The overwhelming impression this book gives is of arrogance. The werewolf species is portrayed as so smug in their conviction that they are far superior to humans, that they are barely likeable. I really didn’t care for any of them or what might happen to them. A little of this would have gone a long way, but the author goes overboard with it. If they are so superior, then why are they in constant hiding? Why do they bother to take human shape at all if it’s such a poor substitute for a wolf’s form? It makes no sense.

But I guess this build up was necessary to make Denis’s eventual alliance and relationship with Tessa seem all the more fantastic and improbable. After Denis’s plot to kill the queen (Alexander’s wife) fails (he set up Tessa to shoot them but she deliberately missed), they are both sent to Alaska. Despite her fear of him and his loathing for her, they take care of each other. He hunts for her and she once freed him from a steel trap. Eventually, they discover a cave in which to shelter. It is remarkably deep and within its twisting labyrinth, they discover remains of an ancient werewolf society. Far older than anything connected with human history. They live there and eventually they have sex while he is in human form. She has a brat.

From overweening guilt, Alexander is driven to search for Tessa and Denis in Alaska. He finds them and fights with Denis while both are in wolf form. Despite being a weaker man and a lesser fighter, Alexander defeats Denis and kills him. Tessa follows not long after.

They take the brat – who is a forbidden hybrid – back to civilization with them. There is some kind of controversy about her and wanting to destroy the pack, but it wasn’t very clear. The story was told at the very beginning of the novel and then brought up again at the very end, with this whole long saga in between, so it was hard to follow. Still, I’m going to read the sequel, if only to see how Alexander’s son goes on from here. Apparently, his love for humans is somewhere in between his father’s and his uncle’s. ( )

Fast-paced and intense, this book delves into the ancient mystery of werewolves, humans, and where they intersect. ( )

A little insulting, as the werewolves look down on humans, but all in all a good read. ( )

read / Don't let the old cover shown fool you. The book has a different more attractive one now. I rushed through almost 150 pages of this one while sick in bed with the flu... so far an excitingly refreshing read. The comparisons to Anne Rice's revival of vampire lore are not unwarranted. If you love werewolves GET THIS BOOK! 2007 ( )

My favorite "paranormal" book. This succeeds because it stays away from standard "paranormal romance" or "fantasy" or "horror" generic plot lines and characters, but instead presents full characters with writing that puts as much emphasis on quality as it does on fast-paced plot. Very well done, and the sequel is almost as good. Even though first edition value is not very high, I'm holding on to these because I believe in them. ( )