In A Harsh Northern Land, the towns of men huddle close around the walled keeps of their lords. Those keeps, in turn, look to the wolfhealls for their safety, when the trolls and their wyverns come down from the icy mountains to prey on manflesh.
The warriors of the wolfhealls are bonded to giant fighting wolves. Wolfpack and manpack live together, sharing everything. Once there were many wolfhealls, for once men were winning the land from their enemies. Now the trolls are fewer and come less often, and the lords are reluctant to send their young men to the wolfheall.
Isolfr is a young nobleman who is called to the pack. At his father's holding of Nithogsfjoll, there are few men of the right age for bonding, and his father is hostile to the wolfheall. He refuses to send his sons, but Isolfr is deeply drawn to the wolves. When the konigenwolf, Vigdis, comes to visit with her brother Hrolleif, the young man chooses to disobey his father and answer her summons.
Life in the pack is very different from Isolfr's gentle upbringing among wolfless men. Discipline is quick and harsh, and his days are filled with work and weapons training. But the wolfhealls ways, though strange, give Isolfr a deep sense of belonging. Here he will find love and acceptance, courage and true honor.
And then, in the winter of Isolfr's bonding to Viradechtis, the trolls come down from the north in far greater numbers than before, and the holding's complaisance gives way to terror in the dark.
Industry Reviews
" Ancient grudges and ruthless schemes are simply business as usual to the Faerie court in Bear's complex and involving contemporary fantasy. Campbell-winner Bear ("Worldwired") overturns the usual vision of Faerie, revealing the compelling beauty and darkness only glimpsed in old ballads and stories like 'Tam Lin'."--"Publishers Weekly "on "Blood and Iron" by Elizabeth Bear "Set in the wondrous city of Melusine, Monette's extraordinary first fantasy novel focuses on two captivating characters from two very different worlds. Monette is a highly original writer with her own unique voice." --"Publisher's Weekly" starred review of "Melusine" by Sarah Monette " Ancient grudges and ruthless schemes are simply business as usual to the Faerie court in Bear's complex and involving contemporary fantasy. Campbell-winner Bear ( Worldwired ) overturns the usual vision of Faerie, revealing the compelling beauty and darkness only glimpsed in old ballads and stories like 'Tam Lin'."-- Publishers Weekly on Blood and Iron by Elizabeth Bear & nbsp; "Set in the wondrous city of Melusine, Monette's extraordinary first fantasy novel focuses on two captivating characters from two very different worlds. Monette is a highly original writer with her own unique voice. " -- Publisher's Weekly starred review of Melusine by Sarah Monette "Ancient grudges and ruthless schemes are simply business as usual to the Faerie court in Bear's complex and involving contemporary fantasy. Campbell-winner Bear ("Worldwired") overturns the usual vision of Faerie, revealing the compelling beauty and darkness only glimpsed in old ballads and stories like 'Tam Lin'."--"Publishers Weekly "on "Blood and Iron" by Elizabeth Bear "Set in the wondrous city of Melusine, Monette's extraordinary first fantasy novel focuses on two captivating characters from two very different worlds. Monette is a highly original writer with her own unique voice."--"Publisher's Weekly" starred review of "Melusine" by Sarah Monette
