Hi, got another good book I just read. The name is PROMISE OF THE WOLVES by Dorothy Hearst. This is her first novel and as you can see from the title it is about wolves. Ms. Hearst received valuable information about wolves from the International Wolf Center, Yellowstone Association on Wolves, and Wolf Haven. Of course, the book is about wolves, but the wolves lived 14,000 years ago where time is counted in phases of the moon, distance is measured in wolflengths, and direction by the scent of the nearest trail.That is what I liked about the book; I love ancient knowledge and lore. What also was interesting, is that the wolves talk and have interaction with humans. The life of the wolf pack has not changed to this day; the same hierarchy and laws are still in place today, as the people who study wolves have found. As for the wolf pack in this book – The Swift River Pack – you have Ruugo, the leader, Rissa, his mate, Kaala, Azzuen, Marra, the pups. You also have “The Great Wolves” and Tlitoo, the feisty raven, who is the care watcher over Kaala. Kaala’s mother had her litter from an “Outsider” wolf (one not of the same valley), thus she broke a fatal law; her pups had to be destroyed, as by law. Only with the intercession of “The Great Wolves” was Kaala spared – the mark of the moon on her chest saved her. Thus, she became an unwanted addition to Rissa’s litter. Her only friends were Azzuen and Marra and, of course, Tlitto and his annoying interference in her life. Only when the pups were shown the “humans” and told never to interact with these odd people did Kaala know that, for some reason, she had a connection to these humans. As Kaala found out from nosy, pesky Tlitto, at one time eons in the past, humans and wolves lived and hunted together. What happened to that happy co-existence that caused the law to be made to stay away from the humans, what was Lydda, the ghost spirit wolf that haunted Kaala, was trying to tell her. Also, Tlitoo had told Kaala that the Great Wolves had many secrets and many lies. When war between the humans and the wolf packs in the valley threatens, Kaala must stop the war. In the process, she learns the lies behind the “Great wolves’” promises and the ancient wolf legends. Unfortunately, Kaala must choose between her newfound human friend and her wolf pack. This was really a great book – I could not put it down. The characters in the book were real and you got to know the wolf pack personally and their way of life. This book is at the Harrison Count Library.
Carolyn Beanblossom
