Taylor Brown

A wolver, according to dictionaries, has two meanings: a person who hunts wolves, and a person who behaves like a wolf. The four main characters in this novel include three wolvers who meet both definitions and One-Eleven – a wolf.

Trace Temple is hunting One-Eleven in the Gila Wilderness as the novel opens, hired by a shady, secretive militia opposed to the reintroduction of the species. Trace is broke and angry at the government after losing his family ranch, reduced to living in his show more truck. He’s a gifted hunter, familiar with the back country and a crack shot, but the wolf who leads the pack is wily and skilled. So is a mysterious figure who is on the alpha wolf’s side. It’s only after he nearly dies, dragging himself painfully out of a canyon with a bear trap anchored in his ankle, that Trace decides to forgo the money, wanting the wolf and her cubs to survive.

But the militia wants One-Eleven killed, and soon another hunter is prowling the wilderness, seeking both the wolf and the men who want to save her. Murdoch is both skilled and ruthless, determined to take out the wolf and anyone who stands in his way. We see the action from all of their perspectives, including that of the wolf who is a match for the wolvers. Her perspective is gripping without being anthropomorphic.

It’s not quite correct to say there are four characters. The Gila Wilderness is a fifth, vividly described in all its rugged, dangerous beauty. While the story is a propulsive one of hunting and survival, the language the author uses is as compelling. A reclusive mountain man, sitting in a cave high on a canyon wall beside a fire sees pictographs there that “flared and moved on the tanned musculature of the stone, as if scratched in flesh.” When Trace hears a wolf howl it’s “a voice hurled long and wailsome across the plain like the keening of some prehistoric ghost.” And when he’s injured and trying to drag himself to safety, he has his own elemental moment. “Something came roaring from his chest. He threw back his head and his throat convulsed, launching some deep part of himself into the sky. High and wild and lonesome.” His howl is answered by another, echoing his own. The hunter of wolves has become wolf-like.

There is a rudimentary political plotline, here, with a wealthy group of men dreaming of secession, seeing the reintroduction of wolves as overreach by a despised federal government, but it’s intentionally dwarfed by the immensity of the landscape where men and wolves fight for survival. This is not a flaw; it’s where the story is focused, on the drama playing out among men and a she-wolf leading her pack. It’s an extraordinary thriller that deploys language so skillfully it doesn’t slow the action, but is every bit as exciting. show less

Two orphaned teens and a noble horse flee bounty hunters, renegades, the desperate, the displaced, the hungry, and a terrible prophecy. Brilliant. As others have noted the writing and story are reminiscent of [b:Cormac McCarthy: All the Pretty Horses, No Country for Old Men, The Road|7970748|Cormac McCarthy All the Pretty Horses, No Country for Old Men, The Road|Sara L. Spurgeon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348807161s/7970748.jpg|12087793] and yet in may ways this is a more powerful read. show more The writing is more poetic, the characters more likable. It was very hard to put this book down as I fell in love with the three (yes, 3 - I loved Reiver!) characters on the run.

In the bleak landscape of this war ravished part of the South there is danger and horror at every stop and yet there is kindness and dignity as well. This is the first time I have read such a moving and devastating accounting of what the region was like during this terrible war. It was hard not to imagine and cast the amazing movie this could be - but definitely read the book first! show less

A book that is unflinching in the face of horrible stuff, Fallen Land doesn’t hesitate to explore the full horror of war and tragedy. So keep that in mind when reading this title or previewing it for younger readers; not everyone would be able to handle the imagery and themes explored within. Yet, if you can get past that, this is a gripping tale of survival, betrayal, war, and love.

First off, the leads are perfect to tell this story through. An intriguing mixture of innocence in the face show more of war and scarred souls, both Callum and Ava are immediately relatable. Two youngsters thrown in very trying circumstances, they give a horrific story a human face and young soul. Exploring how the events of war impact their lives and change them kept me reading from page one.

The dynamic story of survival against marauders and the elements in Civil War Appalachia and Georgia kept me on the edge of my seat. Not for one second does the story let up. From the very first words describing a confrontation to the last big showdown, the reader just can’t help but turn the pages, eager to find out if Callum and Ava with survive the next chapter. With all the horrific imageries and themes explored, their survival didn’t feel like a sure thing by any means.

Personally, I’m actually glad that the author wasn’t afraid to go full bore on those imageries. It gives a graphic image of what a war-torn landscape would look like: blackened trees, a fire red skyline, cold mountain breezes, random corpses, and a citizenry that is on the verge of collapse. It brings a sense of immediacy and realism to the story that makes it even more powerful.

I wasn’t expecting like this work as much as I did. The characters, vivid landscape, and intense survival story all make this a win. I’d recommend this to any lover of Civil War tales and powerful tales in general. I look forward to more from this author.

Note: Book received for free via a giveaway on GR in exchange for an honest opinion. show less

Wolvers by author Taylor Brown was dry, dark, scary and often depressing but captivating, intense, thrilling and impossible to put down. I was expecting a predictable man vs. wolves story, but it was so much more than that. It became apparent quickly that my allegiance was going to shift all over the place: from Trace to the wolfman to the wolves and back again. From the ranchers to the hunters, the government or the little man. All sides made compelling arguments and elicited sympathy at show more some point. It even took some time before it became obvious the organization that initially hired Trace wasn’t as altruistic as they wanted everyone to believe.

It’s difficult to describe the chapters that focused on the wolves and do them justice. The wolves don’t seem human; it’s more complicated than that. Their sense of preservation and loyalty to their leader and the pack is as evident as their awareness of being hunted and their fear of being captured or killed. They are clever at evading danger and planning next moves. With an amazing ability to recognize when an enemy is no longer an enemy.

The book is very hard to read at times, not because it isn’t riveting but because it’s hard to imagine any sort of even remotely happy ending at all. There’s a sense of dread throughout, leaving yourworrying there will be no good answers, no acceptable solutions. Author Taylor Brown’s writing, however, is spare, sparse with just the right wording, action and amount of suspense. And keeps you turning page after page.

Trace Temple is fascinating. He seems shallow and single-minded at first, only looking for revenge. But as the story progresses and the layers peel back, you see his struggle, his pain, his changing thoughts and goals. His life was never easy, but now it seems to be nothing but sleep outdoors or in his truck, hunt wolves, repeat. Until he meets the wolfman and starts to look deeper at what he’s doing and what he really thinks is right. His injured trek through the wood is almost unbearable to read but you can’t turn away. He seems capable but then is easily outsmarted and captured. The supporting characters are just as interesting as Trace.

I received an advance copy of Wolvers from St. Martin's Publishing Group via NetGalley. It’s captivating, exciting, thought-provoking, with edge of your seat action and a perfectly satisfying ending. One of the best books I have read in a long time, written by a new-to-me author who has jumped onto my favorites list. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less