Lindskold, Jane: Wolf’s Head, Wolf’s Heart (Firekeeper Saga II) (2002)

WolfsHeadWolfsHeart-hc — Hard cover for: Wolf’s Head, Wolf’s Heart
Cover artist: Julie Bell

WolfsHeadWolfsHeart-pb — Cover artist: Julie Bell

As you can tell I had a difficult time choosing between hardcover and paperback cover art, so I added them both.

Having begun reading to my son about Firekeeper we kept on going. Believe it or not, but quite a bit of snuggle time goes into around 600 pages worth of story. 600 pages is a lot of words. Sometimes I think the two of us get so caught up in how words and sentences connect that we forget to pay as much attention as we ought to. In my world that is only possible when the writing is tight and attention is paid to how writing is similar to music. Sometimes we have to laugh when I have trouble figuring out how to pronounce a name or two. What we do then is have a discussion on pronunciation and come to an agreement.

On to content. The Firekeeper Saga is about politics and relationships and coming of age if it is about anything. Sure there is action and fighting, but this is not what the series is about. I love action fantasy and science fiction and I love stories like the Firekeeper saga.

Wolf’s Head, Wolf’s Heart is still about Firekeeper and Blind Seer’s emerging role as ambassadors between humans and Royal kind. On that journey some of Firekeeper’s illusions about the superiority of the Royal kind are torn down. Blind Seer seems more of the adult than Firekeeper in this regard and is in fact one of the people who challenges Firekeeper’s previous beliefs.

Derian is another favorite of this tale. I imagine Lindskold has made certain that I be aware of him. Derian is Carter made Counselor, a role he had never imagined and feels overwhelmed by. He is easily Firekeeper’s favorite human friend and a very faithful one.

Waln Endbrook is a really good bad guy. He is the ultimate bully – afraid of letting go of power and ready to step on anyone who gets in his way – especially if they are weaker than he is. One of the more fascinating parts of Waln’s character was the mental acrobatics he was willing employ in order to avoid blaming himself for anything. It was always something the other person had done or said that brought about trouble. I hate meeting these people in real life because they scare the shit out of me. But I have also learned, the hard way, the necessity of seeming strong around them.

Elise and Doc are the “hopeless romance” carriers of the series. Poor guys. So in love and yet bound by the strictures of society from having any kind of romantic attachment. Politics sure do stink at times.

We are also introduced to Firekeeper’s adorable adopted brother Edlin Norwood. Hugh Laurie in Bertie Wooster exemplifies just how I imagine Edlin speaks.

Reviews:

Published: August 24, 2002
File Size: 1100 KB
Print Length: 620 pages
Language: English
ASIN: B003G93YE6
ISBN-10: 031287426X
ISBN-13: 978-0312874261

My review of Through Wolf’s Eyes

6 thoughts on “Lindskold, Jane: Wolf’s Head, Wolf’s Heart (Firekeeper Saga II) (2002)”

“politics and relationships and coming of age”

Some of my favorite things all in one book. Sounds good to me.

And for some reason I like the second cover best.

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humanitysdarkerside says:

2013-08-12 at 21:31

I really liked the first one because it depicted one of the scenes well. But I liked the second one because it said something to me about Firekeeper and Blind Seer’s relationship – that and the color of her robe.

It is interesting to see the three from the point of view of a wolf-child. Firekeeper is wild, strong, naive and loyal – and completely in over her head.

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