I am Wolf

Coll is Wolf.

He lives with his clan on a Construct, a huge technological “creature” driven by the clan’s combined willpower. Together they roam their world, fighting other clans and absorbing them into their own.

But when a new and dangerous Construct attacks them, Coll is thrown clear from Wolf and left behind. Now he must survive life on ground and get back to his clan. He is helped by Rieka, a “Tock” who makes the Constructs work. She promises Coll a way to return, but can she be trusted? And what is she really trying to do…?

When Coll uncovers the truth, it destroys everything he thought he knew about his clan, the world they live in, and even himself. In a world full of danger, and suddenly without meaning, can he find a way back?

(Book blurb)

This is an excellent adventure which would make an excellent class story. There are echoes of ‘Mortal Engines’ at first glance; however, this is a very original and compelling story.

Coll is a great character. Being part of Wolf means that different is bad, and due to his prosthetic arm and leg, Col stands out as being different. With his mother being Alpha, he is constantly seeking to prove that he deserves his place on the Construct and is not there simply because of their relationship. When he becomes stranded from his clan, he has to learn to trust others, to accept advice and to value himself as an individual, capable of flourishing with a new pack, no longer feeling the need to constantly prove himself. Impatient and, at times, impulsive and bad-tempered, he also shows surprising moments of kindness, making him a very relatable, flawed and engaging character. His relationships with the other characters who become part of his new crew are also drawn with great skill and individuality- Fillan is my favourite- but he, Rieka and Brann are all well developed, offering plenty to reflect upon and discuss, showing how unlikely friendships can develop and opposites can attract and work well as a team!

The action is constant, creating a pacey, exciting adventure, sure to engage and inspire the most reluctant reader! It is a world with so much more to explore, making it a huge relief to realise that it is the first of a trilogy with ‘I am Raven’ coming soon!

I am Wolf Alastair Chisholm

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839945311

You can read my review of ‘Orion Lost’ here, ‘The Consequence Girl’ here and ‘Dragon Storm’ here.