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.

Dragon Storm: Tomás and Ironskin

There are no longer any dragons in the land of Draconis. Once humans and dragons lived there together in friendship, creating Rivven, the great city, together. But the Dragon Storm, a great battle, changed this, forcing dragons to retreat from the human world, leaving humans believing these great creatures to be myths.

Growing up with these beliefs, young Tomás, a blacksmith’s son, is stunned when he is invited to join the Dragonseer Guild. He discovers not only that dragons exist, but that he can summon his very own, Ironskin. But adjusting to this new life is not easy, leaving Tomás with a difficult choice to make.

Having loved ‘Orion Lost’ and ‘Adam 2’, I had high expectations of ‘Dragon Storm’ - and wasn’t disappointed. Alastair Chisholm has worked magic with this title, managing to offer developed characters (human and dragon), a well imagined world and a convincing storyline in a book which is short and accessible yet doesn’t ‘dumb down’ the language used. Perfectly pitched for younger readers, this is the first in a series which is sure to be very popular.

Tomás is an appealing character who will be easy for children to relate to. Close to his parents, he is keen to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a blacksmith, yet his curiosity is piqued when he is offered the chance of a different life. That he finds himself a member of a secret society with a dragon companion is a dream which will appeal to so many young readers- and the other children and their dragons offer plenty more adventures to come.

Although obviously perfect for independent reading, ‘Tomás and Ironskin’ would also work very well as a guided reading text, readily engaging children’s interest and offering plenty to discuss and explore. Children would love to create their own dragons or create Top Trump style cards for the dragons and their dragonseers. The story’s illustrations are also sure to further engage children and encourage them to draw their own dragons.

Looking forward to reading book 2- ‘Cara and Silverthief’ - which is out now with more titles in the series coming soon!

Dragon Storm: Tomás and Ironskin

Alastair Chisholm, illustrated by Eric Deschamps

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839940064