The Wolf Gift

The Wolf Gift Chronicles (1)

By: Anne Rice

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

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)

A brief review, by a fan.

i think maybe my expectations were too high. don't misunderstand, i did enjoy this book. it started out great but then it fell for quite a while. this however won't deter me from buying the next book in this series and having high expectations once again. i love Ann Rice and have faith in her abilities as a writer to paint a beautiful and exciting world in which I can fall in love with her werewolves much as i did her vampires. All things considered, this was a good read.

Interesting if true, if not , interesting anyway

A very interesting updating of the classic werewolf story. A werewolf with morals. This is a story line that Ms. Rice has used before. As with most of her books well written and a well developed pot line.

Never a bad book with her

Loved it as I always do with her. I have read almost all of her books just never got around to this series.

Excellent listen

A much more visceral story by Anne Rice and I believe one of her more finer works because it pulls toward action and adventure yet leaves that area of intrigue. it opened a new kind of chapter into as some would call it her immortal universe. no mention of vampires or any other kind of mythical creature are stated in this book. I would have liked to hear that part where she at least mentioned that the vampires, which is, and any other type of undead are all tied in some strange way but I didn't hear that and in all honesty that would have to be the one and only disappointing factor in this book. overall though this was an excellent story and the one who read the story had the proper inflection of speech and was able to convey the story in a way that made it very enjoyable to listen to.

Phenomenal story

As always Ann Rice delivers. This is a great book and different take on the werewolf myth. I highly recommend this book and series.

Great all around

I really enjoyed this. The story was fascinating, and the performance was wonderful. I'm site I will listen a few more times.

great book

Anne Rice pulls you into her world of werewolves storytelling. another great book of mystical worlds

thr wolf gift

i love anne rice and she did not disappoint on this one.i will spread the word

Oh what a great story. It keeps you in suspense.

It was a great story that you can follow easily. Another great read by Anne Rice. can't wait to start the next one.

Book started slow

It was slow in the beginning but as it went on the book got very captivating.