Wolf's Blood by Jane Lindskold
So! Many! Characters! And! Subplots!
AND THE NAMES!!!
Ok, I'm not even going to try recapping most of this or anything. By the end of book 5, it was pretty obvious that Lindskold was tripping over subplots and characrers and realizing she'd left some of them dangling for 2-3 books. Half this book was Firekeeper running around and touching base with VIRTUALLY EVERY CHARACTER EVER and their all somehow ending up in the Old World. I mean, yes, great to see everyone again and all, and I'm glad they just weren't left dangling, but come on.
And then, of course, Lindskold went and introduced NEW VILLAINS and NEW COUNTRIES and NEW RACES and what with all the running around and trying to wrap up the other 500 subplots, I wasn't exactly sure what was going on there. AND THE NAMES! I don't know how Lindskold comes up with names, and I think I'm too scared to learn. If it's not something like Wantoniola, then it looks like she just pulled letters out of a hat and went with it. Again: Wantoniola.
But still, all in all it was a good conclusion to the series. It addressed and resolved a lot of the problems and subplots(though I wish certain things hadn't jumped from "many things need to be resolved in our romance and oh yeah, we're kinda socially forbidden but not quite" to "hey, we're married and pregnant now" with no word in between.) Most importantly, Firekeeper finally came to terms with and accepted her dual nature, and essentially said "screw you" to anyone who objected to her being in love with a wolf. Go Firekeeper. Also, Derian finally met a girl who didn't dump him for someone else or for responsibility. I'm pleased for him. Even if he did have to deal with the whole bit where her brother had some serious one sided incestuous issues going. (Did you think I used the Lucilla icon on accident?) Also, I think I'm finally convinced he's not still carrying a torch for Firekeeper.
(Also, an Amazon reviewer says that the book didn't resolve who Firekeep loves. What? Did they not read the last three books? Was their copy missing the last chapter of this book? Yeesh.)
In short: good series with a great female lead and a lot of interesting ideas, but suffers from too many subplots being added to existing subplots, and cramming enough ideas for 2-3 series into one, resulting in the series somewhat falling apart in the last book and a half. Still, pretty good and worth reading.
AND THE NAMES!!!
Ok, I'm not even going to try recapping most of this or anything. By the end of book 5, it was pretty obvious that Lindskold was tripping over subplots and characrers and realizing she'd left some of them dangling for 2-3 books. Half this book was Firekeeper running around and touching base with VIRTUALLY EVERY CHARACTER EVER and their all somehow ending up in the Old World. I mean, yes, great to see everyone again and all, and I'm glad they just weren't left dangling, but come on.
And then, of course, Lindskold went and introduced NEW VILLAINS and NEW COUNTRIES and NEW RACES and what with all the running around and trying to wrap up the other 500 subplots, I wasn't exactly sure what was going on there. AND THE NAMES! I don't know how Lindskold comes up with names, and I think I'm too scared to learn. If it's not something like Wantoniola, then it looks like she just pulled letters out of a hat and went with it. Again: Wantoniola.
But still, all in all it was a good conclusion to the series. It addressed and resolved a lot of the problems and subplots(though I wish certain things hadn't jumped from "many things need to be resolved in our romance and oh yeah, we're kinda socially forbidden but not quite" to "hey, we're married and pregnant now" with no word in between.) Most importantly, Firekeeper finally came to terms with and accepted her dual nature, and essentially said "screw you" to anyone who objected to her being in love with a wolf. Go Firekeeper. Also, Derian finally met a girl who didn't dump him for someone else or for responsibility. I'm pleased for him. Even if he did have to deal with the whole bit where her brother had some serious one sided incestuous issues going. (Did you think I used the Lucilla icon on accident?) Also, I think I'm finally convinced he's not still carrying a torch for Firekeeper.
(Also, an Amazon reviewer says that the book didn't resolve who Firekeep loves. What? Did they not read the last three books? Was their copy missing the last chapter of this book? Yeesh.)
In short: good series with a great female lead and a lot of interesting ideas, but suffers from too many subplots being added to existing subplots, and cramming enough ideas for 2-3 series into one, resulting in the series somewhat falling apart in the last book and a half. Still, pretty good and worth reading.