Castle Of The Wolf
Sandra Schwab
ISBN-10: 0505527200
Love Spell, May 2007, 320 pages
England/Germany, 1800's
$6.99 (US) $9.99 (CDN)
Reviewed by Dorie
March 2007
Celia Fussell, or Cissy, has always loved fairytales and is an avid reader. She is devastated when her father dies and is left to contemplate a life of spinsterhood living with her brother and his horrid wife, Dorinda. When her father's will is read and she learns that she has inherited a castle in the Black Forest of Germany, she jumps at the chance to get away. The only problem is that there is one stipulation. She must marry the heir to the castle if he is yet unwed. Cissy figures that it is a better option than living with Dorinda for the rest of her life.
Cissy is enchanted by the German countryside and during her trip meets and befriends an eccentric widow named Mrs. Chisholm who is on the way to Baden-Baden. By the time she reaches the little town of Kirchwalden where the castle of Wolfenbach is located, she is starting to doubt her hasty decision. Especially when she learns that the people there think that the castle is cursed and that the master is a wild beast. But she cannot turn back now and decides to enjoy every minute of her new life. When she reaches the castle she is in awe, the castle is breathtaking even if it is crumbling and littered with gargoyles.
She encounters her fiancé, Fenris von Wolfenbach, inside the castle and discovers that he is indeed fearsome, with his wild demeanor and his wooden leg. He is none to pleased to hear that the castle now belongs to Cissy and sets out ways to get her to leave. Cissy is just as determined that he will not succeed and successfully thwarts his attempts. Yet she eventually wins his trust and admiration with her kindness and they soon marry.
Fenris has been through a lot in his life. Considered a traitor by his people, he fought his countrymen against Napoleon, losing his left leg in the battle. He cannot help but hate himself, both for what he did to his family's reputation and for the fact that he is a cripple. He also cannot see why Cissy would ever love him, having been burned by a woman before.
Fenris tries to keep Cissy at an arms length by being standoffish and mean. But Cissy can see through his guise and in her own way, heals his spirit and his heart. Cissy is a woman full of strength and determination and I admired her for it. She knew what she wanted and she did not lose sight of it or give up. Sandra has created two very unique and compelling characters whom you cannot help but root for, though at times you'd like to hit Fenris over the head just as much as Cissy does, you cannot help but find him irresistible as well. This book has it's share of adventure but I also loved the touches of humor that Sandra added and the secondary characters as well.
Castle Of The Wolf is at heart a tale of Beauty and the Beast and Sandra brings her own interpretation to the story and makes it her own. For lovers of fairytales and anything that is out of the ordinary, this book is a must read. Do not pass up on this genuinely delightful novel.