Review: Wolfing up Julie Haydon's 1st Interspecies Telepaths novel, MIND BOND
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 11, 2013
MIND BOND has one of the most powerful and vivid opening paragraphs of any book I've come across in a long time."Wolf is your totem," Ka'e said, pressing the small wolf carving into my left palm and closing my fingers over it. "He will guide you throughout your life, Christa. Look for him. Listen for him. Most important, care for him, always, and he will care for you."The book reads like a combination of Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon park ranger mysteries crossed with Gayle Greeno's science fiction series, The Ghattis Tale. Native American and New Age beliefs are explored in a well-realized setting worthy of the National Geographic Channel.The trend in psychic and shapeshifter literature is for the paranormal animal character most central to the plot to be the biggest, bravest, and strongest. This novel conforms to that cliché. I was very pleased that Haydon avoided granting Christa and Magnus any additional special powers than their psychic link, the mind bond; that can so often be a temptation, when authors write themselves into corners. There are also only a few sudden coincidences which "just so happen" to resolve the characters' dilemmas - an area in which "less" is the sign of a well-planned-out story.Fleshing out the novel is a cast of developed characters who exhibit human flaws. They fulfill roles of strength, humor, hate, mystery, greed, and personal growth. Oh, and don't forget the wild animals; there's more than one species seeking companionship within the mind bond.Although the info-dump of the first chapter discouraged me, I now have a magnificent new vista drawn upon my mind's eye. In addition, looking beyond the less-than-perfect proofreading was not a hardship, with so much of my imagination engaged in Christa's diverse relationships and Magnus' wolfish pursuits. The only emotional bulletpoint I feel should have been addressed before the next book is the need for a limited "civilized" reaction from Christa, regarding her wolf pup hunting for and eating bloody meat (and that she has to help take down the prey).The second novel in The Interspecies Telepaths will certainly be on my TBR list. I am fairly certain I know who the white wolf bonded with, but Julie Haydon's prose have proved to be full of surprises. The mind-bonded eagle and mountain lion still have me intrigued, along with their artistic humans. Plus, I am anxious to watch Grandma's visions be fulfilled (and see what new ones she'll add to the foreshadowing soup).Until we've got the 2nd novel to read, check out these other related books:The Ghattis Tale, Book 1: Finders-SeekersBy Gayle GreenoHeralds of Valdemar Trilogy: Arrows of the Queen, Arrow's Flight, Arrow's FallBy Mercedes LackeyWinter Study (An Anna Pigeon Novel)By Nevada BarrCatalyst: A Tale of the Barque CatsBy Anne McCaffreyBeast Master's Planet: Omnibus of Beast Master and Lord of Thunder (Beastmaster)By Andre Norton* Legally, I have to tell you that this was an ARC copy I received to review. However, You'll notice that I don't always give "free" books positive commentary. I pride myself on honesty.