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)

I love Anne Rice... but....

Is there anything you would change about this book?

This book is about 500% longer than it should be. She rambles and takes 15 pages to say the simplest thing. It's almost painful.

Has The Wolf Gift turned you off from other books in this genre?

No the genre is excellent, this is an awesome writer, the editor needs to be fired. I know that Anne Rice is a power-house in the industry, but she needs an editor who will stand up to her and tell her that this is crap.

What about Ron McLarty’s performance did you like?

Ron McLarty reads with passion and conviction. Very well done.

Do you think The Wolf Gift needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Not unless Anne Rice actually creates an outline, a definite plot and then writes the story to follow the structure.

Any additional comments?

I love Anne Rice. Seriously. I loved the Vampire Chronicles. I loved the Mayfair Witches. But this is not a good example of Anne Rice. I would compare this to a master painter who paints right off the side of the canvas and across the wall. Her talent is undeniable, but it needs to be focused and reigned in. I sincerely hope that she gets help for her next book, someone to help organize and structure her creative thoughts.

Classic Rice!!!

The audio version of The Wolf Gift prodives the listener with the unique talents of Ron McLarty and you're instantly transported deep into the story. I forgot where I was! After what was to me a brief stumbling start, the story takes off and had me hooked for two solid days with infrequent breaks. This is classic Ann Rice and the book leaves you just wanting more!

Dynamite read! Wow! Loved every moment!

Ann Rice never disappoints!... This is one of her BEST! A great twist on an old story. Her version will have you at the edge of your seat! ~ And I don't miss Ron McLarty's awesome narration ~ he's fabulous!

awesome

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

this book was equally as intriguing as all the other novels by anne rice.

What other book might you compare The Wolf Gift to and why?

merrick, blackwood farm. its just as eloquently written as all the books.

Which character – as performed by Ron McLarty – was your favorite?

rueben

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

love it

Believable but not terrifying

I have been a fan of horror monsters since Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and Vincent Price. With each werewolf and vampire book that I read I like to see the authors interpretation of each. Anne Rice is the reigning queen of vampires without a doubt. While I find her werewolf the most believable, I don't find them the most terrifying. I read the book every chance I got and looked forward to reading or listening to it (I had both the kindle and audiobook), it was hard to put down. I liked the ending and the explanation of how the gift/curse began. That being said, I did not feel compelled to continue the story with book two. I am going to wait for the synopsis and reviews of the third book before committing to the rest of this series.

Anne Rice Must've Been on a Diet

Lots of detailed talk about food. Story premise was cool, character development... not so much.

as always.... fantastic book!

if the book has Anne Rice on it..... you can't go wrong. Don't start one of her books if you don't want to get lost in it.

A bit predictable....but well written.

What made the experience of listening to The Wolf Gift the most enjoyable?

It was a different wolf-man story. Not the typical. It was a bit predicable in some areas but overall it was enjoyable and I would recommend it. It is an easy listen.

Enjoyed!

It was enjoyable, though in my humble opinion it got very philosophical and seemed to lag in some areas and get "lost'' so to speak; I still enjoyed it.

Best Wolf man in a long time

As always Anne Rice does not disappoint. I could not stop listening for a minute. It was very different and yet it was absolutely entertaining. I was simply enthralled with this story and can't wait for the continuation.