Sternenseher

Wolves of the Beyond #6

by Kathryn Lasky, Ilse Rothfuss (Translator)

Der junge Wolf Faolan und seine Freunde müssen eine neue Heimat finden, denn die Hinterlande sind vollkommen verwüstet. Notgedrungen machen sie sich auf den weiten Weg zum sagenumwobenen Land „Fernes Blau“, das jenseits des großen Meeres liegen soll. Doch dorthin gelangt man nur über eine gefährliche Brücke aus Eis. Und den Gefährten bleibt nur wenig Zeit, denn der böse Wolf Heep hat bereits die Verfolgung aufgenommen …

Genres: Fantasy, Animals, Middle Grade, Wolves, Fiction, Adventure, Childrens

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Kathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.

Reviews

[King Hoole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really, really good book. One of the better in the series in my opinion. Like the Guardians of Ga'Hoole focused a lot around legends, this book is very,how to say, spiritual. And I'm not referring religion wise. I mean things like gyre souls, spirits who are born again in a new form. (Ex: from wolf to owl to caribou to owl again.) I really loved this and all it's elements. But I don't want to give to much away. This SERIES also teaches earthly values like (to name just a few) honor, courage, compassion, tolerance, determination, leadership, understanding, and friendship. It also touches on things like cannibalism, discrimination, faith, social order (or lack thereof), and domestic violence. Three thumbs up.

[mads · Rating 2 out of 5]

My elementary school self would be proud that I finally finished this series and that's enough for me.

[Kor314 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best series and awesome book.



Kathryn Lasky is making a new series! EEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!

[Bluestar]

Who got this recommendation based on Erin Hunter?

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book in a series of fantastic books that I recommend everyone read. The protagonist of the story, Faolan, has the character strength of being a leader as he helps his friends through difficult times by encouraging and challenging them and also leading by his actions. In this story, Faolan leads his friends to the Distant Blue, through all sorts of danger, but it is their only hope if they want to survive.

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

How are people rating this book when it isn't out yet? Goodreads shouldn't let people rate books until they are released.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks like I’ll finally have to read the Guardians of Ga-Hoole

[Sombra Hall]

Kathryn Lasky is amazing at setting the expectation bar relativity high and still blowing the bar into the atmosphere.

Lasky is great, this series (and book) is great and I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves wolves and can easily remember new words that are a massive part of this book series. The characters are well developed and after a while of reading you are able to build the connections you had previously made with the wolves from the earlier installments. be prepared however, because while most times in the book (and series) are happy and provide comfort, there are times where you will need a strong stomach to digest some information and detail you are given.

This book in particular is a roller coaster of emotion ranging from happy purity to gruesome violence that queasy people won't be able to read without at least gagging. Throughout this books reading you will begin to look at life differently and be able to look out for the small things in life that could make a difference in someone's day.

This and series is a great and long read that I personally think everyone should at least try the first book.

[Logan Chaput · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book The Wolves Of The Beyond: Star Wolf by Kathryn Lasky, a wolf named Faolan leads his friends across a structure through the sea named the ice bridge. However, he is being followed by a rout of outclanners (wolves that have savage ways) that want to stop him. These wolves combined with the cold temperatures, high winds, and other various threats will cause this to be a very dangerous journey. Can Faolan and his friends survive the treacherous journey to the Distant Blue?
I think that the book was very strong in plot and proved to be very exciting. I find that the author is very good at integrating in a unique way real events and speeches from the real world into their books. My only criticism for the book is that it seemed to end a little bit abruptly. Overall this was a very interesting book.
I personally believe that this was an excellent book and had a very strong buildup before it making it that much more enjoyable to read. This definitely was an excellent way to finish off the Wolves Of The Beyond series. I am extra excited to go on and read another series by this author.

[Jenly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first 200 or so pages of this book? Flawless, utter perfection, I was nearly crying at points, there were emotions everywhere. The ending??? Complete bullshit. What the hell was that epilogue???

I probably shouldn’t be this mad about a book for children but oh, man, you can not give me the completely beautiful, series changing book that was Spirit Wolf and then follow it up whatever the hell this is.

[Hana Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so sad that the series is over! This was such a good book. SO many twists to the plot and things you did not expect. GO WOLVES!!!!!!!

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an alright end to the series, though in all honesty I enjoyed the previous installment much more. There are still quite a few questions that I want wrapped up, mainly "what the heck happened to the owls in the Great Ga'Hoole tree?" There was one mention of owls after the earthquake and what they did, but it wasn't specified if those were just the rogue owls that lived or the owls from the Great Tree. I also want to know how the animals plan to repopulate. The wolves definitely have enough numbers, but considering the fact that there are only two male bears and one female owl, I have to wonder if they'll just die alone and owls and bears won't exist in this new land. I'm also still disappointed that almost every character besides a few of the main ones died just so that the journey to the Distant Blue would be condensed to a few convenient travelers. I would have been happier even if they had showed some wolves that lived but didn't want to leave the Beyond even after it was destroyed. With all of that said, I will be clarifying the specifics of what I liked and disliked in this book in a section of spoilers.

The major events of this book that I liked were Edme and Faolan finally finding closure and becoming paw fast. I also like that it was hinted that Dearlea and the Whistler could become a couple, but I wish they would have touched on the future of the animals more. I feel like even though they made it to this land and there is meat for them to survive off of, this still wasn't a satisfying ending for me. Everything just seemed so convenient. Edme remembered her last life, and suddenly the pain went away and the bone just disappeared. I don't even think they mentioned if she left it on the bridge. I definitely was not a fan of the fact that wolves can apparently learn the language of sea creatures and understand the words of a moth. Actually, including Bells felt pretty pointless and I still don't see why she was there. Supposedly she was a "guide," but the narwhales took the wolves to the land, so actually her whole inclusion was pretty much pointless. I also have a lot of questions about how Zanouche and Eelon knew to follow Faolan's pack and watch out for Heep even though Faolan had never actually met them. Their inclusion just seemed so sudden and unexplained. I did like the inclusion of Rags and his backstory, implying that the Sark was his sister and she was compassionate enough to try to protect him. At the end though I was super confused when Faolan faced off against Heep and his rout. Caila tore his tail off, sending him into a blind rage, causing him to kill Banja. He was so upset that he just lashed out and murdered a wolf, but then I'm supposed to believe he backed off to let the wolves grieve just so he could come back later? That whole scene was way too vague and played out oddly. Then Heep showed up with a bunch of other wolves who were supposed to be scary I guess but who just disappeared after Heep was killed by Old Tooth. The rout was meant to be such a threat but all it accomplished was killing Banja then letting the wolves grieve. Heep losing his tail should have sent him into such a fury that they should have been forced to kill him then. I'm not buying it at all that he just backed off after that. Not to mention the whole book dragged on describing the pretty much uneventful journey. Yes there were a few points of conflict, but overall nothing felt like it actually posed a threat, and even the one death that did happen felt like it was coming since Banja made such a big deal about Maudie being taken care of if she died. That was just blatant foreshadowing, which is supposed to be subtle. I wasn't a huge fan of this book and definitely not with how the series wrapped up, but I didn't hate everything that happened in it, so I'll give it a hesitant three stars.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first ‘Wolves of the Beyond’ book not to get 5 stars from me, and considering how much I love the series, that says something. Faolan’s little pack steps onto the Ice Bridge and heads to the Distant Blue… and that’s about the whole plot. The journey motive was the main storyline of ‘Spirit Wolf’ as well, but it was done so much better because it had many other motives and happenings going at the same time. ‘Star Wolf’ didn’t captivate me as much. I really loved the plotline of Faolan and Edme, that strong bond they have and always – always, - had and will have, and the way their lives are entwined. These two are just perfect for each other.

The rest of the story is another matter. The pack is pursued by Heep and his band of outclanners, but this plotline didn’t feel as exciting as it should’ve been. In previous books Heep used to be a threatening villain, cunning and sly and devilish, but now he turned into a madman who looks like a parody of himself. It’s a wonder that his gang is actually following him. The stories and struggles of the other secondary characters weren’t given as much attention as they deserved, either. I found Dearlea's doubts about leaving their old life behind very interesting, and Gwynneth loosing her sight was sad but remarkable development as we could see her coping with it. However, the rest of the gang seems to just fade into background.

I really didn’t like the plotline involving Abban's fall into the sea and the consequent bond with the sea creatures. I understand that it was an important plot point, but it was kind of creepy for my liking. But what really annoyed me were Caila and her character un-development. She was such a strong and engaging character in 'Spirit Wolf', but now it's all undone. All Caila’s focus is on Abban now, so much that she doesn't feel like her own person any more and being Abban's mother became her only defining trait. And since Banja and Edme are also mothers now and they have cubs while remaining amazing characters themselves, it becomes clear that it's not just a matter of being a family person. And the last straw that broke the camel’s back has to do with Caila, too: it was Caila’s actions that indirectly caused Banja’s death. Caila was told more than once that she was about to charge right into a trap, and then she went and did it anyway. And the worst of it? Not only Caila didn’t blame herself, but no one even acknowledges that if Caila hadn’t acted on an impulse, Banja could have survived the battle. Caila didn’t even seem to care that one of their pack was dead! It was Edme and Faolan who were the most affected by it, and that says something about the attitude of all three of them.

[Kahlan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beaucoup de retard dans les lectures imposées par fiston... Des lectures jeunesse, donc, pour les 9/12 ans, mais qui le sont de moins en moins, et cette suite du Royaume des Loups, de Kathryn Lasky est un peu ce que j’appellerais un « résidu », c'est à dire un ouvrage que, passé un certain âge, on lit surtout parce qu'on a commencé la série et qu'on aimerait en connaître la fin, mais qui ne nous intéresse plus vraiment. A 12 ans donc, les aventures de Faolan et de ses amis sont terriblement gentillettes, et ce n'est pas ce sixième opus, intitulé Une nouvelle étoile, qui va faire exception.

D'après ce que j'ai compris, il s'agit du dernier tome de la saga. Notre jeune loup et ses compagnons, qu'ils soient loups, ours ou chouette, fuient l'hiver éternel qui s'est installé au Par-delà et sont en route pour le Pays Bleu. Sur leurs traces et de plus en plus près, l'affreux Heep le Barbare, qui ne s'est pas remis de la défection de sa femelle, et semble bien décidé à se débarrasser d'elle, et de Faolan par la même occasion. C'est leur parcours semé d'embûches qui nous est conté ici, et bien que ça se lise très vite et facilement grâce au style simplissime adopté par l'auteur, on ne peut pas vraiment dire que ce soit passionnant.

Encore une fois, et c'est bien normal en littérature jeunesse, il est essentiellement question d'amitié et d'entraide dans ce volume. Mais quand le propos est trop appuyé, ou redondant comme c'est le cas ici, les bons sentiments ont tendance à devenir limite écœurants. De rencontres inattendues et originales (des aigles, des macareux, des narvals et des baleines, un papillon de nuit...) en péripéties non dénuées d'un certain mysticisme auquel on a beaucoup de mal à croire, la petite communauté finit par atteindre ce fameux Pays Bleu. Malheureusement, au cours de ce si long voyage, le lecteur perd graduellement tout intérêt pour ce qu'il est en train de lire et c'est bien dommage.

Une saga qui avait plutôt bien commencé en nous plongeant au cœur de la meute, mais qui s'est très vite essoufflée comme si l'auteur ne savait plus très bien quoi raconter ; quant au dénouement, il en devient un soulagement, tant pour petits que grands.

[Jacqueline Holzberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolves of the Beyond #6: Star Wolf
By Kathryn Lasky

Notice: I don't believe that there are any large spoilers in this. I'm sorry if there are.

The main characters, who could be thought of as outcasts or survivors, include a large amount of wolves, two eagles, two bear cubs and an owl. Along the way they meet two puffins and funnily enough a moth.

The wolves include Faolan, Edme, Airmead, Caila or Aliac, Banja, Dearlea, Mharie, Abban, Katria, Maudie, Myrr, Whistler and a psychotic ex-gnaw wolf.

The other include:
Toby and Burney the bear cubs
Dumpette and Dumpkin the puffins
Eelon and Zanouche the eagles
Gwynneth the owl
Bells the moth

During the story, we follow Faolan and his companions as they make their way to the Distant Blue. While they cross the dangerous Ice Bridge, threats appear from the past and create the journey even worse for our protagonists. All the while, Edme is hiding something that could help found out the truth about Faolan’s abnormality.

The reason that they must embark on this quest, for those of you who need to know, is because the Beyond was destroyed. The volcanoes, which once were sacred places that held the Ember of Hoole, erupted. This caused everyone and everything except Faolan and his friends to perish. Now they have to go to the Distant Blue to create a new life for themselves. Trouble comes along and the group learns that to survive they must have courage and use the wisdom of the past.

- I personally liked the book though I thought that it could use a few changes. I liked how Lasky kept expanding the fantasy world that she had created and it’s legends. What I thought could be worked on was the pace. I felt that the story, while being interesting, was too choppy and rushed. Many elements could have used more development. Besides those changes, the book was wonderful and I recommend it.

[Karen Huang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the book when Faolan and Edme figure out that they were lovers of a past time when they traveled separate ways on the ice tongue. They then become pawfast again. I find it kind of obvious that all this would happen, just reading the first chapter already told me everything that was going to happen, or you could say i suspected that it would happen and it did. I don't like it that much with the obvious part in it, but they way the author wrote the obvious part was very different from my vision. The author used specific words that told every little detail on the flash back and what the other wolves felt. It felt pretty real and as if I was a spectator of the whole thing. Everything in this book connected all the mysterious incidents to this book, and surprisingly, it makes sense.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is extremely cold, and the wolves of the Byond are trying to reach a new land. But in order to reach it, they must travel toward the Distant Blue across an ice bridge and then from ice floe to ice floe. The author brings each wolf to life as they face challenges from all sides but also as unexpected allies such as narwhals help them out. I liked the idea of alliances between the species, and I was sad to see this series come to an end. Readers may get lost among the many animal personalities but are sure to relish the wolf pups and cubs starting to come into their own even while having to deal with some difficult losses.

[Jay Pruitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book of the Wolves of the Beyond series (although the author has written other overlapping series such as the Guardians of Ga' Hoole). Possibly the darkest book of the series, with the Faolan pack doing battle with their archenemy pack which is led by the disreputable wolf, Heep. A journey marked by death and survival. While I've enjoyed the series (it remains my daughter's favorite), sometimes I question if this is really a book for 3rd-5th graders - feels more like the YA crowd or older to me.

[Anwita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the book was great cause they finally caught Heep and gave him the gruesome death he deserved for his crimes trying to frame Faolan in the second book for murdering a cute little pup that Faolan dearly felt bad for. The book kept me thinking and trying to guess what was going to happen next. Although this book was thrilling I do have somethings I did hate and it was having two wolves pit against each other even though they are in the same pack.

[Evie Boos · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'M GOING TO GO CRY IN THE CORNER NOW!! I don't want to be done with this series after starting it in middle school. I love the happy ending, but it leaves you hanging. I wish there was just one more to tell about how they all react to the Distant Blue and what Faolan names all of the stars.

[Gylfie Whitneyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great end to a long journey for the wolf known as Faolan. Fav characters: All of the survivors except Heep and his outclanner rout [but I like Rags- he's the only one I like who was in Heep's rout].

[Alex T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty disappointing finale, I'm afraid to say. But it has some okay things in it, too.

Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...

[Gillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to read the other books in the series!

[Anika · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome books my second favorite book

[Clare Rhoden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful series. Lasky's writing createsa mythological landscape, with a fully populated and informed culture that is both epic and intimate at the same time. I love these books.

[The · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa

[Lara Vehar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally read the conclusion to this series and it was okay.

The pacing could use a little bit of work - there were parts where they were just running and that's fine …. but they became boring really fast.

I did like that Heep was here again and that he was a huge looming presence through most of the book just plotting and being evil and whatnot - his death was really satisfying to see, Banja's death felt pointless because it just felt like: "okay the other cubs in the group don't have parents anymore let's kill her off too." - I like and hate her huge character change too - she goes from almost being evil to being super nice just because she gives birth -and that somehow unsettled me, I would've preferred seeing her setting off with the rest of the group still being her snarky old self but then change over the course of the journey.

The ending felt just a tad bit rushed - but over all it was a solid ending of 6 solid books about wolves.

I do plan on reading the Guardians series in the future but for now I feel sad and happy that I've finished this series. I do wish that there were more books that follow them around in the new place but oh well, everything has to end at one point or another.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is part of one of my daughter's favorite series. Star Wolf covers the main characters' journey across an ice bridge between the continents. While the confines of an ice bridge sounds like a recipe for monotony, Lasky did a nice job of really mixing things up. She introduced some new types of animals, my favorite being the Puffins. I thought the fourth and fifth books were somewhat disappointing, but this one did turn things back up, though it did leave on an eminently sequel-able ending. True to form, Lasky does not guarantee all of her protagonists make it through in one piece. The book should be entertaining for the target audience, and it injected some needed energy into a series that seemed to be losing some steam.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was a nostalgia trip.

I think I read these books over and over when I was a kid because I remembered just about everything as I read it.

Honestly reading them again now was still really interesting and not just for the memories. There’s some pretty philosophical stuff in there that little me definitely absorbed but didn’t really understand. I think it’s really hard to market a series like this because most of the ideas are pretty mature and the characters are very well-developed but the whole talking animals thing is very much a staple in children’s books. I think the only solution is to get over ourselves and accept that wolves are epic no matter how old you are.

[Brittney Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely liked this one the most by far. There wasn't nearly as much repetitive recap.

The story was beautiful, the characters were very well developed (except Abbad), and the plot wrapped up nicely.

I LOVED the ending.

Mostly, I just didn't like how Abbad magically became a sea whisperer, and all the sea creatures suddenly become basically subservient to him. It felt like a cheap way to solve problems that were there for no reason. Also, it's weird that Edme is what she is. Why aren't there any besides those two?

Other than that, I wish all the books had been written this way. It was certainly a relief to the eyes.