fiction, so it's no surprise that this joint effort combines their strengths into something extraordinary.” —RT Book Reviews, Top Pick
“The meticulously crafted setting and powerful, often moving rendition of characters and relationships-human and nonhuman alike-result in a brutal and beautiful novel about the meaning of honor. …the authors have boldly created a fascinating world that begs further exploration.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review on A Companion to Wolves
“Coauthors Monette and Bear combine their literary talents… [A] well-written and emotionally powerful quasi-Nordic fantasy.” —Library Journal on A Companion to Wolves
“The world they depict is fraught with a sense of wonder rare even in fantasy.… [Monette and Bear] have taken one of the most escapist of fantasy subgenres, in which humans and animals meld, and turned it into something powerful and surprisingly deeply human.” —Booklist on A Companion to Wolves
“What Bear and Monette have done for wolves in this book is no more and no less than what Anne McCaffrey has done for dragons--they have made the wolf iconic, memorable, something larger than life…. The storyline is gripping--I read this thing at a sitting--the writing is exquisite, and the book is destined to be a classic of its kind.” —SFSite on A Companion to Wolves
