cover image Secrets of the Wolves

Secrets of the Wolves

Dorothy Hearst. Simon & Schuster, $24 (352p) ISBN 978-1-4165-7000-4

In the second of The Wolf Chronicles, set 14,000 years ago, the relationship between a pack of wolves and a tribe of primitive humans continues to evolve. Under the edict of the secretive Greatwolves (who rule Wide Valley), young wolf Kaala and her chosen human TaLi%E2%80%94with the help of the irreverent raven Tlitoo%E2%80%94must prove that humans and wolves can cooperate by keeping peace between them for one year, under pain of death for all in the valley. Factions among both the different wolfpacks and the Greatwolves themselves put the experiment at risk. Meanwhile, TaLi's tribe is tempted to reject their traditional harmony with nature and her intended shamanistic role as krianan. Despite the heavy-handed supernatural elements and environmental message, Hearst (Promise of the Wolves) writes convincingly and engagingly of lupine behavior, and the interactions among wolves and wolfpacks never fail to captivate. Though the backstory is well integrated with the ongoing saga, the trilogy's middle installment includes much tortuous interspecies mysticism devoted to Kaala and TaLi's destined roles, while leaving their immediate situation irritatingly unresolved. (Aug.)