Synopses & Reviews
“A vivid, enchanting tale of friendship, trust, and adventure, good Tolkien-esque ingredients” (
Kirkus Reviews): The final installment of The Wolf Chronicles, told from the point of view of Kaala—a young wolf facing the most perilous decision in her life.
Fourteen thousand years ago in southern Europe, young wolf Kaala discovers that she alone can unite wolves and humans, and must do so for the survival of both species. In Promise of the Wolves and Secrets of the Wolves, Kaala came to understand her role. Born of a forbidden, mixed blood litter, and abandoned by her mother, Kaala struggled to earn her place in the Swift River pack. When she saved the life of a human girl, she put her hard-won acceptance at risk, and responsibility for keeping peace between wolf and humankind fell to her. She failed.
Now, in Spirit of the Wolves, Kaala has one last chance. She leaves her home in the Wide Valley with her young packmates, the human girl she loves, and an obnoxious raven. Together, they travel to the land beyond the valley to find her long-lost mother and a solution to the problem of the humans, only to discover that new challenges await them. Only by calling on all of her strength and on the bonds of love with her human, raven, and wolf companions can Kaala hope to succeed. In this compelling conclusion to The Wolf Chronicles, Kaala must decide how far she is willing to go for peace…when every step she takes leads wolfkind and humankind toward war.
Atmospheric, exciting, and provocative, Spirit of the Wolves is “a crackling foray into a dangerous past…Dorothy Hearst’s keen interpretations of wolf behavior, senses, and sensibilities will enchant paranormal fans and animal lovers alike” (Publishers Weekly).
Review
"Hearst excels at creating an atmospheric and richly imagined story, meticulously detailing wolf-human relations as told from the wolves’ perspective. Followers of the series will be waiting for this one. Those new to the series are advised to start from the beginning to better understand the ambitious arc of the trilogy."
Review
"Hearst has adroitly blended realistic descriptions of wolves on the hunt, at play and as they establish their hierarchy into the story, giving readers a fantastic sense of these creatures' nature. Imaginative and inventive, with an underlying message regarding humans and their approach to the environment, Spirit of the Wolves is a robust adventure."
Review
"A pleasing prehistory novel of wolves trying to help humans find their way in the world. Telling the tale from a wolf’s point of view is a terrific way to have readers consider where each creature fits into the larger scheme of the world. Worth checking out."
Review
“Dorothy Hearst creates a world that’s pure magic, but grounded in fact. For anyone interested in animal life, Spirit of the Wolves is irresistible.”
Review
"The story of Kaala and her pack takes readers on a journey into a rich and fascinating world. A remarkable look into the mind of another kind of being."
Review
"A vivid, enchanting tale of friendship, trust and adventure, good Tolkien-esque ingredients."
Review
"If you liked Watership Down, you should not miss Promise of the Wolves."
Review
"A crackling foray into a dangerous past. . .The relationships between the human characters and wolf characters are keenly felt and the conflicts sharply imagined. Hearst's keen interpretations of wolf behavior, senses and sensibilities will enchant paranormal fans and animal lovers alike."
Review
"Beguiles with its dazzling imaginings of the relationship between wolves and mankind."
About the Author
Previously a senior editor at Jossey-Bass, where she published books for nonprofit, public, and social change leaders, Dorothy Hearst currently lives and writes in Berkeley, California. Visit the author’s website at DorothyHearst.com.