WOLFBREED - S. A. Swann
Wolfbreed, Book 1
Spectra (Trade Paperback)
ISBN: 978-0-553-80738-7
September 2009
Fantasy - With romantic elements

Burzenland and Prûsa ~ 1221-1239

The Teutonic Order (a German military crusading group) is determined to conquer the heathens of Prûsa. They will be converted to Christianity or die for their pagan beliefs. The Teutonic Knights’ greatest advantage in the battle is one that some among them believe is really a creation of Satan, a group of human-like children with the ability to transform into hideous creatures most closely resembling wolves. The monk who chanced upon a litter in the mountains of Burzenland, Brother Semyon von Kassel, names them the Wolfbreed. It’s with his guidance that they become the most fearsome arsenal ever. Chief among them is a girl named Lilly. She’s the most obedient, intelligent pupil the Order has and she seems to relish her missions, destroying those her master sends her after with no compunction.

It appears the people of Prûsa will have no choice but to bow to the will of God (His will as the Teutonic Knights view it, anyway). However, there’s one thing the Knights didn’t foresee --- what would happen when Uldolf, a boy with a generous soul, meets Lilly and introduces her to something she’s never experienced, true humanity.

Brother Semyon determines soon after taking Lilly and her siblings for his own, that the WOLFBREED aren’t demons (being made of earthly matter), nor are they possessed (as exorcism doesn’t affect them), but his final determination, that they are beasts despite their sometimes human appearance, isn’t true either. He may not realize it, but you will as you get to know Lilly for yourself. Yes, she is without a doubt a terrifying killer; her strength and fierce behavior would cow all but the most fearless beings. However, as time passes, it becomes obvious that she’s no mere animal. You can’t help but feel sorrow for the things that are done to Lilly, and you’ll become certain that in this tale of war and religious fervor, she is a heroine, despite the tarnish on her armor.

There are other heroes in this tale as well. Chief amongst them is Uldolf, a Prûsan boy. Having lost his arm during an attack on his home eight years before (an attack that resulted in the deaths of his parents and younger sister), one could assume that the boy would grow up bitter and morose. Instead, he’s overcome his disability and displays a kind and giving soul that allows him to forge his own path and feel compassion for others. Uldolf’s adoptive family, Gedim (his uncle), Burthe, and their daughter, Hilde, are loving people who treat him as if he’s never belonged anywhere but with them. Then there are those who, in some cases believe themselves to be heroes, warriors for the cause of God: Brother Semyon, despite his former teacher’s warnings about his tendency towards cruelty, believes firmly that the hand of God moves through him; Landkomtur Erhard von Stendal is Lilly’s keeper; he’s certain she’d never turn on him and he’s fond of her, in the manner of a hunting master towards a favored hound; Bishop Cecilio, a representative for the pope, is hostile to the Order, believing they have too much power. Among the Prûsans working for the Order, there are two who remember the past and have the ability to change its future, though whether for the better remains to be seen: Günter Sejod, Sergeant-at-arms for the Johannisburg garrison, and Lankut, a guard at the gates. All of these characters leave their own indelible marks on this story, and together with Lilly, they bring this story to vivid life.

I’m not necessarily fond of books where the author has so obviously spent a great deal of time researching historical intrigues of the past. That’s because they so easily become boring monologues that put me in mind of an old college professor who put me to sleep more times than I can count while he lectured (on what should have been fascinating stuff) in his unwavering monotone. Happily, that is not the case here! S. A. Swann has delivered a fresh take on the old werewolf myths and combined it with a time period that, for most, remains wreathed in mystery. After reading the first in the Wolfbreed series, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the second, WOLF’S CROSS (coming in fall 2010). A book that demands your attention and is sure to make you think, WOLFBREED is a fantasy with everything needed to make it a keeper.

Lori Ann