The Wolf Gift

The Wolf Gift Chronicles (1)

By: Anne Rice

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

Length: 17 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “Vintage Anne Rice—a lushly written, gothic … metaphysical tale. This time, with werewolves.” —The Wall Street Journal

A daring new departure from the inspired creator of The Vampire Chronicles (“unrelentingly erotic . . . unforgettable”—The Washington Post), Lives of the Mayfair Witches (“Anne Rice will live on through the ages of literature”—San Francisco Chronicle), and the angels of The Songs of the Seraphim (“remarkable”—Associated Press). A whole new world—modern, sleek, high-tech—and at its center, a story as old and compelling as history: the making of a werewolf, reimagined and reinvented as only Anne Rice, teller of mesmerizing tales, conjurer extraordinaire of other realms, could create.

The time is the present.

The place, the rugged coast of Northern California. A bluff high above the Pacific. A grand mansion full of beauty and tantalizing history set against a towering redwood forest.

A young reporter on assignment from the San Francisco Observer . . . An older woman welcoming him into her magnificent family home that he has been sent to write about and that she must sell with some urgency . . . A chance encounter between two unlikely people . . . An idyllic night—shattered by horrific unimaginable violence, the young man inexplicably attacked—bitten—by a beast he cannot see in the rural darkness . . . A violent episode that sets in motion a terrifying yet seductive transformation, as the young man, caught between ecstasy and horror, between embracing who he is evolving into and fearing what he will become, soon experiences the thrill of the wolf gift.

As he resists the paradoxical pleasure and enthrallment of his wolfen savagery and delights in the power and (surprising) capacity for good, he is caught up in a strange and dangerous rescue and is desperately hunted as “the Man Wolf” by authorities, the media, and scientists (evidence of DNA threatens to reveal his dual existence) . . . As a new and profound love enfolds him, questions emerge that propel him deeper into his mysterious new world: questions of why and how he has been given this gift; of its true nature and the curious but satisfying pull towards goodness; of the profound realization that there may be others like him who are watching—guardian creatures who have existed throughout time who possess ancient secrets and alchemical knowledge. And throughout it all, the search for salvation for a soul tormented by a new realm of temptations, and the fraught, exhilarating journey, still to come, of being and becoming, fully, both wolf and man.

©2012 Anne Rice (P)2012 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“Rice weaves her trademark meditations on the role of supernatural creatures in society into an often thrilling, page-turning yarn.” (Booklist)

“The Wolf Gift is vintage Anne Rice—a lushly written, gothic…metaphysical tale. This time, with werewolves.” (The Wall Street Journal)

“Rice has never shied away from tackling Big Issues…The Wolf Gift marks a return to form while still giving a nod to spiritual matters…[A] delectable cocktail of old-fashioned lost-race adventure, shape-shifting and suspense.” (Elizabeth Hand, The Washington Post)

The Wolf Gift

what a joy to be listening to Anne Rice again. So loved the voices of Ron McLarty. So easy to fall in love with these deep and interesting characters.

Ann Rice is BACK! Interesting, Fun Want more

You know you are reading an Ann Rice novel. Fluidity, interesting, a new take on the Wolf stories. A must read and I hope soon more to follow.

Must listen

I like this story had my attention the person reading this book was good to me

A new series for Anne Rice

Like most Anne Rice books this one starts out a little slow. Once you get past the initial part of who the main character is and his evolution from man to man-wolf. There is a great mystery with a background of the home where most of the story takes place and the man who owned it and then "disappeared". Not overly bloody or gory, nor is it as erotic as Rice's vampire series, however it appears to be a good lead into a new series for Rice.

No vampire chronicles

Meh..... It was ok.. Not as good as the vamps or witches.... She could have gone many more places.. I'll check out the second

Meh.

Since it's been years since I've read any of Rice's work maybe I'm just not used to how long-winded and overly descriptive it can be. I felt like the story itself had very little movement. It may have just not been my kind of book.

Another great read

Having been born and raised near the San Francisco Bay Area, I was pleasantly surprised by the vivid and accurate detail of the Northern California coast. Anne Rice transported me back home and tells a gripping and somewhat tragic tale of loss and discovery, acceptance and separation. The protagonist is a little too unbelievably "perfect", but have no problem bonding with. The villain/s make rare and short appearances and are predictably easily defeated. If your a fan of Anne Rice's beautifully poetic writing then your not going to be disappointed.

Not the Old Anne Rice

I have read Anne Rice's Gothic Vampire Chronicles from start to finish. And I was hooked. The writing was poetic and it charmed me from the first page. I have to say this didn't have the same power for me as I was expecting from her.
The story of a young reporter, Reuben coming to tour an old mansion in Northern California for the purpose of writing an glowing article to help Merchant sell it seems to full of "Say what?!" moments.
Ok. Get this! He is from a wealthy family and is more or less a lost soul. He is a junior reporter trying to find himself when he gets this assignment. Merchant is the niece of the long lost home owner and is much older. Of course they would end up in bed right? Exactly, "Say what?" Just like that! The book is full of moments I kept saying that to myself along with "Are you kidding me?"

What would you do if you see a wolf like man standing a few feet taller than you in the wood? Run? Scream? What about let him "take you"? Yessss! You heard me! They have sex. No "Hi. How are you?" or "What are you?" or "Who are you?" And when he changes back to regular Reuben she is cool with that too! She has zero, I mean ZERO freak out! Can we please say it together?
SAY WHAT!!!?? (God I need a gif for that one.)
Anyways, I love Anne Rice and I have followed her from Gothic Vampires to the story of Jesus. Loved them both. The Song of Seraphim's series which I read this year was just so-so for me.
I think I am not really feeling the old Anne is back. She has all the elements mixed up kinda. Since she found God she has included characters on a deep spiritual quest or awakening and it somehow takes away from the book.
But that being said there are too, too many "Say What?" moments in this book for me. (ie, Reuben takes a long time to figure out that he is a werewolf that got it from a bite. I knew minutes into it. Not weeks.)

The discoveries of the "Man wolf"

I loved it! Its a werewolf story with a twist. Well written and the main character is just downright lovable. In contrast, the villains are the most evil and sadistic characters that you could read about. Justly deserving their very violent and brutal ends. My favorite part is when in his wolf state, he comes across the woman who is to be his mate. very unique. She's a bit of a "Know it all" later in the book; but she eventually grows on you. The other women in his life - mother - girlfriend are so strong and opinionated, that their insufferable. But, the main character is so well written that you love the story despite them. The narrator is perfect for Reuben a.k.a. (The man wolf). Prepare yourself for some deep philosophical discussions among the characters. Great read!!

Was hoping that it was better

Anne rice is one of my favorite author. But lately I’ve been reading her books and it have not comes to par with my expectations . Not that her writing is not great but it lack passion that she used to have. As time goes with this book it just kept on going with the same scenes after scenes at the scenes of the previous chapters. As a reader, I was hoping for something that can grab my attention. It did not come and I find myself rolling my eyes at a certain part of the scene. And quickly I find myself wanting this book to end. Some of her works Fascinates me but not this one unfortunately.