The Anxiety of Kalix the Werewolf: A Novel
In the brilliant third entry in Millar’s Kalix Werewolf series (Curse of the Wolf Girl, 2010), Kalix MacRinnalch—the laudanum-addicted, self-destructive youngest daughter of the ruling Scottish werewolf clan, turns over a new leaf. Living in London with university students Daniel and Moonglow, and Vex, heir to the throne of elemental Fire Queen Malveria, Kalix has embarked on a self-improvement scheme involving eating, exercising, cutting down on self-cutting, and improving her literacy skills. She even finds a new boyfriend. When she makes a trip back to Scotland with her very proper (for a werewolf) cousin to kick the laudanum habit, however, they find the werewolf enchantress who was going to help them slain by werewolf hunters of the Avenaris Guild. With Kalix intent on taking out the guild, the action heats up as Queen Malveria’s greatest rival, the Empress of the Hainusta, provides assistance to the guild. Millar uses frequent fast breaks between scenes set in different dimensions and various locales to keep the action moving in this humorous, if violent, romp featuring quirky characters and situations. --Diana Tixier Herald