Quirky Cat
I received a copy of The Emperor's Wolves in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Emperor's Wolves, by Michelle Sagara, is the first novel in the Wolves of Elantra series. However, fans of Sagara will certainly recognize the world and characters within. This series is a direct spin-off of the Chronicles of Elantra series, and focuses on one of my favorite characters of all time.
Severn Handred grew up in the fiefs. He proved his willingness to do anything and everything to protect somebody he loved. Now, he's trying to find a path through life, while carrying the guilt of his actions.
His skills, determination, and personality make him a strong candidate for the Wolves. They, like the Hawks, are an organization that upholds the law in Elantra. However, they are considered to be a darker branch, and are frequently (and not entirely incorrectly) considered to be the assassins for the Emperor.
It doesn't take long before Severn, a probationary Wolf, finds himself in a case that should quickly have gone over his head. However, Severn has always been a quiet and confident character, and this tale shows how he grew into the character we all know him as.
“To live as a Wolf, you must be true to the principles you have chosen to uphold. Those principles cannot be rocked or shaken by anger, by grief; they cannot be ignored when convenient. The act you commit, you commit for a reason, and that certainty is what hold you above the abyss.”
First, I just have to tell you this; when I learned that Michelle Sagara was writing a novel about Severn, I just about lost my mind. He's my favorite character, not just of the series, but arguably in general. So getting a novel (and now, what appears to be a series) heavily focused on him is basically a dream come true.
To say that I had high expectations going into The Emperor's Wolves would be a massive understatement. And yet, this novel blew all of those hopes, expectations, and dreams out of the water. It was an exciting read, portraying the backstory of a beloved and frequently understated character.
I feel like this is the journey many of us fans have been waiting to hear. We know so much about Kaylin and her past (obviously), and thus the past of her allies. Except for Severn. His backstory only ever came up in context of Kaylin, and thus ended when they two weren't near each other.
This novel begins to fill in those gaps. Honestly, I had expected the novel to cover the entire time period that they were separated. It does not – it is very much the beginning of a new series, and Sagara isn't afraid to provide the same level of detail to Severn's series.
A fact that I adored. Give me another novel, another ten novels, surrounding Severn, and I guarantee you that I will read every single one of them. I'm not sure what I loved more about this novel – the chance to learn more about his history, his personality, or how he became so confident as a wolf.
“If I don't know the laws, I won't know when I'm breaking them.”
“Use common sense.”
“I grew up in the fiefs.”
I should mention that The Emperor's Wolves surprised me on more than one occasion. It's a good surprise, don't worry. I wasn't expecting to recognize so many characters that made appearances in this story. That alone made it clear how well Severn had integrated himself into this new life, all while avoiding being spotted by Kaylin.
Another surprising element? Severn isn't the only perspective provided in this novel. I suppose that shouldn't be as surprising, since it is about the Wolves, and as such, any number of those characters could easily steal the focus.
All things considered, I adored The Emperor's Wolves and the insight it provided. I cannot wait to see what adventure Severn and his new allies get into next. Likewise, I'm still looking forward to seeing what is happening in the present, with Kaylin and everyone else. However, Cast in Conflict isn't due out until 2021, which leaves plenty of time to reread The Emperor's Wolves!
See more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks