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The Wolf Chronicles #1
Brilliant White Peaks
Told from a young wolf's perspective, Brilliant White Peaks is a story of family, love, and survival. An unnamed wolf cub grows up in the mountains. When attacked by a hostile wolf pack, the yearling and his sister embark on a perilous journey to find their parents.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2021
About the author
Teng Rong
4 books12 followersTeng Rong is a Chinese-Canadian author living in Toronto. He grew up reading novels and he loves reading and writing fiction.
Teng's favourite novels are "The Brothers Karamazov" by Dostoevsky, "World War Z" by Max Brooks, "Unwind" by Neal Schusterman, "Silverwing" by Kenneth Oppel, "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver, and "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy.
You can find Teng on Goodreads or on Twitter at @TengRongAuthor.
Teng's favourite novels are "The Brothers Karamazov" by Dostoevsky, "World War Z" by Max Brooks, "Unwind" by Neal Schusterman, "Silverwing" by Kenneth Oppel, "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver, and "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy.
You can find Teng on Goodreads or on Twitter at @TengRongAuthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
November 24, 2021
A decently written, very different book, anthropomorphically following the joys and heart-rending trials of a young wolf and his sister coming of age. I wouldn't rank the writing on a level with Richard Adams or Aeron Clement, but I was engrossed in the story none the less. A nice break from all the human minutiae books in getting down to a take on the basics of life in the raw natural world.
February 17, 2022
“The forest is alive. You are alive. Do not be afraid. You are here, and nothing will hurt you,” Ma sang.
That's probably how I would describe this book by Teng Rong – alive. Both in the sense that you can feel the characters coming to life while reading it, and the fact that it's about life itself.
It was a amazing reading, and even more it was an amazing experience. The stile and the atmosphere surrounding it were something I would call ethereal and delicate, but it lacks on conveying the right emotion. At some point was heartbreaking and cruel, but that's also part of life and nature themselves.
I really lack on words to describe a book so rich of emotion, and talking about the vivid characters, their point of view (never broke, a realistic experience) or the page-turner plot is reductive and it would be disservice towards an author on which I'll keep my eye on.
I kept going north. A path led me down the mountain until I stood in a valley once again. This time, the valley had thin and tall trees, just like the trees from my childhood. It was pristine here, so I decided to rub my scent all over the trees. Let it be known that I was here and that I have laid claim to this land.
Rating: ★★★★★
***Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***
December 6, 2021
Brilliant White Peaks tells the story of a brother and sister wolf, their life from pups and older, and how they navigate the world around them after being separated from their parents. As they make their way West, they better their skills in hunting and tracking and meet a tribe along the way.
The prominent feature while reading is how much the wolves need to eat. It's a daily struggle for them. Fun fact, many years ago, I had a wolf who had come out of the woods to die. Nursed to health, we had him for three years, and while he ate a lot, it was nothing compared to these wolves, who are constantly on the hunt for food.
Sometimes this story is richly brutal. The way of life for a wolf and his desire to survive, thrive, and take care of his family is strong. The author portrays the constant need to hunt, the brutality of sparring with foes, and the pain from lost battles well. Labeled YA, this book occasionally has some adult themes but will be enjoyable for adults and teens alike.
The prominent feature while reading is how much the wolves need to eat. It's a daily struggle for them. Fun fact, many years ago, I had a wolf who had come out of the woods to die. Nursed to health, we had him for three years, and while he ate a lot, it was nothing compared to these wolves, who are constantly on the hunt for food.
Sometimes this story is richly brutal. The way of life for a wolf and his desire to survive, thrive, and take care of his family is strong. The author portrays the constant need to hunt, the brutality of sparring with foes, and the pain from lost battles well. Labeled YA, this book occasionally has some adult themes but will be enjoyable for adults and teens alike.
November 22, 2021
Surviving in the wild is difficult even for predators!
The character development was well done, especially when it came to the protagonist. He was such a persistent and courageous wolf who often put himself into danger to save the ones he loved. I was also fascinated by his canine conceptions of what might happen to an animal after death. That was not a topic I’d ever expected him to think about, so reading his thoughts on it later on in the plot was a real treat.
My sole criticism of this book involves the ending. The main character spent almost the entire storyline searching for his missing parents. It was such a powerful source of motivation for him that I was a little disappointed to see how this conflict was resolved even though the author’s reasons for writing it that way did make sense to me. I’d love to see a sequel that addressed this topic in greater detail and explained it fully for the reader as I would have otherwise given this a full five-star rating.
I was impressed by the numerous plot twists. Like all wild animals, the main character was surrounded by danger every moment of his life. Food could be difficult to find, and even the simplest hunt or chance meeting with another predator could go wrong in an instant. There was no telling what might happen to him or his family next, and I was surprised more than once by how things turned out for them.
Brilliant White Peaks was an exciting adventure that I’d recommend to adults and young adults alike.
The character development was well done, especially when it came to the protagonist. He was such a persistent and courageous wolf who often put himself into danger to save the ones he loved. I was also fascinated by his canine conceptions of what might happen to an animal after death. That was not a topic I’d ever expected him to think about, so reading his thoughts on it later on in the plot was a real treat.
My sole criticism of this book involves the ending. The main character spent almost the entire storyline searching for his missing parents. It was such a powerful source of motivation for him that I was a little disappointed to see how this conflict was resolved even though the author’s reasons for writing it that way did make sense to me. I’d love to see a sequel that addressed this topic in greater detail and explained it fully for the reader as I would have otherwise given this a full five-star rating.
I was impressed by the numerous plot twists. Like all wild animals, the main character was surrounded by danger every moment of his life. Food could be difficult to find, and even the simplest hunt or chance meeting with another predator could go wrong in an instant. There was no telling what might happen to him or his family next, and I was surprised more than once by how things turned out for them.
Brilliant White Peaks was an exciting adventure that I’d recommend to adults and young adults alike.
October 14, 2021
This book took me a minute to get into, but once I did I couldn't put it down. It is the story of love, loss and tragedy as told from a wolves point of view. Really makes you think about how truly hard it is for them to survive in the wild. Really good book.
I received an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily
December 21, 2022
Why do so many authors have their wolf characters behaving like cats? Like The Wolves of Time, this book has wolves using a mating bite on the neck. Like The Sight, it has wolves using their claws to swipe at each other and aid in hunting. Like Firstborn, it has wolves jumping onto the backs of large prey. Wolves do none of these things (though feline predators do). This book also has wolves “hissing” at each other, and has a lynx regurgitating food (something wolves do, but cats don’t). I find these sorts of errors very tiresome, and it ruins my enjoyment of the story.
Not that there is much story in this particular case – it’s mostly the wolves wandering around looking for food or each other. Nothing especially interesting or exciting happens. It is very blandly written, along the lines of “I did this. Then I did that. Then I did something else.” There’s no thought process and no emotion behind the characters’ actions.
The wolves also use words that would mean nothing to them (how does a wolf know what sandpaper is?), and the young ones are referred to as children rather than cubs or pups, with males and females being “boys” and “girls.” Additionally, there are some slang terms like “poop” and “yucky” that just sound wrong coming from a wolf.
This isn’t a really awful book, like Trail of the Caribou or The Hunt for Elsewhere, but it certainly isn’t great. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be “meh.”
Not that there is much story in this particular case – it’s mostly the wolves wandering around looking for food or each other. Nothing especially interesting or exciting happens. It is very blandly written, along the lines of “I did this. Then I did that. Then I did something else.” There’s no thought process and no emotion behind the characters’ actions.
The wolves also use words that would mean nothing to them (how does a wolf know what sandpaper is?), and the young ones are referred to as children rather than cubs or pups, with males and females being “boys” and “girls.” Additionally, there are some slang terms like “poop” and “yucky” that just sound wrong coming from a wolf.
This isn’t a really awful book, like Trail of the Caribou or The Hunt for Elsewhere, but it certainly isn’t great. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be “meh.”
January 5, 2022
It was amazing!
I am 9 years old and I thought it was amazing you should write another one about what he did after the ending.
I am 9 years old and I thought it was amazing you should write another one about what he did after the ending.
April 20, 2022
Raw. Brutal. Real. That's among the three prominent points and features that comes to mind when thinking and describing about this book. Never in my life i felt so up close and personal with a wolf before (as there are no wolves in my country, Malaysia except in the zoo!).
Reading this story took me on an entirely different experience where i had to think like a wolf, feel like a wolf,even eat,sleep and communicate just like a wolf!. I had to learn to look at life and my surroundings from the perspective of a wolf as the story is narrated in a first person narration from the perspective of a young, male unnamed wolf who has to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of his sister,White Ears and bringing her towards safety after they were separated from their parents during a ferocious attack and ambush by another pack of wolves while on their travel to a better and safer place.
Both brother and sister then continued on with their journey towards the designated destination as suggested by their mother that is the ocean despite White Ears suffering from an injury during the attack. From there on begin their quest towards adulthood where they met with endless perils, adventures and found love and friendships along the way.
Wow!. What an experience this story took me on, where i had to also learn how to fight and survive and how to take down my own food, sometimes entirely on my own when my sister is still injured and unable to help me (as wolves usually hunt in a pack or a small group). Imagine how much work and such a hassle that would be for sometimes i missed the food for my lack of experience and skill in killing and hunting.
Survival is the prominent theme of this story where the stronger and the smarter outsmarted the weaker species for food and territory, a constant battle against the extreme and harsh cold weather where food is difficult to find. Sometimes they had to go on an empty stomach for days in the cold weather as there is no food. Yet they had to keep on moving and surviving each day. I would say the author nailed it in his realistic descriptions of the harsh and wild surroundings, the cold and extreme weather made me feel the chills in my own skin and the most realistic part would be the hunting and the eating parts!. Such a bloody,gory and messy scenes!. That eating those innocent and fragile Lynx's cubs, i actually skipped reading that part because that was too much for me to bear. But that's just how life in the wild is. You had to feed yourself and your family or end up being dead yourself, even what you are eating is somebody's cubs.
The only problem i had with this story is its slow start which takes a while to warm up and get myself fully immerse into the story as some parts at the beginning, bored me a little as i keep on expecting for something thrilling to happen just to perks things up which i am glad that it did happen later on. However, the ending left me unsatisfied as it is so sudden with things still left unanswered. Not sure if the author intended it to be that way for making it seem like life in the wild is tragic and unexpected like that, only the strongest and the smartest survived while the weaker ones succumbed to their fate.
Nevertheless, kudos to Teng Rong for making this story so real and alive with his strong and vivid descriptions about the wolves and life in the wildness. For all his creativity, imaginations and research and for raising the awareness about the wolves,especially the Mexican Gray and Red wolves; both classified as endangered species with the latter falling under Critically Endangered species which at the beginning of the book, he strongly urge the readers to send their donations to either one of the two following organizations, the Wolf Conservation Centre or International Wolf Centre. Donations to the Wolf Conservation Centre funds the wolves recovery program for the endangered Mexican Gray and Red wolves while donations to the International Wolf Centre funds educational programs.
I am so glad to learned about the lives of wolves and how much their survival is under threat not only caused by their predators in the wild and the extreme harsh environment but by humans themselves. We are actually their biggest predators right now for our own actions and activities are causing these wolves declining in great numbers and the loss of their natural habitats. As described through this book so realistically,how much scarce food sources are for them, until it forced them to fight and kill among themselves even their own family members in order to survive. Once again kudos for this eye-opening read.
Thank you Teng Rong and the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) for this electronic advanced copy in an exchange for my honest feedback and review.
Reading this story took me on an entirely different experience where i had to think like a wolf, feel like a wolf,even eat,sleep and communicate just like a wolf!. I had to learn to look at life and my surroundings from the perspective of a wolf as the story is narrated in a first person narration from the perspective of a young, male unnamed wolf who has to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of his sister,White Ears and bringing her towards safety after they were separated from their parents during a ferocious attack and ambush by another pack of wolves while on their travel to a better and safer place.
Both brother and sister then continued on with their journey towards the designated destination as suggested by their mother that is the ocean despite White Ears suffering from an injury during the attack. From there on begin their quest towards adulthood where they met with endless perils, adventures and found love and friendships along the way.
Wow!. What an experience this story took me on, where i had to also learn how to fight and survive and how to take down my own food, sometimes entirely on my own when my sister is still injured and unable to help me (as wolves usually hunt in a pack or a small group). Imagine how much work and such a hassle that would be for sometimes i missed the food for my lack of experience and skill in killing and hunting.
Survival is the prominent theme of this story where the stronger and the smarter outsmarted the weaker species for food and territory, a constant battle against the extreme and harsh cold weather where food is difficult to find. Sometimes they had to go on an empty stomach for days in the cold weather as there is no food. Yet they had to keep on moving and surviving each day. I would say the author nailed it in his realistic descriptions of the harsh and wild surroundings, the cold and extreme weather made me feel the chills in my own skin and the most realistic part would be the hunting and the eating parts!. Such a bloody,gory and messy scenes!. That eating those innocent and fragile Lynx's cubs, i actually skipped reading that part because that was too much for me to bear. But that's just how life in the wild is. You had to feed yourself and your family or end up being dead yourself, even what you are eating is somebody's cubs.
The only problem i had with this story is its slow start which takes a while to warm up and get myself fully immerse into the story as some parts at the beginning, bored me a little as i keep on expecting for something thrilling to happen just to perks things up which i am glad that it did happen later on. However, the ending left me unsatisfied as it is so sudden with things still left unanswered. Not sure if the author intended it to be that way for making it seem like life in the wild is tragic and unexpected like that, only the strongest and the smartest survived while the weaker ones succumbed to their fate.
Nevertheless, kudos to Teng Rong for making this story so real and alive with his strong and vivid descriptions about the wolves and life in the wildness. For all his creativity, imaginations and research and for raising the awareness about the wolves,especially the Mexican Gray and Red wolves; both classified as endangered species with the latter falling under Critically Endangered species which at the beginning of the book, he strongly urge the readers to send their donations to either one of the two following organizations, the Wolf Conservation Centre or International Wolf Centre. Donations to the Wolf Conservation Centre funds the wolves recovery program for the endangered Mexican Gray and Red wolves while donations to the International Wolf Centre funds educational programs.
I am so glad to learned about the lives of wolves and how much their survival is under threat not only caused by their predators in the wild and the extreme harsh environment but by humans themselves. We are actually their biggest predators right now for our own actions and activities are causing these wolves declining in great numbers and the loss of their natural habitats. As described through this book so realistically,how much scarce food sources are for them, until it forced them to fight and kill among themselves even their own family members in order to survive. Once again kudos for this eye-opening read.
Thank you Teng Rong and the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) for this electronic advanced copy in an exchange for my honest feedback and review.
January 18, 2022
Life as a wolf is filled with trials and tribulations, but it is likewise saturated with hope and love. An unnamed wolf cub narrates the story of his life, beginning with the birth of himself and his sister, White-Ears. After being welcomed into their pack, the siblings learn the important skills they need to survive as wolves in the northern wilderness. When their parents go missing, White-Ears and the protagonist set out to reach the ocean, where they are convinced their parents will be waiting for them. As the seasons pass, the two wolves grow and their priorities shift, demonstrating both the beauty and unpredictability of nature.
Told from the first-person perspective of a wolf, this story gets deep into the thoughts, feelings, and senses of this majestic animal. As might be expected, there is limited verbal interaction among the characters except when necessary, and their songs are translated into words for the human reader to understand. The majority of the narrative focuses instead on the behavior, sensations, and observations of the primary protagonist, with particular attention being placed on smells and tastes. Through detailed and thoughtful descriptions, readers gain significant insight into what life is like for a wolf in the vast and beautiful northern wilderness.
Readers who enjoy rich stories about the lives of animals will find this tale to be both heartfelt and emotionally fulfilling. As the characters age, the details in the narrative become more intense, often incorporating death as an intrinsic element of the circle of life. Occasional strong language is also used as the wolves age, but it is rare. Though this book is accessible to middle grade readers, more mature audiences who do not shy away from the inevitabilities of the natural course of life and death are better suited to this story. Lovely imagery and emotional storytelling make this book a unique contribution to libraries for tween and teen readers.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.
Told from the first-person perspective of a wolf, this story gets deep into the thoughts, feelings, and senses of this majestic animal. As might be expected, there is limited verbal interaction among the characters except when necessary, and their songs are translated into words for the human reader to understand. The majority of the narrative focuses instead on the behavior, sensations, and observations of the primary protagonist, with particular attention being placed on smells and tastes. Through detailed and thoughtful descriptions, readers gain significant insight into what life is like for a wolf in the vast and beautiful northern wilderness.
Readers who enjoy rich stories about the lives of animals will find this tale to be both heartfelt and emotionally fulfilling. As the characters age, the details in the narrative become more intense, often incorporating death as an intrinsic element of the circle of life. Occasional strong language is also used as the wolves age, but it is rare. Though this book is accessible to middle grade readers, more mature audiences who do not shy away from the inevitabilities of the natural course of life and death are better suited to this story. Lovely imagery and emotional storytelling make this book a unique contribution to libraries for tween and teen readers.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.
December 28, 2021
Brilliant White Peaks by Teng Rong is a spellbinding novel that follows a pair of wolf cubs who are born in a valley surrounded by mountains. Their parents teach them how to hunt a variety of different animals. But when winter comes and snow covers the mountains, the family has to leave their home in search of food. When the family is attacked by another pack of wolves, the two pups are separated from their Ma and Pa. White Ears is injured and the pair of young wolves have to wait for her to heal before they go in search of their parents. They set out toward the ocean where they hope to find their Ma and Pa waiting for them. When White Ears and her brother reach the coast, will they finally be reunited with their parents?
This epic adventure story is told from the point of view of a wolf. Written in the first person perspective, the narrator is never given a name. He thinks and talks as one would imagine a wolf would, he uses paws and wolf-lengths as units of measurement instead of the human equivalents. Teng Rong opens the novel with descriptions of the two wolf pups venturing out of the den for the first time at the beginning of the story, and discovering a whole new world of sights and smells and sounds and creatures. This opening transports readers into the world he has created, propelling them into the mind of a young male wolf and setting the stage for a fast paced journey that he is about to undergo.
After the main wolf protagonist is separated from his parents readers will get to know his parents through his memories of their advice. Although White Ears and her brother had been taught to fear wolf strangers, the pair is willing to take in other wolves who were alone without a pack and make them part of their family. Watching how these two adolescent wolves adapt to the struggles they face and grow from them is fascinating. I enjoyed the wonderful character evolution these wolves go through during their journey as readers will see them mature as the novel progresses.
Brilliant White Peaks is a riveting adventure novel for young adults and teens and that will capture the heart of animal lovers of all ages. The unique point of view of this novel, along with it’s engrossing storyline and compelling characters, make this a captivating coming of age story that will be hard to put down.
This epic adventure story is told from the point of view of a wolf. Written in the first person perspective, the narrator is never given a name. He thinks and talks as one would imagine a wolf would, he uses paws and wolf-lengths as units of measurement instead of the human equivalents. Teng Rong opens the novel with descriptions of the two wolf pups venturing out of the den for the first time at the beginning of the story, and discovering a whole new world of sights and smells and sounds and creatures. This opening transports readers into the world he has created, propelling them into the mind of a young male wolf and setting the stage for a fast paced journey that he is about to undergo.
After the main wolf protagonist is separated from his parents readers will get to know his parents through his memories of their advice. Although White Ears and her brother had been taught to fear wolf strangers, the pair is willing to take in other wolves who were alone without a pack and make them part of their family. Watching how these two adolescent wolves adapt to the struggles they face and grow from them is fascinating. I enjoyed the wonderful character evolution these wolves go through during their journey as readers will see them mature as the novel progresses.
Brilliant White Peaks is a riveting adventure novel for young adults and teens and that will capture the heart of animal lovers of all ages. The unique point of view of this novel, along with it’s engrossing storyline and compelling characters, make this a captivating coming of age story that will be hard to put down.
February 5, 2022
Teng Ronge’s “Brilliant White Peaks” (ISBN: 9781777858506) is a surprisingly memorable book that weaves a tale of an adventuresome wolf cub who grows up to become a great adult wolf and a compassionate family patriarch. It is a beautifully told story—from the perspectives of the wolves.
The story opens in the mountains with the birth of the wolf club, who with his sister, had to separate from their parents due to attacks from another wolf pack. Then, it is a tale of endurance, growth, love and families—with survival being an ever-present issue in all phases of their lives.
However, that doesn’t begin to tell the tale because the story is told by the wolves themselves in an entirely natural and believable way, without being contrived. This makes it a compelling read that easily earns five stars.
Thanks to the publisher, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) , for granting this writer the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.
The story opens in the mountains with the birth of the wolf club, who with his sister, had to separate from their parents due to attacks from another wolf pack. Then, it is a tale of endurance, growth, love and families—with survival being an ever-present issue in all phases of their lives.
However, that doesn’t begin to tell the tale because the story is told by the wolves themselves in an entirely natural and believable way, without being contrived. This makes it a compelling read that easily earns five stars.
Thanks to the publisher, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) , for granting this writer the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.
January 7, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Very emotional read full of human drama and involving animal characters!
This one pulled at my heartstrings firstly because I love animals and the characters in this story have hearts and souls that deserve the world. Secondly, both of the main characters are siblings and their relationship reminds me of what my sister and I share as a deep connection, so these two things kinda sold the entire book and it already has a special place in my heart! The story focuses not only on the emotional connection between the characters, but also their world where they constantly struggle to survive! We might see animals, but they show love, strength, courage, pain and wonder! The book is a must-read! The ending was maybe not what I imagined, especially after what our main character wnt through, but I respect the choice of the author!
Very emotional read full of human drama and involving animal characters!
This one pulled at my heartstrings firstly because I love animals and the characters in this story have hearts and souls that deserve the world. Secondly, both of the main characters are siblings and their relationship reminds me of what my sister and I share as a deep connection, so these two things kinda sold the entire book and it already has a special place in my heart! The story focuses not only on the emotional connection between the characters, but also their world where they constantly struggle to survive! We might see animals, but they show love, strength, courage, pain and wonder! The book is a must-read! The ending was maybe not what I imagined, especially after what our main character wnt through, but I respect the choice of the author!
December 31, 2022
Brilliant White Peaks
Author: Teng Rong
ARC review:
I was really looking forward to reading this book. The storyline is build around a wolf in the wilderness. He describes his daily adventures, such like hunting, singing together with his family members and surviving the seasons.
The wolf let us experience his whole life from childhood to the moment when he himself finds the love of his life.
After a fight in the cold winter, he and his sister lose their parents. From that specific moment they need to learn how to survive on their own. Their mission is to find their parents and be reunited with them.
After reading the storyline, I still have questions about the outcome of the story regarding the plot.
Brilliant White Peaks is a very suitable read for everyone who likes storylines with main animal characters. I think that nature or survival lovers also would enjoy reading this book.
Trigger warnings:
violence, grief and death
Author: Teng Rong
ARC review:
I was really looking forward to reading this book. The storyline is build around a wolf in the wilderness. He describes his daily adventures, such like hunting, singing together with his family members and surviving the seasons.
The wolf let us experience his whole life from childhood to the moment when he himself finds the love of his life.
After a fight in the cold winter, he and his sister lose their parents. From that specific moment they need to learn how to survive on their own. Their mission is to find their parents and be reunited with them.
After reading the storyline, I still have questions about the outcome of the story regarding the plot.
Brilliant White Peaks is a very suitable read for everyone who likes storylines with main animal characters. I think that nature or survival lovers also would enjoy reading this book.
Trigger warnings:
violence, grief and death
January 9, 2022
I have always been drawn to wolves.
I wish I worked in a wolf sanctuary.
When I saw this was coming out on 9/23
I added to my to-read list and searched and waited for it to arrive.
I received an ARC 12/22; I was busy with holidays, so started and read on 1/9/22.
I could not stop reading until I was done.
I love this was told from wolf perspective!
I felt like I wolf also.
I recommend this book to every wolf lover, animal lover/advocate,
and person who wants a good story!
I wish I worked in a wolf sanctuary.
When I saw this was coming out on 9/23
I added to my to-read list and searched and waited for it to arrive.
I received an ARC 12/22; I was busy with holidays, so started and read on 1/9/22.
I could not stop reading until I was done.
I love this was told from wolf perspective!
I felt like I wolf also.
I recommend this book to every wolf lover, animal lover/advocate,
and person who wants a good story!
October 2, 2021
Absolutely LOVED this book! Never thought a book written from the POV of an animal would appeal to an adult reader, but this was amazing. It was a great coming-of-age story with an ending so emotional that I was in tears!
December 26, 2021
I'd love to read the further adventures. Yes nature is harsh. This was a fantastic engrossing book,but a bit hard to take at some points for an old softy such as myself.
December 6, 2021
This story is about wolves and its told by the youngest son. You can actually feel like your there with them in their adventures. This is the authors first book and I would definitley read more of his books.
Ma and Pa and him and his sister White Ears , a sister and brother left to go out on their own.It tells how they would hunt and keep warm in the winter. Eat snow when thirsty. Its amazing how they can smell the scents of deer and other animals. You will learn alot in what they do in their days. They wanted to go elsewhere to stay. Ma said when I tell you to run - run to the mountains as fast as you can and we will meet you there. We will call (howl) for you then. We want yous to be safe. White Ears met a mate on the way and eventually he did to. They said they would met to find Ma and Pa. On the way the son (I) met Notch Tail as his mate and they had 3 babies by then . She was the best hunter for bigger animals like deer and carabo. They still coundnt find Ma and Pa. Theres some danger and sadness in this story too. Some times they went for days without food. He explained how they had fun and showed emotions to each other. Enjoy.
Ma and Pa and him and his sister White Ears , a sister and brother left to go out on their own.It tells how they would hunt and keep warm in the winter. Eat snow when thirsty. Its amazing how they can smell the scents of deer and other animals. You will learn alot in what they do in their days. They wanted to go elsewhere to stay. Ma said when I tell you to run - run to the mountains as fast as you can and we will meet you there. We will call (howl) for you then. We want yous to be safe. White Ears met a mate on the way and eventually he did to. They said they would met to find Ma and Pa. On the way the son (I) met Notch Tail as his mate and they had 3 babies by then . She was the best hunter for bigger animals like deer and carabo. They still coundnt find Ma and Pa. Theres some danger and sadness in this story too. Some times they went for days without food. He explained how they had fun and showed emotions to each other. Enjoy.
September 1, 2021
I don't usually read fiction, but I was captivated by this book. It was really easy to read, and I found myself flipping through it's pages like a mad woman. I was hooked within the first chapter, which is really rare for me, especially when it comes to fiction.
This is the first book I've read that was written from a non human perspective, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Somehow the author made the characters (who are wolves) novel yet relatable. I found myself rooting for my favorite wolves, and getting fairly emotionally invested in them.
Overall, great read - gripping, unique, and above all, FUN! I would highly recommend to anyone on the fence about this book to pick it up and give it a chance 🙂.
This is the first book I've read that was written from a non human perspective, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Somehow the author made the characters (who are wolves) novel yet relatable. I found myself rooting for my favorite wolves, and getting fairly emotionally invested in them.
Overall, great read - gripping, unique, and above all, FUN! I would highly recommend to anyone on the fence about this book to pick it up and give it a chance 🙂.
December 1, 2021
This book was a dream to read. I loved it was from the young male wolf's pov. His descriptions of events and weather and his love for his sister made it a beautiful read. Loved it.
January 9, 2026
Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
A very enjoyable listen, one which conjures brilliant imageries of mountains, forests and the sea, the wild animals, the smells in the air and the feeling of the ground. Written in a unique point of view, and follows the life of a young wolf as it grows, this story brought me through the passage of time effortlessly, the realization and understanding of life as it dawns on the characters is subtle, touching and sweet. I also really like how Teng Rong constantly reminds me that I am experiencing this story not as a human, it makes the experience fun and fresh.
Narration by Jack Ridley is absolutely wonderful, he has a very mellow and beautiful way of narrating, and it suits the story very well. He also expresses the emotions of the characters very well.
A very enjoyable listen, one which conjures brilliant imageries of mountains, forests and the sea, the wild animals, the smells in the air and the feeling of the ground. Written in a unique point of view, and follows the life of a young wolf as it grows, this story brought me through the passage of time effortlessly, the realization and understanding of life as it dawns on the characters is subtle, touching and sweet. I also really like how Teng Rong constantly reminds me that I am experiencing this story not as a human, it makes the experience fun and fresh.
Narration by Jack Ridley is absolutely wonderful, he has a very mellow and beautiful way of narrating, and it suits the story very well. He also expresses the emotions of the characters very well.
April 14, 2022
To be honest, this book took me a while to get into it. I felt like the story/plot was either nonexistent or all over the place. I started to get more into the book once it seemed like there was going to be a storyline but I still feel like that dropped out about 2/3 into the book. The ending left me, not confused, but with a sense of nonfulfillment? A lot of things didn't really get "wrapped up" for me. I had a lot of questions that were left unanswered; however, that being said I feel like it was very realistic in describing certain aspects (especially more gruesome things like killing). There was even one part of the book that I had trouble stomaching....which is interesting because I believe this is a juvenile book. The book has a very unique perspective that I appreciated, but just wasn't a hit for me.
October 1, 2021
I LOVED this book. The story is interesting in a way that your curiousity keeps you up to read more. There were moments i teared up, there were moments that made me smile. Thanks for letting me have this experience, cant wait to buy the full book one day!
March 1, 2023
The flat narrative voice and a lot of repetition got on my nerves all too quickly. DNF’d.
April 19, 2022
Raw. Brutal. Real. That's among the three prominent points and features that comes to mind when thinking and describing about this book. Never in my life i felt so up close and personal with a wolf before (as there are no wolves in my country, Malaysia except in the zoo!).
Reading this story took me on an entirely different experience where i had to think like a wolf, feel like a wolf,even eat,sleep and communicate just like a wolf!. I had to learn to look at life and my surroundings from the perspective of a wolf as the story is narrated in a first person narration from the perspective of a young, male unnamed wolf who has to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of his sister and bringing her towards safety after they were separated from their parents during a ferocious attack and ambush by another pack of wolves while on their travel to a better and safer place.
Both brother and sister then continued on with their journey towards the designated destination as suggested by their mother that is the ocean despite White Ears suffering with an injury during the attack. From there on begin their quest towards adulthood where they met with an endless perils and adventures along the way, and found love and friendships along the way.
Wow!. What an experience this story took me on, where i had to also learn how to fight and survive and how to take down my own food, sometimes entirely on my own when my sister is still injured and unable to help me (as wolves usually hunt in a pack or a group). Imagine how much work and such a hassle that would be.
Survival is the prominent theme of this story where the stronger and the smarter outsmarted the weaker species for food and territory, a constant battle against the extreme and harsh cold weather where food is difficult to find. Sometimes they had to go on an empty stomach for days in the cold weather as there is no food. Yet they had to keep on moving and surviving each day. I would say the author nailed it in his realistic descriptions of the harsh and wild surroundings, the cold and extreme weather made me feel the chills in my own skin and the most realistic part would be the hunting and the eating parts!. Such a bloody,gory and messy scenes!. That eating those innocent and fragile Lynx's cubs, i actually skipped reading that part because that was too much for me to bear.
The only problem i had with this story is its slow start which takes a while to warm up and get myself fully immerse into the story as some parts at the beginning, bored me a little as i keep on expecting for something thrilling to happen just to perks things up which i am glad that it did happen later on. However, the ending left me unsatisfied as it is so sudden with things still left unanswered. Not sure if the author intended it to be that way for making it seem like life in the wild is tragic and unexpected like that, only the strongest and the smartest survived while the weaker ones succumbed to their fate.
Nevertheless, kudos to Teng Rong for making this story so real and alive with his strong and vivid descriptions about the wolves and life in the wildness. For all his creativity, imaginations and research and for raising the awareness about the wolves,especially the Mexican Gray and Red wolves; both classified as endangered species with the latter falling under Critically Endangered species which at the beginning of the book, he strongly urge the readers to send their donations to either one of the two following organizations, the Wolf Conservation Centre or International Wolf Centre. Donations to the Wolf Conservation Centre funds the wolves recovery program for the endangered Mexican Gray and Red wolves while donations to the International Wolf Centre funds educational programs.
I am so glad to learned about the lives of wolves and how much their survival is under threat not only caused by their predators in the wild and the extreme harsh environment but by humans themselves. We are actually among their biggest predators right now for our own actions and activities are causing these wolves declining in great numbers and the loss of their natural habitats. As described through this book so realistically,how much scarce food sources are for them, until it forced them to fight and kill among themselves even their own family members in order to survive. Once again kudos for this eye-opening read.
Thank you Teng Rong and the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) for this electronic advanced copy in an exchange for my honest feedback and review.
Reading this story took me on an entirely different experience where i had to think like a wolf, feel like a wolf,even eat,sleep and communicate just like a wolf!. I had to learn to look at life and my surroundings from the perspective of a wolf as the story is narrated in a first person narration from the perspective of a young, male unnamed wolf who has to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of his sister and bringing her towards safety after they were separated from their parents during a ferocious attack and ambush by another pack of wolves while on their travel to a better and safer place.
Both brother and sister then continued on with their journey towards the designated destination as suggested by their mother that is the ocean despite White Ears suffering with an injury during the attack. From there on begin their quest towards adulthood where they met with an endless perils and adventures along the way, and found love and friendships along the way.
Wow!. What an experience this story took me on, where i had to also learn how to fight and survive and how to take down my own food, sometimes entirely on my own when my sister is still injured and unable to help me (as wolves usually hunt in a pack or a group). Imagine how much work and such a hassle that would be.
Survival is the prominent theme of this story where the stronger and the smarter outsmarted the weaker species for food and territory, a constant battle against the extreme and harsh cold weather where food is difficult to find. Sometimes they had to go on an empty stomach for days in the cold weather as there is no food. Yet they had to keep on moving and surviving each day. I would say the author nailed it in his realistic descriptions of the harsh and wild surroundings, the cold and extreme weather made me feel the chills in my own skin and the most realistic part would be the hunting and the eating parts!. Such a bloody,gory and messy scenes!. That eating those innocent and fragile Lynx's cubs, i actually skipped reading that part because that was too much for me to bear.
The only problem i had with this story is its slow start which takes a while to warm up and get myself fully immerse into the story as some parts at the beginning, bored me a little as i keep on expecting for something thrilling to happen just to perks things up which i am glad that it did happen later on. However, the ending left me unsatisfied as it is so sudden with things still left unanswered. Not sure if the author intended it to be that way for making it seem like life in the wild is tragic and unexpected like that, only the strongest and the smartest survived while the weaker ones succumbed to their fate.
Nevertheless, kudos to Teng Rong for making this story so real and alive with his strong and vivid descriptions about the wolves and life in the wildness. For all his creativity, imaginations and research and for raising the awareness about the wolves,especially the Mexican Gray and Red wolves; both classified as endangered species with the latter falling under Critically Endangered species which at the beginning of the book, he strongly urge the readers to send their donations to either one of the two following organizations, the Wolf Conservation Centre or International Wolf Centre. Donations to the Wolf Conservation Centre funds the wolves recovery program for the endangered Mexican Gray and Red wolves while donations to the International Wolf Centre funds educational programs.
I am so glad to learned about the lives of wolves and how much their survival is under threat not only caused by their predators in the wild and the extreme harsh environment but by humans themselves. We are actually among their biggest predators right now for our own actions and activities are causing these wolves declining in great numbers and the loss of their natural habitats. As described through this book so realistically,how much scarce food sources are for them, until it forced them to fight and kill among themselves even their own family members in order to survive. Once again kudos for this eye-opening read.
Thank you Teng Rong and the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) for this electronic advanced copy in an exchange for my honest feedback and review.
January 15, 2022
This one starts slowly and builds nicely. I don't know if animal centered stories are a guaranteed high rating, but this one is quite good. Emotional at times, and satisfying overall. Recommended.
I really appreciate the free review copy!!
I really appreciate the free review copy!!
August 6, 2022
A very good debut novel...the story of a young wolf, his family, their adventures, both sad and joyous. The writing was beautiful, the characters believable, the story exciting and lovely. I enjoy stories from an animals point of view, and since I love wolves very much, this one was a special tale.
January 10, 2022
This was an entertaining, fun read. I got a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
December 26, 2024
One word: bland.
For a more expansive bullet review:
+A wholesome relationship between the two main siblings.
-Almost none of the characters have names, resulting in it being harder to connect with them.
-No interesting world-building for the wolf society, lore and culture, etc.
-Characters are very bland and forgettable.
-The plot (if you could even call it that, this book is mostly just wolves doing wolf-y things without much of a story) is equally bland and forgettable. It's an inconclusive book, too.
-Overall just feels like a nothingburger of a book. I don't feel I got anything out of it.
Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...
For a more expansive bullet review:
+A wholesome relationship between the two main siblings.
-Almost none of the characters have names, resulting in it being harder to connect with them.
-No interesting world-building for the wolf society, lore and culture, etc.
-Characters are very bland and forgettable.
-The plot (if you could even call it that, this book is mostly just wolves doing wolf-y things without much of a story) is equally bland and forgettable. It's an inconclusive book, too.
-Overall just feels like a nothingburger of a book. I don't feel I got anything out of it.
Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...
February 22, 2022
I requested this book because something about the cover and the description reminded me of the beloved book The Call of the Wild by Jack London. And I wasn’t disappointed. Brilliant White Peaks is a beautiful coming-of-age novel of a wolf. From childhood to maturity, the novel spans the protagonist’s struggles which are somewhat similar to human struggles for survival. The wolf’s main concerns are food and security, and at the end of it all, don’t we have the same priorities? He does not have to worry about education, career or finances, which is an alluring aspect of the wild, but his other concerns had me thanking heavens for my kids well-fed and sleeping safely at home. I can’t say more about the book without adding spoilers. Go ahead and read the book!
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC. I look forward to more works by Teng Rong.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC. I look forward to more works by Teng Rong.
March 6, 2023
This is supposedly the story of two young wolves and their struggle to survive after they are separated from their parents, but it’s some time before this plot point occurs – not much happens in the first third of the book except the wolves hunting or playing. Even after the separation, the story tends to drift off on tangents, and the ending is rather inconclusive and unsatisfying.
The first-person narrative is somewhat dispassionate, reading like an impersonal recital of events without any of the attached emotion you would expect from someone experiencing them. The wolves have little personality and there is no depth to their world at all – no customs or sayings, no beliefs or folk tales, nothing. The whole thing feels very superficial.
There are also some factual errors, such as wolves leaping onto the backs of their prey, and the male biting the back of the female’s neck during mating. They use measurements like seconds and inches, which they of course wouldn’t know, and human gestures like nodding the head to mean yes, which I find overly anthropomorphic.
In conclusion, this isn’t a bad book, but it isn’t particularly entertaining. I wouldn’t say avoid it, but I wouldn’t say it’s really worth reading either.
The first-person narrative is somewhat dispassionate, reading like an impersonal recital of events without any of the attached emotion you would expect from someone experiencing them. The wolves have little personality and there is no depth to their world at all – no customs or sayings, no beliefs or folk tales, nothing. The whole thing feels very superficial.
There are also some factual errors, such as wolves leaping onto the backs of their prey, and the male biting the back of the female’s neck during mating. They use measurements like seconds and inches, which they of course wouldn’t know, and human gestures like nodding the head to mean yes, which I find overly anthropomorphic.
In conclusion, this isn’t a bad book, but it isn’t particularly entertaining. I wouldn’t say avoid it, but I wouldn’t say it’s really worth reading either.
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