ARC Review: The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
Author: Anne Rice
Book: The Wolf Gift
Release: February 14th 2012
Series: Novel
Reviewer: Steph (Eowyn)
Source: Knopf Publishing Group
Purchase: – Book DepositoryThe time is the present.
The place, the rugged coast of Northern California. A bluff high above the Pacific. A grand mansion full of beauty and tantalizing history set against a towering redwood forest.
A young reporter on assignment from the San Francisco Observer . . . An older woman welcoming him into her magnificent family home that he has been sent to write about and that she must sell with some urgency . . . A chance encounter between two unlikely people . . . An idyllic night—shattered by horrific unimaginable violence, the young man inexplicably attacked—bitten—by a beast he cannot see in the rural darkness . . . A violent episode that sets in motion a terrifying yet seductive transformation, as the young man, caught between ecstasy and horror, between embracing who he is evolving into and fearing what he will become, soon experiences the thrill of the wolf gift.
As he resists the paradoxical pleasure and enthrallment of his wolfen savagery and delights in the power and (surprising) capacity for good, he is caught up in a strange and dangerous rescue and is desperately hunted as “the Man Wolf” by authorities, the media, and scientists (evidence of DNA threatens to reveal his dual existence) . . . As a new and profound love enfolds him, questions emerge that propel him deeper into his mysterious new world: questions of why and how he has been given this gift; of its true nature and the curious but satisfying pull towards goodness; of the profound realization that there may be others like him who are watching—guardian creatures who have existed throughout time who possess ancient secrets and alchemical knowledge. And throughout it all, the search for salvation for a soul tormented by a new realm of temptations, and the fraught, exhilarating journey, still to come, of being and becoming, fully, both wolf and man.
When I discovered that Anne Rice had a new novel coming out that would delve into the world of the werewolf legend I was so excited I couldn’t contain myself. I immediately requested an ARC copy of The Wolf Gift and Knopf was kind enough to allow Paperback Dolls a copy. I must say I loved the book and hungrily read each word with anticipation.
In The Wolf Gift Rice tackles the legend of the werewolf much the same way she tackled vampires and witches. She weaves a tale for you creating new perceptions and adding her own twist changing how we perceive the werewolf. One thing that I loved about her created legend is the fact that you are very much aware while you are in the wolf state and this is exactly what makes the story so endearing.
We are introduced to Reuben Golding who is a young energetic reporter searching for deeper meaning in his life when he suddenly finds himself with the “wolf gift”. There are many things I thoroughly enjoyed and loved in The Wolf Gift. The first thing is the fact that Reuben actually considers this a blessing. A quote from Reuben that sums this up quite nicely is “I thank you with all my heart for the gift of life, for all the blessings you have rained down upon me, for the miracle of life in all its forms-and Lord, I thank you for the Wolf Gift.” Since the story is from his perspective we marvel with him as he discovers his newfound strength. We journey along as he discovers his sense of smell is stronger; he can jump on top of buildings and run lightning fast. I also love the fact that we are taken along on his moral journey as well since he struggles with whether or not he is evil and what it means to be good or evil. Reuben has to entertain ethical questions regarding when is it ok to kill, if they are evil, about to kill someone else etc. These are complex issues and I enjoyed the thoughts that Reuben has around the issues and the lessons he learns along the way.
Reuben isn’t the only fascinating character in The Wolf Gift. As we learn more about the history of the werewolf we are introduced to an enchanting group and I was entirely engrossed in the mythological beginnings for the werewolf race that Rice has created. I felt I was sitting at the table leaning in with my head on my hands hanging on every last word. I was a little disappointed to sit the book down and leave the company of such fantastic companions.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book was in the beginning I felt the book was paced a little slow. This was necessary to create the backdrop for the rest of the story but I want to warn you to keep reading!!! Once the story picks up you will find yourself tuning out everything around you as you voraciously read to the last page.
I feel that Rice has given herself lots of room for more books in this series if she chooses. There are many characters introduced and I would love to see books on the back stories of many of them and hopefully we will learn more about Felix, I loved him. This is an enchanting read that draws you in, captivates you, and wraps you in its splendor. I am so excited that Rice is back in this genre. If you are a fan of Rice’s work you must read The Wolf Gift, nothing beats a day curled up on the couch with coffee or tea and a mesmerizing book by Anne Rice.
I’ve never read a Rice book *gasp* I know. Thanks for the review. I can’t wait to pick this one up.
Amy, you will love it. I felt it was less dark than the Vampire Chronicles. I love them too. Perhaps you should check out The Witching Hour too. Her witch series was my favorite by far.
I always wanted to check out her witches series, I’ve had several people tell me how fantastic they are.
“The only thing I didn’t like about the book was in the beginning I felt the book was paced a little slow.”
This line really gives me pause. I have read the first 3 books in her Vampire Chronicles and they’re still the only books to date to actually make me fall dead asleep! While interesting, they were sooo long winded that they never could keep my attention. I know that I may read it eventually, but I think I’ll be really cautious about it.
I have some of Rice’s book, but I’ve procrastinated about reading them simply because of the reviews that branded them as moralizing or preachy. Maybe I’ll give one a shot just to see.
Thanks.
[...] As he resists the paradoxical pleasure and enthrallment of his wolfen savagery and delights in the power and (surprising) capacity for good, he is caught up in a strange and dangerous rescue and is desperately hunted as “the Man Wolf” by authorities, the media, and scientists (evidence of DNA threatens to reveal his dual existence) . . . As a new and profound love enfolds him, questions emerge that propel him deeper into his mysterious new world: questions of why and how he has been given this gift; of its true nature and the curious but satisfying pull towards goodness; of the profound realization that there may be others like him who are watching—guardian creatures who have existed throughout time who possess ancient secrets and alchemical knowledge. And throughout it all, the search for salvation for a soul tormented by a new realm of temptations, and the fraught, exhilarating journey, still to come, of being and becoming, fully, both wolf and man. Read her review Here [...]