Wolf Moon

Wolf Moon (1988) Charles de Lint

Wolf Moon is one of Charles de Lint’s earlier books. It’s quite short–only 245 pages. In tone, it reminds me very much of The Harp of the Grey Rose. A fantasy world that similar to, but not quite the same as, ours.

Kern is a werewolf. Accepted by neither humans or wolves, and afraid of being slain by any humans who discover what he is, he has come to accept his fate, until he is hunted by a magical harper, and nearly slain by the harper’s mythical beast.

Oddly enough, it is neither Kern not Ainsey I like the best by the end of the tale, but Fion. When she acts, she does so out of loyalty and love. Self-preservation seems to take second place to helping those she loves. And considering that she initially comes across as someone self-absorbed and interested only in pleasure, this discovery of her depths was all the more enjoyable.

But I have to admit that as much as I love Charles de Lint’s urban fantasy, I may like his traditional fantasy, but I simply do not find it anywhere near as compelling. The characters don’t seem quite as real as the inhabitants of Newford, although I couldn’t possibly tell you why this is so.

If you like Charles de Lint, then you will almost certainly want to read Wolf Moon, especially if you liked The Harp and of Grey Rose. If you have not read any of Charles de Lints books before, I would recommend that you start somewhere else, because although I enjoyed this story, I didn’t find it anywhere near as good as his other works, especially his short story collections. It may also be that I have very high expectations for Charles de Lint’s writing, and although this is a good story, I don’t think it is anywhere close to as good as any of his Newford books and collections.
Rating: 6/10

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