Wolf Tower, Claidi Journals, Book I

For the course of her entire life, sixteen-year-old Claidi, and orphan, has had to endure the hardships of living as a servant in the House, where she must obey every command from the spoiled princess she waits on hand and foot; and is forced to observe, and participate in countless ridiculous rituals. That is, until a golden-haired stranger appears at the House, proving that there truly is life beyond these walls. Claidi feels endless hope and happiness from his arrival, but the other House members don't, for they lock him away. So Claidi grasps onto every bit of strength and bravery that she has to free the prisoner, and follows him through the Waste to his homeland. Claidi enjoys the journey very much, and she is with a man she knows she could love. That is, until they finally reach their place...the Wolf Tower. As a fan of Gail Carson Levine's ELLA ENCHANTED, I had a feeling that I wuld enjoy Tanith Lee's WOLF TOWER, and I truly did. Lee's fantastically rich descriptions of life for Claidi are marvelous, while Claidi's sharp tongue and quick wit couldn't be more enjoyable. The supporting characters are all filled with their own crazy quirks, while more and more adventure and danger appears on every page. Overall, this is a fabulous new addition to the YA genre that will be loved by fantasy readers young and old. Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

This book is the first in its series and is wonderful. If you are looking for a book that catches your attention from the very beginning, then this is that book. I highly suggest you read it. The American book is called "Wolf Tower" and can also be found at this website.Click on my name to find out more about this book. I've read it at leats five times and it has never failed to catch my attention.

I am writing this review because I was reading other readers' reviews, and realizing that too many of them had given away important surprising aspects of the book. When I read Wolf Tower, I did so without having any idea what the book was about, save for the vague summary on the back cover. I know you have probably already read the editor review that gives away the entire story, but I hope not. Claidi lives in the House, an isolated oasis in the middle of what House residents call the Waste: a place of horrors where the profaners of sacred rituals are sent into exile. Claidi believes the dreadful tales of the Waste, and goes on suffering as a servant to Lady Jade Leaf in the House... until a balloon crashes in the House garden, and the balloon's occupant is put on trial. Then Claidi is swept into an adventure of her own, alongside Nemian, the golden stranger from the balloon. She comes to discover that the Waste is not at all what she has been led to believe, most things aren't what they seem, and that following her heart is, in the long run, going to make her happier than doing what her better judgement tells her is right.I am a big fan of Tanith Lee, and have become even more so after reading Wolf Tower. The characters and places come alive, and hold more clarity than even some things in life. If you choose not to read this book, then you are truly missing a wonderful and beautiful tale. If you do decide to read it, then be prepared for a delightful, humorous, and sometimes poignant look into the life of Claidi, an ordinary girl on an extraordinary adventure.

I picked this book up one day when I was really rushed for time, and I read the entire book that day. Lee's characters are well-developed, especially Claidi. Claidi's voice changes as her journey continues, and the descriptions are vivid and full of color. I felt that I was transported to each of the places that Claidi visits. When I realized that this is the first book of more, I eagerly checked to see what the other books were. To my disappointment, they aren't out yet! This will definitely be a book that I read more than once, and I hope that the other books are just as good. Wolf Tower really caught my attention and I am always glad to find a new author to read.

Tanith Lee writes marvelous YA fantasies-- witty, imaginative, vibrant, and thoroughly entertaining. Wolf Tower is an excellent example of her many talents, including the rare ability to write in the perspective of a teenager-- and make it sound completely genuine and convincing. There's a marvelous sense of immediacy throughout the novel as it is told in the form of a journal by sixteen year old Claidi, by turns sharp, naive, and sarcastic. Most readers (particularly teenage girls) will be able to easily identify with Claidissa Star, even though they haven't been virtual slaves in a tightly ordered and hierarchical House. Despite continuous harsh treatment, Claidi retains much of her rebellious nature. When the handsome stranger Nemian comes to the House, she is given the opportunity to journey with him to dangerous and bizarre lands beyond the House's confines where she has her own destiny to fulfill. But it's not a destiny Claidi particularly wants... Peopled with lively characters from a mix of highly original cultures, Wolf Tower is an unusually creative and unpredictable YA fantasy that neatly avoids many fantasy cliches and tells a thought-provoking story at the same time. If you like Wolf Tower, your best bet is probably either waiting for sequels, or reading Tanith Lee's Unicorn trilogy (Black Unicorn, Gold Unicorn, Red Unicorn) which contains the same level of originality and intelligence. By the way, Wolf Tower is one of those books that gets better with multiple readings-- I liked it much more after rereading it.Ailanna