Publishers Weekly
As in his Fire Bringer, Clement-Davies's new fantasy novel features talking animals (Vargs, or wolves, instead of deer), a militant pack with a power-hungry leader, a prophecy involving a newborn that proves gifted (a white wolf who has the Sight, which can be used to see the future, heal and even control others) and the author creates imaginative mythologies (here drawing on everything from Christianity to Little Red Riding Hood). Also, both prophecies speak of a marked one (this time it turns out to be a stolen human child) and the revelation of a secret. But readers may find the creative plotting here even more compelling than in the author's first novel and the cryptic prophecy's meaning will keep them guessing. Larka, a white wolf, and her family are hunted, initially by Morgra, who strives to become the powerful Man Varg (also foretold in the prophecy); a rebel pack also hunts them (Slavka, its leader, seeks to destroy all that claim to have the Sight). After Larka loses members of her pack, she embarks on a solo journey and finds teachers who help her master the Sight, using it to heal the "human cub" and to prepare to face Morgra. Despite sophisticated language and some complex concepts, such as the origins of evil, the author's clever plot twists (such as which wolf eventually claims to be Wolfbane) make the thick novel well worth the commitment. Strong female characters also provide a refreshing change to the often male-dominated science-fiction/fantasy field. Ages 12-up. (Mar.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up-In Transylvania, some time in the past, a she-wolf named Palla gives birth to two cubs, an all-white female named Larka and a male named Fell. These are strange times for the Varg, as the wolves call themselves-Palla's outcast sister Morgra has gained power over a large group of fighting wolves and is determined to gain ultimate power by creating a "Man Varg," mingling the consciousness of a Sighted wolf with that of a human child in order to achieve a Vision of the world. Young Larka has the Sight, a form of ESP, and her pack is torn apart as Morgra attempts to capture her. Roman mythology, Christianlike theology, and supernatural horror all combine to form the legends that lead the Varg toward their destinies. Its members are realistically wolflike; their cold, harsh environment is vividly depicted; and elements of the story are quite exciting. However, much of the tension is lost by a convoluted plot and a multitude of interminable scenes, mostly discussions between characters, that will make many readers either skip ahead or abandon the book entirely. However, this may be a good choice for readers who have outgrown Brian Jacques's "Redwall" series (Philomel) and are ready for a more complicated animal fantasy.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Clement-Davies (Fire Bringer, 2000) returns with another powerful animal fantasy, in which wolves pit instinct against legend. In medieval Transylvania, scarred by human superstition and violence, a small wolf pack flees the tyranny of Morgra, leader of the Gestapo-like Night Hunters. Their newborn cubs are marked by the prophecy of the Sight, a mysterious power that allows wolves to commune with birds, see the past and the future, and even control the minds of others. Pursued by Morgra's curse, the pack is destroyed one by one, leaving only young Larka. She must endure harsh testing by the elements, elude those seeking her life, and overcome her own despair in order to hone the Sight, and discover the deepest power of all: the secret of Man. In this staggeringly ambitious allegory, wherein myths, history, even the landscape have rich symbolic resonance, Clement-Davies's reach sometimes exceeds his grasp. His huge cast, while complex and vivid, can become confusing; too often he preaches through his characters, rather than allowing them to tell their own stories. Still, the tale possesses an epic grandeur, and the poetic language evokes both lyric mysticism and immediate passionate sensuality. As Larka's messianic destiny unfolds, her journey is filled with tragedy, bitterness, violence, and betrayal; but there is also sacrifice, courage, and a love beyond all loss. Above all, this is a story about stories: how they educate, enrich, and comfort, but also entrap within the dead weight of myth. As much as the reader will learn about wolves, close attention will reveal even more about what it means to be human. A flawed but heartbreaking work of imaginative vision. (Fiction. YA)
From the Publisher
A heartbreaking work of imaginative vision. (Kirkus Reviews)
