The Wolves of Midwinter

The Wolf Gift Chronicles, Book 2

By: Anne Rice

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

Length: 15 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

In Anne Rice's surprising and compelling best-selling novel, the first of her strange and mythic imagining of the world of wolfen powers, readers and listeners were spellbound as Rice conjured up a daring new world set against the wild and beckoning California coast.

Now in her new novel, as lush and romantic in detail and atmosphere as it is sleek and steely in storytelling, Anne Rice takes us once again to the rugged coastline of Northern California, to the grand mansion at Nideck Point, and further explores the unearthly education of her transformed Man Wolf.

The novel opens on a cold, gray landscape. It is the beginning of December. Oak fires are burning in the stately flickering hearths of Nideck Point. It is Yuletide. For Reuben Golding, now infused with the Wolf Gift and under the loving tutelage of the Morphenkinder, this promises to be a Christmas like no other...

The Yuletide season, sacred to much of the human race, has been equally sacred to the Man Wolves, and Reuben soon becomes aware that they, too, steeped in their own profound rituals, will celebrate the ancient Midwinter festival deep within the verdant richness of Nideck forest.

From out of the shadows of Nideck comes a ghost - tormented, imploring, unable to speak yet able to embrace and desire with desperate affection …. As Reuben finds himself caught up with - and drawn to - the passions and yearnings of this spectral presence.

Includes the Original Song "Exiles (The Wolves of Midwinter)", Performed by Mary Fahl.

"I devoured these pages . . . As solid and engaging as anything she has written since her early Vampire Chronicles fiction." (Alan Cheuse, The Boston Globe)

"A delectable cocktail of old-fashioned lost-race adventure, shape-shifting, and suspense." (Elizabeth Hand, The Washington Post)

©2013 Anne Rice (P)2013 Random House Audio

My Favorite Christmas Book

I listen to this ever year at Christmas. It has become a tradition. I love it.

Not what I expect from Annie rice.

It's not bad but I expect alot better from her . It just got a little boring. It went on and on about stuff sometimes.

The narrator is a bit slow. I speed it up a bit

This book is better than the first. the narrator was hard at first but I put my settings at 1.30 and I was in a trance.

Narrator has only one voice really, disappointing.

The narrator, NOT terrible, but essentially all the male characters sounded the same. the female characters suffered the same but worse; they sounded like a man reading a woman. Good narrators make you forget that.

The story was slow but still enjoyable. They can't all be the first four in the VC. I'll always enjoy Anne Rich.

Movie???

Omgosh!!! I loved this series!!! She has done again! Of course!! 😏🥰. I would love to see this on Amazon or Netflix!!!! I thought McLarty did an amazing job as narrator! 🤩

I'm a huge Anne Rice fan!

What made the experience of listening to The Wolves of Midwinter the most enjoyable?

Delving into a new world of Anne Rice characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Wolves of Midwinter?

When the main character finally met the other wolves.

Which scene was your favorite?

When he first became a wolf and was getting used to all of his senses.

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

It made me laugh when his wolf character messed up.

Any additional comments?

I love getting into a new world of characters from Anne Rice.

Interview with a werewolf?

Good book and story line just hope she has more of these in the works

Wonderful Narrator!

What did you like best about The Wolves of Midwinter? What did you like least?

It WAS a good story, but I think I may just be outgrowing Anne Rice. The conversations between characters got too lengthy & boring.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I was kind of glad it was finished.

Have you listened to any of Ron McLarty’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This narrator MADE the book better. I loved him & would seek out more of his work!

Was The Wolves of Midwinter worth the listening time?

Yes, it was. The first book was really good & this follow up had a lot of fun scenes. BUT, if she does a third, I'm thinking the story may start to drag.

slow, no action, too much religion, no horror,

For a werewolf story, The Wolf Gift series is too mediocre for a writer of Anne Rice's caliber. The Wolves of Midwinter holds no well thought out action sequences. It has little in the way of magnetism to grab the reader's attention and pull them page after page through the ending of the book.
However, i do recommend this series to the hopeless romantics and those who like an easy escape from reality. It is an ok book in itself.

Great winter read!

Loved the second book in the series! Who doesn’t love wherewolves!!!! Would make a fantastic tv adaptation.