A shapeshifter hero battles ancient spirits, a covert government agency, and his own dark past in a race to solve a murder that could mean the end of the world.
The debut novel from the multi-award winning author that Library Journal describes as "one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction."
"I can't remember the last time I read a book that spoke to me, so eloquently, and so deeply, on so many levels. ... I'll be rereading it in the future because it's that sort of book. Richly layered and deeply resonant. An old friend, from the first time you read it." -Charles de Lint, World Fantasy Award winner
The Heroka walk among us. Unseen, unknown. Shapeshifters. Human in appearance but with power over their animal totems.
Gwyn Blaidd is a Heroka of the wolf totem. Once he led his people in a deadly war against the Tainchel, the shadowy agency that hunts his kind. Now he lives alone in his wilderness home, wolves his only companions.
But when an Ojibwe girl is brutally killed in Gwyn's old hometown, suspicion falls on his former lover. To save her, Gwyn must return, to battle not only the Tainchel, but even darker forces: ancient spirits fighting to enter our world...
And rule it.
Cree and Ojibwe legends mix with current day environmental conflict in this fast-paced urban fantasy that keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to its explosive conclusion.
About the Author: Douglas Smith is an award-winning Canadian author of fantasy, SF, horror, supernatural, and the ever popular "undefinable" who has been published in thirty-two countries and twenty-six languages around the world.
Doug is a three-time winner of Canada's Aurora Award for speculative fiction and has been a finalist for the international John W. Campbell Award, Canada's juried Sunburst Award, the CBC Bookies award, and France's juried Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane.
His other works include:
CHIMERASCOPE (ChiZine, 2010) - Collection - Finalist for the Sunburst Award, Aurora Award, and CBC Bookies Award
IMPOSSIBILIA (PS Publishing, 2008) - Collection - Finalist for the Aurora Award
PLAYING THE SHORT GAME: HOW TO MARKET & SELL SHORT FICTION (Lucky Bat Books, 2014) - A guide for writers
LA DANSE DES ESPRITS (Dreampress, 2011) - Collection - Finalist for France's Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane
A sample of what others have said about Doug and his writing:
"One of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction." - Library Journal
"His stories are a treasure trove of riches that will touch your heart while making you think." - Robert J. Sawyer, award-winning author
"A great storyteller with a gifted and individual voice." - Charles de Lint, award-winning author
Doug's website is www.smithwriter.com and he tweets at smithwrtr.
