With this book Leo Carew joins the ranks of the top military fantasy authors such as Glen Cook, David Gemmell, Steven Erikson, and the already mentioned Paul Kearney. The Anakim (a biblical name for a race of giants) are essentially Norse Spartans. By Kilo rev's on 06-26-20. Skirmishes, minor sorties, before a mass battle? The story is a typical revenge tale, which at the basic level has Roper, a prince of the ancient Anakim, determined to avenge his father’s death, defend his Kingdom against the invading army from the South and seek recompense from those who treated him badly when he came to power. WHAT REVIEWERS ARE ALREADY SAYING ABOUT CAREW'S BREATHTAKING FANTASY EPIC: ' The next George RR Martin ' - … The maps at the beginning of the book indicate the Northern Sky of the Anakim covers lands which approximate everything above modern-day Leeds and is it easy to imagine an amplified version of that landscape, a wilder and more unwelcoming place filled with dangerous terrain and predatory beasts. 4.0 out of 5 stars The Wolf-a great 1st Part. Just a good book, it makes you want to keep reading and really intrigued me all the way. 7 This sort of story is familiar to readers of epic fantasy, but The Wolf is a worthy addition to the genre; the author has crafted a distinctive world and a … Loved the book and can't wait to read the next installments. I appreciated the effort and felt that it was a good try, though there were other elements of the book in terms of say, pace and plotting, that made me think that this is the work of a debut author. The Wolf is a triumph and I eagerly look forward to more Even here, there are some questionable decisions by the author to skip over battles and only have them recounted in retrospect-the first time was plot driven and necessary, but then again? It is focused on the clash of three main players: Roper, the new 'Black Lord' of the Anakim, whose abrupt empowerment following the death of his father places him in a position that is tenuous at best; his main rival, Uvoren, a famous Anakim warrior whose popularity and position at the head of the Sacred Guard allows his deadly ambition to challenge the throne; and Bellamus, a wiley Sutherner determined to break out of his low-born status by starting and winning a war in the North. Similarly with the use of place-names. Ignore the poor reviews. A great war has come to the land under the Northern Sky. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. By using ouruse of. The issue with the names is explained in my review, I think. A great war has come to the land under the Northern Sky. Buy the Paperback Book The Wolf by Leo Carew at Indigo.ca, Canada's largest bookstore. The Wolf by Leo Carew (Under The Northern Sky #1) 4/10 Some promising signs, but the failure in cohesion and pacing drained far too much of the fun. The characters, though starting as fairly nondescript traditional tropes, do develop into something more than the typical. We traipsed into basecamp beneath the midday sun, exhausted and bitterly disappointed. 4 In the end I felt that there’s a lot of surface but little depth. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The Wolf by Leo Carew, 9780316521376, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. Allowing for these issues, though, there’s a lot to like about this book generally. - Paul Hoffman - Paul Hoffman "Carew's brisk and engaging narrative, with its mixture of gritty violence and political intrigue, will remind readers of George R. R. Martin, David Gemmell, or a less-bleak Joe Abercrombie." A book much stronger in the blood of war than in the quieter machinations of politics.Split into three main parts that cover the events of a single Autumn, Winter, and Spring, the book sees the Sutherners of Albion (which just so happens to be the oldest name of Great Britain) demolish a long-held peace and bring war to the ancient race of Anakim. Additionally, the world in which this is played out felt too ephemeral, somewhat of a surprise considering so much was over-described. The Wolf is a thrilling, savagely visceral, politically nuanced and unexpectedly wry exploration of power and identity - and how far one will go to defend them. for over forty years. Verified Purchase. Whilst some may see that as a strength, I saw it as a weakness. Book Review: The Wolf by Leo Carew Posted March 22, 2018 by Sammie in book review, fantasy, four stars / 0 Comments It’s billed as “a thrilling, savagely visceral, politically nuanced and unexpectedly wry exploration of power and identity”, which is catnip for a reader of my taste. Listen Free to Wolf audiobook by Leo Carew with a 30 Day Free Trial! I found two books, namely The Wolf by Leo Carew (a fantasy) and The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu (sci-fi). 1 The Wolf is an interesting read from a military perspective – Carew does tremendous work narrating the field of pitched battle, captivating from one moment to the next. It made me think of the Spartans, which may be deliberate. Whilst some of the names may be based on historical precedents, to me it seems to be a mixture from different historical ages and styles, which, to me, didn’t work. Another month, another debut Fantasy novel. The Wolf is a thrilling, savagely visceral, politically nuanced and unexpectedly wry exploration of power and identity - and how far one will go to defend them. 9 What is perhaps most important is that, on balance, The Wolf has more positive points than negative points, and those were not enough to derail my interest. The Anakim have a rigid social order of valour, based around fighting and conflict and a long lifespan. On a lightning-struck battlefield, the two sides will fight – for their people, for their land, for their very survival. Getting beyond the publicity, The Wolf is a good book, but shows many of the usual issues with a debut novel. I felt that to put both your leader and his heir in such a position in their first battle together was a plot point for dramatic effect rather than a strategic one – surely you work up to that point. Control of the land under the Northern Sky rests in the balance as two fierce races collide in the sequel to The Wolf, a thrilling and savagely visceral epic fantasy from Leo Carew, an author who "will remind readers of George R. R. Martin, David Gemmell, or . The differences between the more human ‘Sutherners’ (ugh) and the towering Anakim is more than just appearance. The challenges faced by young Roper as he struggles to find his place rapidly invests the reader in his plight, as do the cast of characters he rather magically brings to his side. Mine is based on reading SF & Fantasy (and, amongst other things, historical novels!) The Anakim are an essential reflection of their home- there's a chilling scene played out where the invading army is surprised by Anakim warriors high in the mountains, appearing silently out of the mist... truly the monsters of Suthern legend. There’s also a cliffhanger ending which means that we should expect a second book. The book is an attempt to merge elements of ‘real’ history with Fantasy. But once this one has built up steam it is a great read. Leo Carew's debut novel The Wolf is clearly aimed at fans of Martin's Song of Ice and Fire. Control of the land under the Northern Sky rests in the balance as two fierce races collide in the sequel to The Wolf, a thrilling and savagely visceral epic fantasy from Leo Carew.... 1 out of 5 stars. It is here that Carew does his best work, bringing colourful and appealing characters to the page, as well as injecting some real humour. The Wolf is a thrilling, savagely visceral, politically nuanced and unexpectedly wry exploration of power and identity – and how far one will go to defend them. In addition I found, for example, that the name ‘Roper’, instead of inspiring and engaging the reader, is a name that instead brings to my mind someone from a Northern kitchen-sink type drama, which may be appropriate but does not bode well. The Wolf - Leo Carew - 楽天Koboなら漫画、小説、ビジネス書、ラノベなど電子書籍がスマホ、タブレット、パソコン用無料アプリで今すぐ読める。 現在ご利用いただけません Published only this year and a first novel for English writer Leo Carew, it lived up to expectations. The Wolf (The UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY Series, Book 1) by Leo Carew, 9781472247025, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. My point was that just because names from history have been used doesn’t mean to say that it works for the reader. “Beyond the Black River, among the forests and mountains of the north, lives an ancient race of people. "Full of dark conspiracies, larger-than-life characters, and tense battles, Leo Carew has created a rousing cross between The Magnificent Seven and Game of Thrones." My luck with debut novels seems to keep holding strong, and Leo Carew’s The Wolf is the latest in this string of fortunate encounters, an epic fantasy story set in what looks like an alternate version of Britain, called Albion, where baseline humans and outlandish warrior races compete for primacy through bloody wars. Buy The Wolf (The UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY Series, Book 1) (Under the Northern Sky 1) 01 by Carew, Leo (ISBN: 9781472247025) from Amazon's Book Store. | BOOKISH MUGS! By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. By contrast, the humans, though seemingly less rigid, are the typical medieval-esque society most Fantasy novels relate to, with Kings, Queens and a court of dubious malcontents. I must note, however, that having one snarky woman who helps a bit in the background but also gets poisoned and pregnant, does not a make a good female character, and there are so few women that their portrayal matters. The ascendance of Roper, from a child watching his first battle to being the leader of thousands of men seems to be much faster, and with less effort, than I would expect. In fact, it was perhaps that I recognised places and names from different points in history that actually took me out of the reading experience. Its raw, its graphic and it makes you feel. “Leo Carew’s debut novel The Wolf, the first book in the Under the Northern Sky series, is a masterpiece in epic historical fantasy – a new voice to rival David Gemmell or George RR Martin. Others may disagree with my opinion, of course. GRNLND Chapter 3: Onwards. . The Wolf by Leo Carew - What it is and what it is not. As a story, it works for some, clearly, but not for me. The relationships between the warriors and their wives is not as jarring as I thought it could have been, and adds a little more depth to what otherwise could be superficial. Firstly, I had issues with some of the names, although admittedly not enough to kill the book for me. 8 Comments. There was so much time spent not doing or saying anything important that skimming became inevitable, particularly in the second and third sections of the book, which were padded with irrelevant scenes, repetition, and unnecessary conversations. . A book much stronger in the blood of war than in the quieter machinations of politics. creates a Europe which is not real Europe the same way many animes/mangas set in vaguely European places do the same thing. December 28, 2019. by Leo Carew. 8 Do you want to contribute and join the SFFWorld Team? They aren’t randomly mixed in. Each of the three will do whatever it takes to stay at the top, pitting them against each other in an uncompromising battle of wills played out though savage battles and political intrigue.The first part of the book hits hard with brutal scenes of death and betrayal, quickly sketched characterisations that nevertheless effectively reveal the essence of each person, and more than a few surprises. ARC via Netgalley. For example,’Roper’ is more of an 17th century name to my view, though it tends to be in more common usage later, whilst there are Greek, Roman and, yes, Norse names in there as well. I found the idea of Roper being placed into the middle of a major battle on his first outing, so to speak, an unrealistic situation. Yet once the basics are all established, things start to fall apart, for Roper and the novel. Never read such an oblivious protagonists. My point for mentioning it was that it can be an issue for some readers, as it was for me. There’s also a concern that the book’s characters veer between extremes – from one minute being thoroughly charming to the polar opposite, which gives a rather schizophrenic feel to some of the characters. Doom. I'm sure there are people who don't think this book is perfection, but they cray..... | D I S C O U N T CODES! Despite my issues and my quibbles, I did enjoy it and the pages kept turning after that wobbly start. The fight scenes were excellent, and because each race has unique advantages and disadvantages the battles were unique to this story. The beginning is a little wobbly, but once the book gets into its groove it works well. … Whilst I concede that this may be an attempt by the author to mix things up, so to speak, and be different, it didn’t work for me. Leo Carew Books Felicity Blunt, +44 (0)20 7393 4254 Email Felicity Blunt Profile View CV The Wolf View PDF book | Fiction | 2018 World → Headline Publishing … I’ll try and take your points one at a time. When the armies of the south flood across the Black River, the fragile peace between the two races is shattered. Some of the name usage is rather random – there are Nordic surnames, mixed up with place-names such as ‘Albion’. I feel that the author may have been better inventing his own names rather than use the historical ones, but tastes will vary. 3 I can forgive some minor flaws because overall I found the book to be very entertaining. Anyway, rather than a gradual evolution, Roper morphs from threatened youngster to skilled leader far too quickly, then makes a series of bizarre political and moral choices against the advice of his closest allies. It will work for some readers, but not others, like me. The Wolf. Worse, the invading force are ‘Sutherners’, a nomenclature which rather grated on me. Some of the battle scenes, of which there are many, are written confidently and hold the reader’s attention admirably, even over forty pages at times. 4/10 Some promising signs, but the failure in cohesion and pacing drained far too much of the fun. By contrast, those in the south live in the moment, their lives more fleeting. Leo Carey’s first book in a planned series is set in Albion, an island nation where Anakim (from the north of the island) and Sutherners are at war, more or less constantly. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Secondly, the plot has a number of issues which read as untrue to me. What it is - It is a meticulously detailed fantasy of medieval-type warfare with a southern nation being the belligerent and the north the invaded. Obviously other views than my own are permissible! WHAT REVIEWERS ARE ALREADY SAYING ABOUT CAREW'S BREATHTAKING FANTASY EPIC: The author happily spends three pages detailing a fortress or a wild hunt, but rather than add to the wider picture, these mini-segments took the reader further away from the action. At times, the pacing was glacial. 10. From the wider viewpoint, The Wolf is not only a clash of characters, but a clash of cultures. Your rating out of 10 The art of war is portrayed more vibrantly, with scenes of one-on-one combat by far the most impressive, though some of the larger battle sequences run on just that bit too long. To be frank, and despite what some comments would say, this is not an author who is the next GRRM, nor Terry Brooks, nor any other popular Fantasy writer you can think of. The Wolf is the debut work of Leo Carew, and the first of the Under the Northern Sky series. They are a completely separate culture living in Albion. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. RSS - About - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service. Their lives are measured in centuries, not decades; they revel in wilderness and resilience, and they scorn wealth and comfort. They crave wealth and power, their ambition is limitless, and their cunning unmatched. Leo Carew is a Cambridge graduate of Biological Anthropology, currently studying medicine. The Wolf - Leo Carew - 洋書の購入は楽天ブックスで。全品送料無料！購入毎に「楽天ポイント」が貯まってお得！みんなのレビュー・感想も満載。 We’d climbed through the night and half the day, and crawled […] Read Article →. Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook on Google+. Leo currently lives in London, writing, studying medicine and breaking off as often as possible for an adventure somewhere cold and wild. Hello Kreg. Of the plot there are times where things just seem to happen too easily and too conveniently. This all sounds wonderful, and I’m sure that many Fantasy fans will love it – so why am I not whole-heartedly recommending this novel? As for the naming issues, which seem to be a huge focus of this review, all of the names are traced back historically but not often used today. Thanks to Orbit/Hachette Book Group for my review copy of The Wolf. It’s very clear in the book. My biggest issue was perhaps with names like ‘Sutherner’ which, I felt, was not a great choice of words -it may be accurate, but does it ‘feel’ right? This factional to-and-fro in the middle section of the book is slow, without the necessary character development it would take to make it interesting. Unique, entertaining and with excellent character development. A tale of war, rivalry, and honor, The Wolf creates a world that is both familiar and uncanny - one where the fiercest enemies are always closer than they seem. On paper, Leo Carew‘s The Wolf (review copy from Headline) ought to be right up my street. In terms of the training, if I remember right, Roper had been trained from the age of six, admittedly, though the author points out that the first battle in the novel is Roper’s first battle.