The Wolf and the Wild King
High fantasy born of myth and folklore, of the dark and the trees and the winter’s cold, the flint blade’s edge and the secrets that are spoken only in dreams…
Assassin, executioner, shapeshifter, and dutiful son of the undying Queen of the land called only the Forest, Mairran is haunted by the voice of an Immortal long lost, who runs with him as a wolf in his dreams. More used to being the instrument of death than an arbiter of justice, he is dispatched by his mother to find the killer of an earl whose life was offered in an unsanctioned sacrifice to the Forest.
In an earlier age, the outlaw Lannesk swears an oath to follow the Grey Hunter and the Wild King, ancient guardians of the Forest, in a war against the invading dragon-kin and their sorcerer-priests, who seek to wake the great dragon long ago bound in sleep beneath the Lake. Past and present tangle around troubled assassin and mute outlaw, as a conspiracy of fell magic threatens the land and its people.
Evocative of a darker, grimmer McKillip, The Wolf and the Wild King is a brooding, lyrical new work from a master of epic fantasy.
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“K.V. Johansen’s THE WOLF AND THE WILD KING is a lyrically rendered tale of intrigue and war enriched by two compelling central characters in a world that is both mythic and fully realised. A darkly beautiful book crafted in some of the finest prose it’s been my pleasure to read. Can’t wait for the sequel.” ~ Anthony Ryan, author of The Traitor
“A wonderful and timeless epic fantasy -- a book with wisdom, beauty and claws.” ~ Tom Lloyd, author of Stranger of Tempest
“With beautiful prose reminiscent of Patricia McKillip, Johansen paints a bleak and devastating picture of a cold world where humans, fey, and near-fey struggle for control of an unforgiving land. The magical system is deep and well thought out, haunting and resonant. The dual plotlines of the main protagonists braid together into an intriguing narrative that leads to an explosive conclusion. The Wolf and the Wild King will fulfill your desires for epic dark fantasy that is original and fascinating. I can’t wait for the second book in the duology!” ~ Jo Graham, author of Black Ships and The Emperor’s Agent
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K. V. Johansen
K. V. Johansen (born 1968) was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, where she developed her lifelong fascination with fantasy literature after reading The Lord of the Rings at the age of eight. Her interest in the history and languages of the Middle Ages led her to take a Master’s Degree in Medieval Studies at the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto, and a second M.A. in English Literature at McMaster University, where she wrote her thesis on Layamon’s Brut, an Early Middle English epic poem. While spending most of her time writing, she retains her interest in medieval history and languages and is a member of the SFWA and the Writers’ Union of Canada. In 2014, she was an instructor at the Science Fiction Foundation’s Masterclass in Literary Criticism held in London. Various of her books have been translated into French, Macedonian, and Danish.
The Forest
The Forest consists of one book and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
