Iskryne

"Every bit as absorbing as the first volume, The Tempering of Men is compelling and intensely readable. Told from multiple perspectives, the characters are well-drawn and distinct, especially Brokkolfr and Amma, his amusingly maternal wolf-sister. Monette and Bear each excel at creating unique worlds when writing solo fiction, so it's no surprise that this joint effort combines their strengths into something extraordinary." --RT Book Reviews, Top Pick

"The meticulously crafted setting and powerful, often moving rendition of characters and relationships-human and nonhuman alike-result in a brutal and beautiful novel about the meaning of honor. ...the authors have boldly created a fascinating world that begs further exploration." --Publishers Weekly, starred review on A Companion to Wolves

"Coauthors Monette and Bear combine their literary talents... [A] well-written and emotionally powerful quasi-Nordic fantasy." --Library Journal on A Companion to Wolves

"The world they depict is fraught with a sense of wonder rare even in fantasy.... [Monette and Bear] have taken one of the most escapist of fantasy subgenres, in which humans and animals meld, and turned it into something powerful and surprisingly deeply human." --Booklist on A Companion to Wolves

"What Bear and Monette have done for wolves in this book is no more and no less than what Anne McCaffrey has done for dragons--they have made the wolf iconic, memorable, something larger than life.... The storyline is gripping--I read this thing at a sitting--the writing is exquisite, and the book is destined to be a classic of its kind." --SFSite on A Companion to Wolves