The Wolf King

I loved this story. The whole trilogy was fabulous. The way the author wove in the colorful, grandeur, and beautifully detailed history of Rome in the dark ages with the ancient folklore of shapeshifters was enchanting and mesmerizing. A complete story filled with full action, drama, suspense,(warning***some sexual content and obscene language), and of course a beautiful love story. Alice Borchardt's writing is captivating and prose-like at times, and yet, at others very true to the times and crass when appropriate. I felt like I was there witnessing the events in person. Borchardt took me to another people, place and time and I love it when a book can accomplish that. A very great read!

Alice Borchardt shared a childhood of storytelling with her sister, the best selling novelist Anne Rice, in New Orleans. A professional nurse, she has also nurtured a profound interest in little-known periods of history. She published her debut novel, 'Devoted', in 1995. This is the third book in the trilogy of the legends of the Wolves. They have all been extremely well detailed with really good storylines, something you do not always get with fantasy fiction. I found all three books well worth reading and I am sorry that this is the last book. Regeane has been forced to leave her life Maeniel in his stronghold high in the mountains. She is drawn back to the land of her father. Her Saxon roots telling her to defend their lands, their way of life and their very soulds from Charlemagne. Regeane feels in her heart that she has no choice but to try to put a stop to the persecution of her shape shifter kin for ever . . .

Excellent continuation to the Silver Wolf. We get to see a deeper view of the life that Reagene has found and formed with her new husband. Also included is a good look into the changing Roman world and the politics behind it. A good adult fictional read, just enough real information to hold interest with just enough supernatural to keep it exciting.

When I started reading the third novel in Alice Borchardt's werewolf series I assumed "The Wolf King" was a reference to Maeniel, the gray wolf, but by the end of the story I had concluded it really meant Charlemagne, the Frankish monarch who is in the early stages of creating the Holy Roman Empire. If "The Silver Wolf" was about Regeane and "Night of the Wolf" was about Maeniel, then "The Wolf King" is not simply about both characters but each of them in turn, along with several others. The narrative begins with a Saxon rescuing Regeane's body from a snowbank only to take refuge in an abbey where they have a deadly encounter with the "bear" spirit she crossed paths with in "The Silver Wolf." However, by the end of the story this conflict has not only ended in a totally unexpected way, but has given way to other concerns. The army of Charles is on the march to bring down the King of Lombardy and when Maeniel does reconnaissance he is captured and condemned to death, not only for being a spy but also a shapeshifter as well. But in the end it is the rush to rescue Lucilla that provides the final conclusion. But while "The Wolf King" ends up being somewhat episodic because of this approach, it remains a compelling story and the fact that no one character assumes the main role as in the previous pair of novels matters little. I was happy to see the series return to the time of Charlemagne, mainly because it is a time period you do not usually come across in either historical or fantasy novels. My only complaint is that the details peculiar to that time are rather sparse. I do not like to get bogged down in historical minutiae, but I find that every time Borchardt brings out a little tidbit regarding dress or weaponry it fits nicely into the narrative and I would just like to see more of the same. Matrona, Dulcinia, Antonious and even Hugo are back from the first novel while Chiara, Ludolf, Lavinia, Remingus and the Saxon are added to the growing roster of bold characters who flesh out Borchardt's fascinating world. Again Borchardt is telling of the time when Western Civilization was rising up out of the Dark Ages to finally turn its back on its barbaric past. There is a wonderful little scene where you can argue we are witnessing the birth of the modern democratic spirit. "The Wolf King" is a rich tapestry that weaves history and fantasy into a seamless whole. Now that I am all caught up I look forward to the next volume in the series.

The runaway slave finds the scantily clad unconscious woman in the freezing snow. The Saxon ponders how soft and stupid the descendants of Caesar have become. Still, he saves the life of Regeane, carrying her to the nearby abbey at the pass, which he planned to avoid because of the brutal rumors of non-human occupants. The two stragglers receive an unfriendly welcoming by the monastery's residents and the Saxon is taken to the dungeon for torture and probable death.The two prisoners learn that a demonic spirit Bear controls everyone. Regeane's "wolf-mate" Maeniel rescues them from hell, but the Bear realizes that Regeane is a werewolf and wants control of her to add to his already powerful arsenal. The Bear follows the trio using and discarding weak mortals while Maeniel does an errand for the Emperor Charlemagne.The third entry in Alice Borchardt's "Wolf" series, THE WOLF KING, is a powerful entry in a strong supernatural historical series that makes werewolves and other paranormal creatures seem genuine. The story line is exciting from the first page to the last and the tidbits from the Charlemagne era add depth to the plot. It helps to have read the first two books (see THE SILVER WOLF and NIGHT OF THE WOLF) to better understand the motives of the stars. Still, this novel is a well-written stand-alone tale that will please sub-genre fans.Harriet Klausner