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Wolf of Winter The Paula Volsky 9780553568790 Books

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Wolf of Winter The Paula Volsky 9780553568790 Books

The book was great ! I read it when it was first published and haven't been able to find it since.


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Wolf of Winter The Paula Volsky 9780553568790 Books Reviews

for people who've yet to read it,

with responses to other reviews

The Wolf of Winter takes place (mostly) in a nation marked by the severity and length of its winter. the main characters are all of the royal family, though one of spend time in a forced role/identity elsewhere. as mentioned in other reviews the antagonist is complex, sympathetic, and both logical and generally well-meaning-- aside from activities (mostly necromantic) to secure and keep the throne. the story-line revolves around surviving (for the protagonist, Shalindra, and her brother, Cerrov), the time spent as prisoner to a library (protagonist), and the ascendancy to/ maintenance of the throne (antagonist, Cerrov).

drawbacks

If you prefer to know the definition of every word you read, you may a dictionary on hand, though I don't think her use of esoteric vocabulary is quite as extensive here as in some of her other books.

There is too much similarity in the thinking styles of her characters.... 'Repetitious' is too harsh a word, and it may not be very noticeable if you don't decide to marathon Volsky's works.

One of the other reviews (the one who read it at the gym) said something that I took to mean that he prefered books that were more action packed. This isn't a book isn't in the 'action/thriller' catagory. If you looking for an adventure style fantasy, this isn't it.

general style

Volsky not only develops rich characters, but similarly develops a richness of time and place... as though they too, were important characters. The interactions can be (for the character, or groups) slow and nuturing, ennervating, character-building, or the high drama that marks the storyline...

On the ending (reveals as little as i could.... but still...)

The complexity seemed lost on some of the reviewers. There is the implication that er... surviving necromancers may or may not use necromancy again, and may even, one day, go for the throne (unlikly, but who knows what time can bring?).

I did think the ending a little abrupt, and think an additional epilogue (online or for the next printing) would be a nice touch.
"The Wolf of Winter" begins with Varis, a youngest of three brothers in the royal family, suffering from much mockery for his physical handicaps. Fleeing to a remote hideaway in the mountains, he soon gets tempted by the dark magic of necromancy. Without any doubt, this opening section is the high point of the novel. Varis does not want to be a necromancer. He knows that use of the magic, and of the various drugs needed to achieve spectral power, eventually drives users insane. He knows, but he can't stop. He becomes addicted to drugs, to magic, and to the power that it brings. The portrait of addiction here is strikingly realistic, and indeed for those expecting just a standard swords of sorcery outing this may catch you by surprise. As others have said, it makes Varis a unique villain. We get caught between our loathing for his actions and our sympathy for the way that fate seemed to trap him. These first few chapters are so deep and conflicted, it makes you wonder whether Volsky had some experience with addiction in a friend or family member that led her to create this character.

Regretably, the rest of the book doesn't maintain the same high level. First of all, the reader must suffer a long, boring midsection that keeps Varis offstage while instead focusing on the Prince and Princess in exile. And in contrast to the excellent characterization at the start, many of the minor characters are mere stick figures. For instance, the academics at Frule at are little more than a tedious punch line.

In the end, Volsky seems afraid to push this story to its full potential. At one point she briefly mentions that after coming to power, Varis actually passed a number of reforms that improved life dramatically for the ordinary people of his kingdom. This raises the question, should we support a ruler who murdered and schemed his way to the throne if he proves a good ruler? Raises the question, but never answers it. The entire subject is merely dropped in favor of a pyrotechnic ending.
This is the second novel I have read by Paula Volsky (the first being Illusions). This story is made up of two narratives which eventually merge into one. One is the story of an outcast prince, Varis, who through the use of magical powers gained by necromancy, takes over a kingdom and sets out to abolish any potential rivals one by one. The other is the story of Shalindra, Varis's niece and sister to Varis's main rival and the rightful ruler of the kingdom. The thing that really grabs you and pulls you into the story is the sympathetic character of Varis. Varis is an underdog who has been unfairly treated and this makes you want to see him succeed and get revenge on those who have wronged him, even though his methods are evil.
I enjoyed the story, though, in retrospect, there was something about it that seemed a little hollow to me. Upon reflection I realized that the story seems to lack a strong transcendant moral or spiritual element which for me detracts from its overall value unlike, say, Lord of the Rings. There doesn't seem to be any real heros here and often there doesn't seem to be a lot of noticable difference between the two factions in the story. This is probably because the story is more heavily rooted in historical narrative than in mythical narrative. That said, Volsky is an excellent writer, excelling in detailed description, sympathetic characters, and a good plot hook that immediately grabs your interest and keeps you reading.
The book was great ! I read it when it was first published and haven't been able to find it since.