Way of the Wolf (2003)

Fiction Review by The Gravedigger	09.06.06

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Way of the Wolf: Book One of The Vampire Earth Author: E.E. Knight This first entertaining novel in an epic series immediately grabs you. It's forty-years after the Kurian Invasion - an alien species had invaded the Earth through gateways - and they just so happen to be the creatures that our legends of monsters are based upon. David Valentine is a young man who was raised in the Free Territory of the Ozarks and he and his people are on constant guard against the flying harpies and especially The Reapers. The Reapers are humanoid, totally pale, fanged and nearly unstoppable. While they drink the blood of their victims they are able to transfer the life force directly to their Kurian masters, who feed solely on this aura energy. The Kurians themselves hide safely away in fortified structures and use not only their puppet Reapers but species they've transferred from other worlds, collectively called 'Grogs'. They range from the gray, hairless apelike creatures to the intelligent, golden haired warriors Valentine eventually befriends (in the 2nd book). Although the Grogs generally work for the Kurians there are those who also side with the humans. The Kur also take the illusion of humans when it suits them their true form is akin to that of a winged squid. The story is told from young Valentine's perspective and how he is transformed by his experiences facing a terrifying enemy. But humanity has an ally in the Light Weavers, who are the same species of the Kurians but have chosen not to become immortal through vampirism. They are able to augment individuals into fierce warriors, who are called Wolves, Cats and Bears, depending upon what's unleashed in them. WAY OF THE WOLF, E.E Knight has established a very unique, memorable universe quite unlike anything I've come across, sort of like James Cameron's TERMINATOR movies if the robots were instead creatures created by H.P. Lovecraft. The story gets even better in the sequel, CHOICE OF THE CAT. Read it? Rate it Currently nan/10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rating: nan out of 10.0 - votes cast total buy horror book del.icio.us  |  digg  |  reddit » BACK TO HORROR FICTION REVIEWS LIST