I liked this book. I honestly did. It was a good; different read. I thought it was better than the Warriors series, which is an accomplishment. Wait.The first half was great. Beyond great, really, because I got incredibly engrossed in the story. I loved how all the characters had flaws- Azzuen was sweet, but annoying, Kaala was kind and helpful but also mean and sometimes greedy, and the Greatwolves were powerful but had secrets. Then the ending came. The last fifty pages, although exciting, went very slowly for me. It seemed repetitive.I did not think this was the wolf version of Watership Down. That spot will never be filled, because Watership Down is it's own story. Nothing will ever be quite like it, and that includes Promise of the Wolves. It's an interesting and fun story, but not my favorite. I've never read a book told from the POV of an animal before, so this was a new experience. I actually picked this up at the library, and was hooked within the first few lines--at least enough to take it home. But my curiosity got the best of me, and I picked it up again as soon as I was home, and finished it by the next morning.I loved reading of the daring and brave Kaala, and her attempts to survive, regardless of the trials that are thrown her way. Her character--and the need to find out whether or not she proves them all wrong--was the thing that kept me reading. She's a great heroine, especially since she is not without her faults. She is easily angered, and is very spontaneous; qualities that often land her in troubling situations. I also enjoyed the fierce loyalty, and strong bonds she finds in Marra and Azzuen, two of her packmates.What I didn't enjoy, and what I think was the biggest downfall of the story, were the constant time gaps that occurred along the way. Time flows freely in the story; sometimes weeks at a time, and sometimes only days. Because of this, there is an overwhelming amount of information that is left out, only to be added as a last-minute detail later. For instance: at one point the the story, weeks have suddenly passed, and no explanation has been given for the time that passes, except to say that it has passed. The problem with this is that a few pages later, Kaala and her littermates can suddenly cross a river of fast-flowing water, because in those weeks, they had practiced swimming in a nearby pond that had never been mentioned before. And chapters later, we are told that Kaala can suddenly speak an ancient language that she overhears, because at some point in the missing time gaps, she was taught it. These are just two examples of many times when I think it would have been beneficial for facts to have been mentioned before they were convenient for the plot.It's not a perfect book (what book is?), but it was gripping enough that I want to read the next book to know what happens next. And, really, I never thought I would be interested in reading about the drama of elk hunting. But I liked it. :) If you're in the mood for a completely different book, this is a good bet.
What do You think about Promise Of The Wolves (2008)?
I tried 3 times to get into this book and have to get past chapter 5, just not what I expected.
—usman
Enjoyed it and will seek out the next one in the series
—brooke
