| Title | : | Fenrir (The Wolfsangel Cycle #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0575089636 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780575089631 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 443 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2011 |
Fenrir (The Wolfsangel Cycle #2) Reviews
-
http://www.rantingdragon.com/fenrir-b...
Fenrir is the sequel to M. D. Lachlan’s brilliant fantasy debut, Wolfsangel, and the second installment in his unnamed Norse werewolf series. Now, many readers will have but one question regarding this book: “Is it as good as Wolfsangel?” The answer, in my opinion, is an emphatic “yes.” While the two novels are quite different in a number of ways, Fenrir lives up to the high expectations set by its predecessor, and, in many cases, exceeds them.
A struggle throughout the ages
Fenrir is set approximately 100 years after the events of Wolfsangel, in an early medieval Paris set alight by the torches of Viking invaders. The hordes lay siege to the city, yet strangely their leaders demand not slaves or riches, but the Count’s sister, Aelis. They are not alone in seeking the young woman—the raven priests of Odin also hunt her, as does a mysterious wolfman lurking in the shadows. Unbeknowst to Aelis, her role in these events is due to no mere machination of politics but serves a greater, more sinister purpose. The crippled and blind living saint, Jehan, is given the task of speaking to the girl and perhaps convincing her to accept her fate. However, Aelis and Jehan are about to become pawns in a mad god’s schemes. In their future lies death, madness, dark magic, and the monstrous Fenris wolf, fated to kill Odin at Ragnarok.
A new perspective on the familiar
Once again, Lachlan delivers a dark and thrilling tale incorporating Norse gods and monsters, historical detail, and sinister magic into a tragically human struggle against fate. It is these human elements that stand out in this book when compared to the last. The characters are more developed and their relationships are more complex. Some old characters reappear (e.g. Loki), and we are introduced to many new ones, as well as some that are simultaneously new and familiar—the reincarnations of those in Wolfsangel. This in and of itself is one of the most interesting aspects of the novel, as we learn more about each of the major players from an entirely different perspective. We see who they have become and how they react in vastly different circumstances. For instance, Adisla is no longer a farmer’s daughter but the highborn lady Aelis, and as a result, she acts quite differently in some regards while still retaining certain characteristics from her previous incarnation. In other cases, the differences are even more pronounced, and Lachlan keeps the reader guessing who is actually who in relation to the previous novel. Often he manages to surprise in this respect.
Enhanced characterization
While the characters in Wolfsangel were already believable and human, Lachlan takes his characterization to a whole new level in Fenrir. Each character develops as an individual, has their own flaws, and almost every one displays some degree of moral ambiguity. The protagonists are never completely irreproachable, while the antagonists never come across as wholly evil or without motivation for their actions. In many cases you may well find yourself sympathizing with a character you initially wrote off as irredeemable.
Another noteworthy improvement regards the female protagonist Aelis/Adisla, who takes on a much greater role than she did in Wolfsangel. She evolves from being possibly the least developed of the protagonists to one of the most well characterized. In addition, she displays greater agency and is much more proactive character instead of being a hapless victim dragged into a struggle not of her own making. Personally, I found this made her much easier to relate to and a much more well-rounded character than she was previously. There is also a much greater focus on the feelings and internal struggles of the characters in this book, as they come to understand much of what is happening to them, and endeavor to fight against their fates. Can they really rebel against the inevitable and defy a god? There’s only one way to find out…
Evocative prose and an immersive atmosphere
Lachlan’s writing, already proficient in Wolfsangel, is further perfected in Fenrir, fully immersing the reader in this strange world of gods and monsters. There were moments when I could almost hear the dripping of moisture in a dark cave or see the light streaming down through the canopy of a forest. Lachlan excels at creating atmosphere and pays great attention to historical detail, effortlessly evoking a bygone age. Although lyrical and flowing, the writing never distracts from the story and the historical aspects are incorporated seamlessly into the plot. For instance, we are not told about the differences and conflicts between Christian and Norse religion, but come to understand them through Jehan’s interactions with his companions. In fact, some of the more amusing moments in what is otherwise quite a dark novel involve the Vikings pragmatism in response to Jehan’s attempts to convert them (they’ll believe in his god if his god brings them a shelter or makes them fiercer warriors) or misinterpretation of each others customs.
A dark and brutal tale
Fenrir is even darker and more intense than its predecessor, and includes a few somewhat disturbing and rather graphic scenes that I would not recommend to anyone with a weak stomach. Nevertheless, these scenes are used in context with the rest of the story and often play important roles in the progression of the narrative. Though many of the events depicted throughout the novel are undeniably violent and often horrific, they are never depicted in an overly gratuitous manner or included purely for shock value with no relation to the plot. The novel is set in a brutal age and Lachlan does not try to sugarcoat this, provide an idealized version of history, or glorify bloodshed. Often, I felt this added to the authenticity of the story and made the fantastical elements more believable. Additionally, the juxtaposition of the more tender human moments with the gory or violent scenes increased the impact of the story as a whole.
A more linear, character driven plot
Fenrir is a longer book (by around 200 pages) than Wolfsangel, and the plot unfolds in a primarily linear fashion, without as many jumps between time-frames . Some readers have mentioned the pacing of Fenrir is also marginally slower; however, I see this an inevitable by-product of the greater focus on character development. Personally, I felt getting to know the characters better—and, as a result, caring more about what happens to them—more than compensated for a slower pace. All things considered, the plot is still thrilling, the world still fascinating, and the pace quite fast compared to many other novels.
When reading Fenrir, one must keep in mind that this is but the second book in a longer series (the exact number of installments is not yet finalized), and as such may not offer the reader the closure they may desire. Those hoping for a decisive conclusion to the overall storyline are setting themselves up for disappointment. Personally, I am thrilled that there are to be more books after Fenrir and was quite satisfied with the ending. It provides a conclusion to this chapter in an ongoing struggle and hints at how circumstances may change in the books that follow.
Why should you read this book?
If you haven’t already done so, I would strongly suggest you read Wolfsangel before picking up Fenrir. In fact, if you haven’t read Wolfsangel, why are you wasting time reading this review? Stop immediately, go get your hands on a copy, and read that instead. If you read and loved the first book like I did, I would definitely recommend you read this one as well, as, in my opinion, it is even better. While Fenrir is an engrossing and well-written story in its own right, it is an excellent second book in what is shaping up to be a brilliant multi-volume series. Honestly, the worst thing about this novel is the fact I now have to wait for the next one. -
Author interview:
http://bit.ly/qBFcit
Also published under The Ranting Dragon
Fenrir is the sequel to M. D. Lachlan’s brilliant fantasy debut, Wolfsangel, and the second installment in his unnamed Norse werewolf series. Now, many readers will have but one question regarding this book: “Is it as good as Wolfsangel?” The answer, in my opinion, is an emphatic “yes.” While the two novels are quite different in a number of ways, Fenrir lives up to the high expectations set by its predecessor, and, in many cases, exceeds them.
A struggle throughout the ages
Fenrir is set approximately 100 years after the events of Wolfsangel, in an early medieval Paris set alight by the torches of Viking invaders. The hordes lay siege to the city, yet strangely their leaders demand not slaves or riches, but the Count’s sister, Aelis. They are not alone in seeking the young woman—the raven priests of Odin also hunt her, as does a mysterious wolfman lurking in the shadows. Unbeknowst to Aelis, her role in these events is due to no mere machination of politics but serves a greater, more sinister purpose. The crippled and blind living saint, Jehan, is given the task of speaking to the girl and perhaps convincing her to accept her fate. However, Aelis and Jehan are about to become pawns in a mad god’s schemes. In their future lies death, madness, dark magic, and the monstrous Fenris wolf, fated to kill Odin at Ragnarok.
A new perspective on the familiar
Once again, Lachlan delivers a dark and thrilling tale incorporating Norse gods and monsters, historical detail, and sinister magic into a tragically human struggle against fate. It is these human elements that stand out in this book when compared to the last. The characters are more developed and their relationships are more complex. Some old characters reappear (e.g. Loki), and we are introduced to many new ones, as well as some that are simultaneously new and familiar—the reincarnations of those in Wolfsangel. This in and of itself is one of the most interesting aspects of the novel, as we learn more about each of the major players from an entirely different perspective. We see who they have become and how they react in vastly different circumstances. For instance, Adisla is no longer a farmer’s daughter but the highborn lady Aelis, and as a result, she acts quite differently in some regards while still retaining certain characteristics from her previous incarnation. In other cases, the differences are even more pronounced, and Lachlan keeps the reader guessing who is actually who in relation to the previous novel. Often he manages to surprise in this respect.
Enhanced characterization
While the characters in Wolfsangel were already believable and human, Lachlan takes his characterization to a whole new level in Fenrir. Each character develops as an individual, has their own flaws, and almost every one displays some degree of moral ambiguity. The protagonists are never completely irreproachable, while the antagonists never come across as wholly evil or without motivation for their actions. In many cases you may well find yourself sympathizing with a character you initially wrote off as irredeemable.
Another noteworthy improvement regards the female protagonist Aelis/Adisla, who takes on a much greater role than she did in Wolfsangel. She evolves from being possibly the least developed of the protagonists to one of the most well characterized. In addition, she displays greater agency and is much more proactive character instead of being a hapless victim dragged into a struggle not of her own making. Personally, I found this made her much easier to relate to and a much more well-rounded character than she was previously. There is also a much greater focus on the feelings and internal struggles of the characters in this book, as they come to understand much of what is happening to them, and endeavor to fight against their fates. Can they really rebel against the inevitable and defy a god? There’s only one way to find out…
Evocative prose and an immersive atmosphere
Lachlan’s writing, already proficient in Wolfsangel, is further perfected in Fenrir, fully immersing the reader in this strange world of gods and monsters. There were moments when I could almost hear the dripping of moisture in a dark cave or see the light streaming down through the canopy of a forest. Lachlan excels at creating atmosphere and pays great attention to historical detail, effortlessly evoking a bygone age. Although lyrical and flowing, the writing never distracts from the story and the historical aspects are incorporated seamlessly into the plot. For instance, we are not told about the differences and conflicts between Christian and Norse religion, but come to understand them through Jehan’s interactions with his companions. In fact, some of the more amusing moments in what is otherwise quite a dark novel involve the Vikings pragmatism in response to Jehan’s attempts to convert them (they’ll believe in his god if his god brings them a shelter or makes them fiercer warriors) or misinterpretation of each others customs.
A dark and brutal tale
Fenrir is even darker and more intense than its predecessor, and includes a few somewhat disturbing and rather graphic scenes that I would not recommend to anyone with a weak stomach. Nevertheless, these scenes are used in context with the rest of the story and often play important roles in the progression of the narrative. Though many of the events depicted throughout the novel are undeniably violent and often horrific, they are never depicted in an overly gratuitous manner or included purely for shock value with no relation to the plot. The novel is set in a brutal age and Lachlan does not try to sugarcoat this, provide an idealized version of history, or glorify bloodshed. Often, I felt this added to the authenticity of the story and made the fantastical elements more believable. Additionally, the juxtaposition of the more tender human moments with the gory or violent scenes increased the impact of the story as a whole.
A more linear, character driven plot
Fenrir is a longer book (by around 200 pages) than Wolfsangel, and the plot unfolds in a primarily linear fashion, without as many jumps between time-frames . Some readers have mentioned the pacing of Fenrir is also marginally slower; however, I see this an inevitable by-product of the greater focus on character development. Personally, I felt getting to know the characters better—and, as a result, caring more about what happens to them—more than compensated for a slower pace. All things considered, the plot is still thrilling, the world still fascinating, and the pace quite fast compared to many other novels.
When reading Fenrir, one must keep in mind that this is but the second book in a longer series (the exact number of installments is not yet finalized), and as such may not offer the reader the closure they may desire. Those hoping for a decisive conclusion to the overall storyline are setting themselves up for disappointment. Personally, I am thrilled that there are to be more books after Fenrir and was quite satisfied with the ending. It provides a conclusion to this chapter in an ongoing struggle and hints at how circumstances may change in the books that follow.
Why should you read this book?
If you haven’t already done so, I would strongly suggest you read Wolfsangel before picking up Fenrir. In fact, if you haven’t read Wolfsangel, why are you wasting time reading this review? Stop immediately, go get your hands on a copy, and read that instead. If you read and loved the first book like I did, I would definitely recommend you read this one as well, as, in my opinion, it is even better. While Fenrir is an engrossing and well-written story in its own right, it is an excellent second book in what is shaping up to be a brilliant multi-volume series. Honestly, the worst thing about this novel is the fact I now have to wait for the next one. -
Ottimo secondo volume per questa saga ambiziosa.
Il libro si apre con Parigi assediata dai Vichinghi, e veniamo introdotti poco a poco ai personaggi che ci accompagneranno per tutto il viaggio. Il Confessore Jehan, ritenuto un Santo, cieco e storpio, incapace di muoversi ma solo di parlare; Lady Aelis, sorella del Duca che governa su Parigi, che ritiene di essere inseguita da un lupo diabolico; Sindre, l'uomo lupo vichingo giunto dal lontano est per rapire Aelis e portarla dal Re Helgi, noto come il Profeta; Hugin, il Corvo, sciamano vichingo misterioso e potente, che vuole uccidere Aelis; Sigfried, re vichingo che tiene sotto assedio Parigi per prendere Aelis per sé; Munin, sorella di Hugin e dotata di enormi poteri magici; Leshii, un povero mercante in rovina partito assieme a Sindre per recuperare Aelis.
Per buona parte del libro, oltre a seguire le vicende narrate, staremo a ragionare su ogni indizio e accenno che i personaggi si lasceranno sfuggire, per capire chi sia chi.
Chi è la reincarnazione di Odino? Chi è Vali, il licantropo, l'incarnazione del lupo Fenrir? Chi è Feileg, l'uomo lupo fratello di Fenrir, destinato a morire per mano del fratello e per amore di Adisla? Adisla invece è abbastanza chiaro chi sia... e in questo secondo libro è lei la protagonista.
Mentre in Wolfsangel era rimasta sullo sfondo, servendo da motore primario per tutta la trama di Vali e per tirare dentro anche Feileg, qui invece assume il ruolo incontrastato di protagonista, con gli altri a ruotarle intorno.
Lei è il punto centrale di tutte le vicende, ancor più di Odino.
Ed è lei che conosciamo meglio, nella sua incarnazione attuale ma anche come psicologia.
Se buona parte della lettura la passiamo a indagare sulle reincarnazioni dei protagonisti, non manca però l'apprezzamento per gli incastri perfetti della profezia e di come tutto riporti sempre a quello scontro finale, cercando di capire e anticipare gli sviluppi della trama, le motivazioni dei vari personaggi e quelle più nebulose di Odino e di Loki.
E poi ovviamente abbiamo le descrizioni del periodo storico in oggetto, la brutalità e la cupezza di un mondo in cui la morte era sempre vicinissima, le guerre costanti e la civiltà un'illusione.
Siamo passati dalle terre dei Vichinghi alla Francia, incontriamo re vichinghi e nobili francesi, la religione cristiana si scontra con la mitologia norrena.
E poi, per fortuna, nell'ultimo capitolo l'autore e Loki ci regalano la spiegazione degli eventi relativi a questo libro, con la rivelazione dei piani attuati in questa situazione, dell'identità di un personaggio che rimaneva fino alla fine abbastanza misterioso, e con la dichiarazione di intenti di Loki per quanto riguarda la serie.
E la curiosità di vedere dove sarà ambientato il prossimo volume, che aspetto e ruoli avranno i nostri protagonisti, se riusciranno ad avanzare lungo la loro lotta per liberarsi da questo ciclo di sofferenze, e se Feileg riuscirà finalmente ad avere un minimo di giustizia e pace (visto che per ora è il personaggio più sfortunato, poveretto!) è enorme. -
MD Lachlan is proving to have as deep an imagination as Tolkein showed in Lord of the Rings, with his mind blowing sequel to
Wolfsangel with Fenrir.
The sequel may still feature more brotherhoods of Vikings but he has taken the reader into the world of the early medieval French dukes, knights and princesses and most notable of all, monks and prophets. But to add a little to the rabble of viking armies around Paris MD Lachlan introduces some fascinating characters of Munin and Hugnin, a brother and sister who worship the All Father and his madness through some very dark magic.
The over all story is riddled with patches of shadow, twilight, horror and glorious blood but in such a way as to not be overwhelming but always used to make particular characters at particular moments in the plot develope into something the reader never ever expects. And that is the true beauty of this dark tale of mad gods, powerful runes and never ending love - that even though the reader may think they know how things will work out having read Wolfsangel but Lachlan always proves those expectations to be false. The reincarnations of the two brothers, one wolfman, another werewolf are never who you expect them to be and in this one we get the suprise of the original Witch returning in a very unlikely place and it goes even more so for the form Odin chooses to live and die by.
My favourite parts of this new blood fuelled saga has to the scenes where certain character evoke the power of Odin's runes. Lachlan describes them so beautifully I can't help but wonder that the way he describes them is the same magic that flows within his imagination. The way the runes are called upon and used seems so natural it strengthens the readers mind view of the scene. And what makes it even more special is that such runes weren't used in such ways in the first book but in this sequel it seems all aspects of the doomed gods and lovers and the magic that binds them together has increased ten fold with dramatic and stunning effects in the ficitonal world and upon the reader.
And on that note the only thing left to say is that MD Lachlan has succeeded in making a sequel that dwarfs the original, showing the strength of his imagination in more ways than one. And making it a good bet that the third in this series will undoubtedly be fantastic. -
It is very rare that I consider a book to be worth five stars, but this book definitely deserves it. It has everything I was looking for and more in a historical fantasy/werewolf novel. The accurate portrayal of the Viking invasion of Paris in the 8th Century mixed with the enchanting and bloody undertones of Norse mythology, religious warfare, forbidden love, and gruesome battles, (not to mention the anticipation and horror that accompanies the transformation of an innocent boy into a savage and brutal wolf) was almost over-whelming in all its transcendence. It evokes every emotion you would want from a good read; immense sadness, anger, passion, disbelief, surprise, even humor. The characters are well-developed and are easy to relate to, and the detail and description is so intense and divine you almost feel like you have stepped into a whole other world where mad gods and fearless warriors stalk your every move. I would suggest reading Wolfsangel before reading this one,Fenrir is a different time period but the characters are all reincarnations of the people from the first book, and you can relate better to their emotions and their actions if you read that one before tackling Fenrir. Any time a part of the book makes you pause and think "This is sort of confusing, have I missed something?" do not fret, everything will fall into place as the story unfolds (also keep in mind that we are dealing with the likes of Loki, the god of lies and mischief, and with him, anything is possible!)
-
Fenrir is the follow up to
M.D. Lachlan's
Wolfsangel. Wolfsangel tells the story of wolves, the gods Odin and Loki and battle between them. It is set in Anglo-Saxon times. Fenrir tells the same story, its characters being reincarnations of those from Wolfsangel and is set in medieval Europe. The magic and mysticism of Norse mythology was better explained in Fenrir which helped to keep the reader engaged. The harsh landscape of medieval Europe was described beautifully and the characters were well developed, making the reader want to know more, even about the unlikable characters. Fenrir is a violent book but the violence is in keeping with the period in which it is set and does not distract from the story. I read Fenrir over the Christmas week and I’m glad I did as there were moments when I couldn’t put it down. I think readers would benefit from reading Wolfsangel first as it makes understanding the context of Fenrir easier. -
This was an amazingly well-crafted blend of historical fiction and Norse legend. It's not an easy task to imagine, much less vividly convey, the mindset of cultures that flourished over a thousand years ago, but the author does that in a believable way, with language that is both poetic and brutally realistic at the same time. For a while, in the middle of the story, I wondered if my confusion of who was who might have been less for having read the first book (which is going on my to-read list), but I realized at the end that the confusion was the essence of the story, and that true enjoyment of it required letting go of my 21st century insistence on logic, and simply following the flow.
An excellent novel and highly recommended! -
I didn’t realize this was part of a series! Despite that I still loved the mythos behind it, but maybe I would be less confused if I started on book 1? Very bloody.
-
This is a continuation of the story in Wolfsangel, but it is not the usual direct sequel we are so used to from fantasy. Instead it is the next installment in the cycle of the story. And the cycle is also the central theme of Lachlan's fantasy series. The protagonists here are not the same as in Wolfsangel, but they are aspects of them. The story is moving on with different players, and I found this worked well.
Lachlan maintains the saga-like quality of his prose, which is a good thing. It worked very well in Wolfsangel, and if anything it works even better here.
The story is really fast-paced. There's quite a lot of action, and even in quieter parts of the novel the story is moving along steadily. I can't think of any part of the book that was really a "rest-period", and this makes it a book that can be difficult to put down.
There's a lot of magic in this book. But Lachlan doesn't use this as a prop, it is integral to the story he is telling, and it never feels like it is out of place. As with Wolfsangel there is also a presence of gods here, the dark and fallible Viking variety that will be familiar to students of Norse mythology.
The characters we encounter in the book have their separate tales to tell, and all of them are interesting. There are several main characters here that could easily have carried a novel by themselves, and they are propped up with supporting characters that are interesting in their own right.
Lachlan makes use of several points of view. This can be annoying in some stories, but here they add up to giving a much greater whole than the sum of the individual viewpoints. The different protagonists are used to great effect to draw the story together and form a single narrative.
This time the location is outside the Scandinavian homeland of the Vikings, mostly in modern day France, but we also get to go to Russia. As someone who is Norwegian and interested in history I think it was really refreshing to see these lesser known locations for Viking activity used to great effect here. And it also makes me excited to find out where we are heading next in Lachlan's saga.
I can't think of anything I disliked in this book, it is very close to a perfect novel. For anyone who feels that modern fantasy is getting a bit stale this will be the perfect antidote. And if you have any interest in Vikings or Norse mythology Lachlan has created an excellent fantasy for you. This is a perfect read for dark winter evenings.
Review originally published on my blog:
http://weirdmage.blogspot.com -
AT LAST I FINISHED IT!! I thought I would never ever finish this book.
The setting of this story was good but not as good as the first one. This one was far more darker and dull which didn't please me, only some terrifyig disgusting details made this book cool.
The characters. Oh my I didn't like any of the characters and I can't believe the first book characters incarnated to what they are in Fenrir UGH that was just terrible!!! I only liked Oefeti but the rest were meh and Odin's witch servant was SCARY which I loved but the rest as I said didn't like them at all they were flat, nothing deep and no connection to them.
The plot. I found the whole thing as chasing chasing everyone is chansing the other and the end was just like re telling what happened in the first book.
This book went down hill if you compared it to Wolfsangel (I really loved that book) Last book left Lord of Slaughter which ofc I will read to conclude this series and see if they can succeed this time to escape their destiny.
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I wanted to like this, I really did, but I couldn't. It felt like M.D. Lachlan was trying too hard to be mysterious and cryptic and it sort of just didn't work for him, I mainly felt confused. There was little character development and I felt the characters lacked any depth. The last few chapters were probably the best because he finally got to the point.
-
The book has an interesting premise and there is some good action, but it drones on and on. The obscure mythical references are repeated over and over and plot lines are duplicated. I got close to the end and finally gave up.
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AD 886. Paris is under siege by the Vikings under King Sigfred, but the city's tall walls and outlying towers are preventing them from carrying the city by assault. The reasons for the siege are curious: the Vikings want a noblewoman, the Lady Aelis, and will leave if she is given to them. But she is unwilling to sacrifice herself to save her city. Jehan, a crippled monk held to be a living saint, is called upon to convince her to do the honourable thing...but Jehan worries that the Vikings don't want Aelis as a wife or hostage, but as a sacrifice, and surrendering her to pagan murder could imperil the defenders' souls.
But the truth of the matter is far stranger. Decades ago Odin, Loki and the wolf known as Fenrir fought a battle of wits and wills revolving around the lives of three mortals. The mortals died, Odin was thwarted and Loki triumphant...but the wheel has since turned and the mortals' souls have been reborn. And now the game has begun anew.
Fenrir is the follow-up to M.D. Lachlan's splendid Wolfsangel, a sequel which picks up the story with the same souls but now incarnated in different bodies. Whilst some blurbs suggest that Fenrir can be read independently of the earlier book, this is not really the case. Callbacks to the earlier book are fairly subtle at the start, but become increasingly overt as the novel continues, until specific events from the first book are being referred to. For this reason I recommend reading Wolfsangel before proceeding with this book.
Wolfsangel was interesting in that it alternated prose styles between the more straightforward action-adventure part of the narrative and the mystical, spiritual side of things. Fenrir is more ambitious as it combines the two sides of the story into a more cohesive whole, which works well. The book also expands its scope, with a larger cast, a greater geographic spread (the second half of the book is effectively an epic journey from France to Ladoga, near modern-day Saint Petersburg) and also explores more themes than the first novel. Religion is particularly prominent, since Jehan is a Catholic monk and his faith clashes with that of the Vikings he comes into contact with. This leads to one of the book's rare humourous tangents, as initially the Vikings are uninterested in Jehan's religion, but a series of freak events deliver them riches and victories after they allow Jehan to preach, leading to them wanting to convert because they think Jesus will make them rich, which Jehan considers an unworthy motivation.
Characterisation is pretty good. Aelis, Jehan, Leshii and Ofaeti are particularly well-drawn protagonists, but Hugin and Munin are harder to pin down. Hugin's character in particular shifts during the course of the nove, but the fact we only see him through other characters eyes makes him tricky to get a handle on. Some of the shifts in character, as 'flashes' from the earlier incarnations break through to the present, are also difficult to understand unless you've read Wolfsangel and know which character from that book has been reincarnated in this.
The dark, visceral horror of the situation is portrayed starkly, and there are moments of raw terror and bloody mysticism which Lachlan handles well. The first half of the novel also unfolds at a terrific pace. Unfortunately, things bog down a little after that: there's maybe a little too much running around in circles in the woods outside Paris or on the beaches of the North Sea before the plot gets going again. The plot also hinges on some awfully big coincidences which the reader may find hard to swallow, divine intervention or not.
Lurking over everything, however, is the notion that the gods have set in motion a series of events that will be fulfilled despite the wishes of mortals, but that mortals will fight against that fate no matter the cost. Again and again the book reinforces that desperate heroism, and in doing so captures something mythic and powerful.
Fenrir (****) is a dark, brooding story of violence, mysticism and death, but it's also a story of hope and faith. -
To be honest, I haven't finished this book, and I don't think I will. I had high hopes going in, and I did enjoy most of the first half. After a while, the story began to feel repetitive. I found it hard to focus, character motivations seemed to change from one paragraph to the next without proper explanation, and questions that bubbled up in the beginning remembered unanswered. To be fair, I haven't read Wolfsangel, and although some reviews have said Fenrir can stand alone without its prequel, it's possible that I've missed crucial information. My personal grievances with this book begin with I just...found a lot of issues with this book. And the plot wasn't exciting enough to distract me from them.
-
I went back and forth on this quite a few times. Some times it felt a chore t read, others I quite enjoyed reading it. Unfortunately, all to often the enjoyment stopped and I could only read a few pages in short, sharp bursts.
I found that too many of the characters had multiple names which just led to me getting confused. Things kept appearing that made me wonder whether I'd missed a line or paragraph and descriptions just seemed to be off. sometimes caverns were like mines, only for a moment later a character to be popping his head through the ceiling talking to other characters. -
Not quite as good as it thinks it is (I have to admit I've not read the first in the trilogy) it lost me somewhere along the way towards the end. But some interesting ideas, and werewolves in Viking times was (hopefully) never going to be bad ...
-
Disappointing after Wolfsangel. The first 2/3rds consists of aimless running around interspersed with violent episodes. The story doesn't really kick in until the last third and by then it's almost too late to care.
-
Not finished. But really hard to read. No connection with the characters. Maybe I will try it again in the future.
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DNF'd
While I did have an interest when I first started reading it. After not reading it for about a year, I'm not interested in it anymore. -
Fenrir is the second book in the Craw series. The first Wolfsangel, received critical acclaim from some heavy hitters in the speculative fiction field - Joe Abercrombie recommended it as “dark and original”, Adam Roberts classed it as “unputdownable”.
I haven’t read Wolfsangel and to tell you the truth that fact didn't hinder me as much as I thought it would. Reviewing for publishing houses means that I do often get the second book in the series without having read the first. Generally, I find that with a little difficulty I can push on and pick up the story. I didn’t have to with Fenrir, it stands pretty well on its own, at least initially.
The two narratives appear(as I said I’ve not read the first) to be linked through characters that reincarnate, for want of a better term. Throughout Fenrir three central characters have flashbacks or memories of previous lives.
Fenrir unfolds,however, as a stand alone book, with characters presented with the usual depth and vigour a writer would employ if they were introducing them for the first time – there’s no obvious info dumps to bring latecomers up to speed.
So, the story
Paris lies besieged by one of several Viking armies. The King of the Franks, used to buying the Vikings off with silver does nothing. The Viking army will lift the siege if the Count of Paris will hand over his sister to the Sorcerer Munin.
Unable to sell his sister, the Lady Aelis into slavery or death, he calls on on the living saint, the blind and crippled Jehan of St Germain, to intercede with God and resolve the situation for him.
The decision is soon taken out of their hands,however, as the Wolfman, a shaman, intent on saving the Lady Aelis spirits the young noble out of Paris and a Viking war party manages to snatch the Jehan from the count’s protection.
What follows is a dark and twisted tale of adventure, involving Norse gods that walk as men and dark sorceries that seek to bring about the end of the world.
“Old Skool” Sword and Sorcery
Abercrombie was right, this tale is dark and original- a very earthy blend of Norse myth and magic, that bonds well with the historical context. I feel Lachlan has captured the essence, the rough edged vitality of Viking culture and woven a concept of magic through it that feels possible and very culturally appropriate. There’s no magic spells in a Harry Potter sense, the magic is runic and borne out of pain and sacrifice.
A warning for those with tender stomachs, some might find it a little too dark in places with the description of the disfigurements that the Sorcerer Munin has inflicted upon her (to empower her magic) and non-consensual cannibalism experienced by one of the other characters.
Not your tree hugging Werewolf
While not strictly a Werewolf book, one of the central characters is a Werewolf(not the Wolfman mentioned above). He’s not one of those, six-pack toting teens that readers of Twilight might barrack for though. No, the werewolf in this tale has more in common with such creatures as Grendel, a creature that is cursed and terrible to behold. That being said, his tale appears to be a tragic one that the reader can sympathise with.
Issues
I felt the pace dropped off toward the end of the novel. There were extended scenes when Aelis, the count’s sister is remembering a previous life, (necessary no doubt for on-going plot) where I felt that the story brakes were on when we should have been accelerating.
I won’t tell you the ending, however, the resolution of the tale was unsatisfactory one for me. To be fair to Lachlan though, this dissatisfaction stems from the fact that I am reading as a stand alone when in fact its a continuation of characters journeys from Wolfsangel.
Recommendations
Like I said the book has a very old school sword and sorcery feel to it. Though it might also appeal those that enjoy historical fiction and don’t mind a little fantasy thrown in. Not absolutely necessary to have read Wolfsangel but on reflection I think it’s advised, especially if you want to enjoy the the book fully.
It’s piqued my interest enough to chase down Wolfsangel and the third book when it’s released.
This book was provided by the publisher at no cost to myself -
Fenrir is the second instalment of the Wolfsangel Cycle. The dark take on the werewolf myth continues 100 years after the first book was set. Although a sequel, we have a different selection of characters filling the same roles as the ones we came to know in the first book.
M.D. Lachlan has somehow stepped up his game since
Wolfsangel, an already great book.
The Vikings are laying siege to Paris, which is yet grow into the heart of France it is destined to become. The leaders of the invading force are not interested in the gold that sits in this insignificant merchant hub, but are more interested in the Count's sister, Aelis. The blind, invalid priest Jehan is tasked with persuading her to hand herself over the vikings in order to save the city (what will the people think if the Count willingly gives over his sister?). However, unbeknownst to them both, they are mere pawns in the plans of Odin, who is once again attempting to play the story of Ragnorok on Earth.
Aelis is not only pursued by the vikings, but by the god's own agents, the 'ravens' Hugin and Munin, terrible siblings bent on fulfilling the mad god's plans, and by a mysterious wolfman, whose intent with her is unclear. After a failed kidnapping of Aelis by a small selection of viking warriors, they are all thrown into a game of cat and mouse across the continent, each trying to avoid the fate the gods have selected for them, and steering clear of the ever marching step of the Fenris Wolf.
M.D. Lachlan's take on the werewolf myth was novel for the first book, and fundamentally not much has changed in the second. However, each of the new characters feel fresh and are generally better developed over the course of the novel. Although they are reincarnations, we follow them through an entirely new circumstances, allowing each to develop naturally and stopping the book from feeling repetitive. It also leads to the interesting game of trying to guess who is the reincarnation of who, which Lachlan does a great job of keeping uncertain through most of the book.
Personally, I think my favourite character arch is that of Jehan. It's extremely compelling to follow his attempts to incorporate his deep Christian beliefs to the world of the Norse gods that is slowly engulfing him. His ability to rationalise and justify actions and events he is exposed to to match his own world view is deeply human, and leads to some very complex situations. Lachlan handles these well, and the prose in these sections is generally the most engaging.
Fenrir is darker than its predecessor (which is itself already a dark book). There are scenes not for the faint-hearted and are truly gruesome (and could be quite upsetting), though these are never unnecessary. There is always some purpose to the brutality, never just a shock factor, even if this purely so as not to romanticise the historical age in which this takes place. Each of these scenes draws you in, and makes you feel as if you're living through it in the place of the character (maybe not something to read before bed).
I could go on and on about this book; I find it one of the best I've read in a long long time. I love the mix of fantasy and historical fiction, and the way he ties in the brutality of existence makes everything feel authentic. Lachlan excels in creating an atmosphere that is palpable, while slowly feeding you information about the world the story exists in. I'd highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys low-fantasy (or any fantasy) fiction, while also willing to take a step into the darker side of these worlds. -
What I liked:
The sequel, like the first part, is a literary rendition of the cyclical myth of Fenrir, the wolf destined to kill Odin at Ragnorok and end the era of Norse deities for good. It also features the same set of main heroes. From almost the very beginning it becomes obvious that prnicess Aelis, the main female lead, and Adisla (a peasant girl from the first part) are, more or less, the same person. Identifying Vali and Feileg, the twin brothers from the previous part, in love with her whose father is Loki himself, is not that easy. Of course both brothers were also given interesting parts but I won’t reveal their identities because it would be two major spoilers. Let me only say that their fates are closely intertwined, the idea was original and their identities –surprising. The author throws as many red herrings your way as it is only possible and he mostly succeeds in disorienting you, making this book different than Wolfsangel– no mean feat when the main characters are supposed to follow the same path for the second time.
Their path might be the same but their social role isn’t. I complained that in the first part Adisla seemed to me the weakest of the trio. Here the opposite is true – she is a really strong female lead who takes difficult decisions, can defend herself and is often the most aware of the course of action happening around her. Mainly because of Aelis I liked the second part better than the first, although it was grimmer - we get here definitely less sense of humour and those happy, cheerful ordinary life scenes are really few and far between.
Overall the characterization was really a strong point of this novel - each character develops as an individual, has their own flaws, and almost every one displays some degree of moral ambiguity - I loved that immensely. Even the nominal bad guys are not wholly bad. What’s more? I am happy to say that Loki reappears forwarding the action every time in a new direction but we see almost no witches (and good riddance to bad rubbish, I hated them).
What I didn’t like:
Sometimes the narration was overwhelming because of the amount of atrocities, described; I felt like having a really bad nightmare, one after which you wake up tired and drawn but grateful it’s over. Be warned - cannibalism, killings, murders, torture scenes are thrown at you one after another until the very end. Yes, they are used in context with the rest of the story and often play important role in the progression of the narrative, everything being logical and explained in a believable way but if you are not in a mood for such entertainment better steer clear of this book.
At the end no HEA is waiting for you either, although some might quarrel that a prospect of living again after being killed can be counted as such. However, how much is such a prospect worth when you are entangled in the same vicious cycle of running for your life, being turned into a monster, killing and being killed, most of it happening against your own will and for unknown purpose? I hope the final part will end up in a more positive way for Vali, Adisla and Feileg, no matter how they will be called and what they will become.
Finally it is hardly a flaw but I am also not sure this one is a stand-alone novel. Not really. In my opinion you would miss too many good analogies and most of rune magic. I do recommend reading Wolfsangel first. For those who like reading a series out of order – don’t do it this time.
Final verdict:
In my view, Fenrir lived up to the high expectations set by Wolfsangel. It is rare when it comes to sequels – the more I am pleased to admit it. The book still remains a rather violent mix of Norse magic and myths with some Christian elements added but if you are not put off by the high amount of violence you will enjoy it and you will, like me, wait for more. -
Fenrir is the sequel to Wolfsangel, which I hugely enjoyed and became one of my favorites, and now Fenrir has joined it as another favorite. I don't often like to chose favorites within sequels/series as I like to credit the books on their individual merits but with these two books I don't think I could chose a favorite even if I had to.
the story and plot were wonderfully imaginative and mesmerizing, gripping from the very first page till the last.
if i'm honest, at times, it was a little confusing, and required a re-read of the paragraph to truly grasp what was happening but fortunately this rarely happened.
the small but sometimes clear links between the characters in Fenrir and the old-dead characters in Wolfsangel fascinated me, as I often found myself trying to guess who the new characters had been in their past lives (i.e in Wolfsangel), and on countless occasions I was wrong due to the page-turning twist and turns.
I easily give this book 4 and half stars out of 5, it would have gained 5 stars but it took me a while to finish (due to no fault of the book, I was studing my A/AS levels whilst reading this book and didn't have as much time left for reading as I would have liked.)
the small poetic verses and extracting from folklore (i think their referred to as folklore but I may be wrong) were a delight and provided the narrative with a more realistic or rather factual feeling/tone; as if the writer had gone back in time and seen how people acted and spoke (wish this were possible :P).
the first book made me like him, the second has now conformed it; Lachlan has become one of my favorite authors, his writing style is one reason, as well as many others.
I enjoyed the last chapter which offered hints towards the next book (i believe there's meant to be a third book but will have to check, hopefully there is.)
overall a outstanding, clever and Exquisite piece of writing with a writing style that's simply mesmerizing, Inspirational and unique that deserves much praise.xxx
(as it's clear from my review I much enjoyed this book and the series, i didn't want to make the review too long as it's quite late at night and I've already mainly stay up late to finish reading this book :) and I have commented mainly on the pros within the book but of course no book is perfect and these are always cons. feel free to ask my opinion on anything not mentioned above and also about the cons if you wish. xxx) -
Fenrir was actually a sequel to a novel. I only found this out after I had begun reading it. That said, I didn't feel like I was missing anything for not having read this author's first novel. He is such a good writer and made sure to explain things briefly so new readers weren't left behind. Explanations didn't take away from the story, either.
This story was interesting. I originally picked it up because it claimed to be a sort of "werewolf" novel. I won't disagree with that but it definitely isn't a typical werewolf story and that's what I loved most about it. It was different, it was exciting, it was mysterious. My favorite part was that this novel was a combination of my two loves, historical fiction and fantasy. I haven't read many "adult" fantasy novels so the amount of violence was surprising at first but not gratuitous. The historical aspect of this novel makes it feel so real and, in turn, so terrifying. I absolutely loved that.
The summary on the back of the book is a bit misleading, especially since I hadn't read his first novel. The story went so far beyond what was written on the back of the book but that can be forgiven.
There was also a lot going on. The chapters were short and each chapter, usually, switched perspectives (a necessary device for this particular plot). This made things a bit confusing to keep track of in terms of who was on what side and the purpose of each character. By the end I understood with great clarity and, if given the chance, would read the book again so that I may watch all the pieces fall into place instead of being a bit lost and only seeing the big picture at the end.
Even though I got through this book pretty easily, I would highly recommend reading his first one. It might save you the slight confusion I had when it came to characters and their motives. -
Fenrir is a dark twisted tail that is very well written. Unlike Wolfsangel, Fenrir dabbles in Christianity and with this comes great (un)holy sacrifice. Added to already greatly written (and revised) Norse legend of Odin, Loki, Fenrir etc, we add a man of God. Another myth some might say? But i cannot say much without giving the plotline away.
Saying this book is dark is an understatement, a friend of mine read Wolfsangel and loved it. But then she gave up half way though Fenrir, saying it was too gory. Probably not fluffy enough? No vampires that can reproduce through mating probably. But ho hum, it is Fantasy and everyone is entitled to an opinion. Just read the whole godamn book though...but horses for courses!
But this book is good, it isn't as "glossy" as Wolfsangel (and that wasn't that glossy!!!)but i would say it was a better book. The author has evolved and made this Norse Legend his own, he really has. Gotta remember this is only his second Fantasy novel...even though he has written other "books" before.
Read this book, really, read it. But make sure you lock all the doors, leave a dim light on and make sure you have a stiff drink to hand. And maybe a shower too, as the ride is going to be one that makes you feel grimy, and like you have been a out clubbing with the devil himself. -
The Norse gods are back, pre-enacting Ragnorok again in book two of Lachlan’s werewolf saga.
It’s 885, and the Viking age is at its peak. As the Northmen siege Paris a band of mortals are brought together, the cast of Wolfsangel reborn, to discover that they’re about to be screwed by the Aesir one more time.
Concordant with the novel’s déjà vu plot, what was good about Wolfsangel is good about Fenrir – Lachlan’s brutal magic, his attempts to depict mindsets from a different time, his use of historical incident and his handling of the gods – Loki gets a fair amount of ink here – are all outstanding.
But what was bad before is bad again. The story lacks drive, it’s monotonously repetitive – our leads are kidnapped and lost and captured again – and somewhat anticlimactic. Echoes of previous moments have you scrambling for the prior volume, and characters that are so brilliantly described one moment have suspicious changes of heart.
Furthermore, with the second book being so close in time to the first, the setting is too samey to make the repetition of the gods’ acts fresh. Moving only so far as the late middle ages would have provided much-needed contrast, but we’re still with the Vikings. At this rate we’ll be on volume 11 by the time we get to the present day, and that’s a lot of times to be reading the same story. -
I greatly enjoyed the first book of this series, Wolfsangel and decided to try the second, however I was deeply disappointed.
I believe most of my disappointment came from the time period involved. While Wolfsangel was based around the time of the Vikings, the Norse... Fenrir was based much later in Paris involving the Franks, Danes, Romans, and Catholics. A time period I have little interest in and know little about. Plus, with all of the different "peoples", I was easily confused about who was on what "team", so to speak.
The story is very much like the first in that it is based around a girl, the boy who loves her and the wolf-creature destined to protect her (in fact, it is meant to be the same three in a different incarnation) but there the similarity ends.
I'm unsure whether there is a third book to this series, but, depending on the time period, I may or may not choose to read it. -
Possibly the first Norse Fiction/Viking/ Mythological book genre I've ever read. Found beginning and some mid-parts to be quite boring. A couple dozens of chapters later, reading the book seemed like a chore. I quite liked Aelis and Jehan's story, though many times I got lost in the author's descriptive use of words. Some ending parts were great, in my opinion. For example, I found Jehan's transformation into a werewolf (Fenrir) and him attack against Vikings at the river area quite interesting.
The end part for me was quite confusing though, just after Jehan and Aelis die. Runes? Odin? Blah, maybe my imagination was just too weak for me to enjoy this.
Negativities aside, I have a confession. I have not read Book 1 of the Wolfsangel Cycle. "What? You started reading from Book 2? Why didn't you get the first one?" Found this piece at a dollar book store and gave it a try. Only learned that I was reading author Lachlan's second book until very recently. Whoops, haha! -
Wasn't this more or less the same as the first book? I mean, yeah, there was some mentions of the first book and the characters in it, but... but... WHAT? Why?!
The writing style was a tad pretentious and not very good. I can manage that, but I had an issue with the amount of typos in at least this edition. They seemed to be focused on the beginning and the end, but it does sort of confuse the reader when a character suddenly seems to change her name at the end.
Ah well. There is a third part waiting in my shelf still, so I guess I'll read it, too. But I am not going to buy the fourth part. Unless I like the third part better and see the fourth one somewhere really cheaply... (And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason my unread book shelf is filled to the brim with not-very-good books.)
