The Silver Wolf

Awhile ago I read The Silver Wolf by Alice Borchardt. Sister to Anne Rice. Of all the many "truths" I felt in this incredible book... I wanted to share this one. As it is not within a woman's faceted heart to deny continued creation... we may one day lose our mothers instinct and with it, our compassion. "And never learn to glory in death as some men do. Women have the power of life and death. We, after all, give birth and the fate of humanity is in our hands. That's why men try so hard to rule us, my dear. They know if we once looked well on what they have made of human existence, we might close our legs and within our barren wombs bring the comedy to an end." Quote from an incredible character/lady, Lucilla... may all women have the strength to love with the ferocity, the single mindedness that woman was capable of. She knew that in the world of man, a woman had to harden with courage and learn to embrace the viciousness that is in a woman's soul. For if ever the nature of man were cruel... a woman can be more so but with the sweetest smile and the most loving touch concealing the dagger in her hand. That was not an explanation on the book... btw. It was but a moment I took from it. The story is magic. It's human nature and mans conspiracy in politics during "the" post roman era. It's an extraordinary girl, Regeane... trapped in the world of mans goals... maturing to womanhood and acceptance of who she is.. hmm.. more importantly... what she is. I thoroughly enjoyed this book... and the above referenced moment was, to me, a thought worth sharing.

Regeane is a child of noble blood on her mother's side, her father dead before she was even born. That blood managed to get her betrothed to a man of Charlamagne's choice. But Regeane's blood also gives her another problem. By night,thanks to her father's blood, she's wolf, and if anyone finds out, she's dead. With her mother's death, young Regeane is left in the care of her cruel uncle Gunabald and her witless(or just plain terrified)cousin Hugo. Gunabald is a very cruel, greedy man, who sees Regeane's betrothal as a path to the life they think they deserve. However, Regeane, as well as several friends she makes in the course of the book, have different ideas. With their help, Regeane hopes to survive, and at least, if she can't escape her marriage, at least to escape Gunabald and the plans he has for her. See, he wants her to kill her new husband, or help them do it. What Gunabald doesn't realize are the political ramifactions involved in that. But, going on. This is the story of a girl fighting to be what and who she is, in a world that would declare her a witch. The friends who help her are very intriguing people, and i wish there were whole books about some of them. It's definetly a great story.

This book focuses on Regeane, a misunderstood and orphaned noblewoman, mistreated by her relatives, who happens to be a werewolf. She has fought the wolf part of herself and has not really come into her power. She is a pawn in a huge powerplay which could effect the entire Empire or at least what's left of it. She meets Maeniel from Night of the Wolf. In human form, neither knows at first that the other is a wolf. The book goes from there and sees justice for Regeane as well as happiness.

I enjoyed this book very much. I did not view it so much a novel about a werewolf as a unique hybrid: two creatures, human and wolf, cohabitating the same physical space. I found myself vicariously experiencing the decaying decadence of Rome, the "underworld" and the freedom of the wolf. Truly an unusual romp through history and fantasy.

The Silver Wolf is the most fabulous book I have ever read. I didn't want it to end. As soon as I was finished I had to run out and bye the sequel, Night of the Wolf. I can't wait for Alice Borchardt to continue the story of Regene and Maeniel in another book. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves magic, adventure, politics, romance and suspense. I will read this book again and again. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!