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A review by kikiandarrowsfishshelf
Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold
4.0
There is something about girls and animals. At least, that's what I'm thinking as I try to come with this review. When you think about fantasy, there is something about girls and animals. You have [a:Anne McCaffrey|26|Anne McCaffrey|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1190676943p2/26.jpg] and Pern; you have [a:Mercedes Lackey|8685|Mercedes Lackey|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1215643156p2/8685.jpg] and Valdemar; you have all those horse stories about the wild stallion who gets gelded tamed by a young girl who lets him go at the end; you have those girl and dog stories; girl and cat stories.
Stories about boys and animals, like [b:The Wolfling: A Documentary Novel of the Eighteen-Seventies|935448|The Wolfling A Documentary Novel of the Eighteen-Seventies|Sterling North|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179601164s/935448.jpg|920432] or [b:My Friend Flicka|164542|My Friend Flicka|Mary O'Hara|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172336624s/164542.jpg|3022662], seem to be less emotional, less fantasy, more real.
I like both types, though I tend to be wary these days about magical telepathic girls and animals. It seems a bit over done and annoying. Though, there is most likely some big pyschological thing behind it, having to do with freedom of social roles and power. Needless to say, I was so wary that I didn't pick this up until years after it had been published.
It's pretty good. Firebringer isn't telepathic with all animals, just mostly the magic animals that raised (and they all magical). Firebringer, herself, might have some magical ability, but she is hardly the only one in the book who does (Lindwold does seem to owe something to Lackey in terms of her magic system). The companionship between Firebringer, her pack mates (in particular Blind Seer) and her hawk friend is well done. While Blind Seer and Elation might speak in a somewhat polished telepathic voice, they sound like animals. They think like animals. Animals with intelligence, yes but animals. Their behavior isn't very far, if any, out of the bounds of normal. (My doberman not only knew what the Christmas tree meant, but he also knew what 'not until morning' meant).
Firebringer is not, as the blurbs on the book correctly state, a normal fairy tale princess. Lindwold's resolution to the question of Firebrigner's birth is well done. In fact, the weakest part of the book is the battle at the end, but part of that seems to be though point of view. The court politics are well done.
What I enjoyed most, however, is the three examples of different type of young women. There is Firebring, who becomes house broken, but not tamed. There is Elise, who is a "girly" girl, but who speaks for the postive side of that and shows bravery. There is Sapphire, who comes across as spoiled, but matures and presents a mid point between Firebringer and Elise. I liked that. It's good to see true friendship between women in a book, where they are not talking about men or sex when they get together.
Stories about boys and animals, like [b:The Wolfling: A Documentary Novel of the Eighteen-Seventies|935448|The Wolfling A Documentary Novel of the Eighteen-Seventies|Sterling North|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179601164s/935448.jpg|920432] or [b:My Friend Flicka|164542|My Friend Flicka|Mary O'Hara|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172336624s/164542.jpg|3022662], seem to be less emotional, less fantasy, more real.
I like both types, though I tend to be wary these days about magical telepathic girls and animals. It seems a bit over done and annoying. Though, there is most likely some big pyschological thing behind it, having to do with freedom of social roles and power. Needless to say, I was so wary that I didn't pick this up until years after it had been published.
It's pretty good. Firebringer isn't telepathic with all animals, just mostly the magic animals that raised (and they all magical). Firebringer, herself, might have some magical ability, but she is hardly the only one in the book who does (Lindwold does seem to owe something to Lackey in terms of her magic system). The companionship between Firebringer, her pack mates (in particular Blind Seer) and her hawk friend is well done. While Blind Seer and Elation might speak in a somewhat polished telepathic voice, they sound like animals. They think like animals. Animals with intelligence, yes but animals. Their behavior isn't very far, if any, out of the bounds of normal. (My doberman not only knew what the Christmas tree meant, but he also knew what 'not until morning' meant).
Firebringer is not, as the blurbs on the book correctly state, a normal fairy tale princess. Lindwold's resolution to the question of Firebrigner's birth is well done. In fact, the weakest part of the book is the battle at the end, but part of that seems to be though point of view. The court politics are well done.
What I enjoyed most, however, is the three examples of different type of young women. There is Firebring, who becomes house broken, but not tamed. There is Elise, who is a "girly" girl, but who speaks for the postive side of that and shows bravery. There is Sapphire, who comes across as spoiled, but matures and presents a mid point between Firebringer and Elise. I liked that. It's good to see true friendship between women in a book, where they are not talking about men or sex when they get together.