The Order of the Wolf (Species Chronicles, Book Two: Covenant) by Lisa Lacriola
Looking for a quick fantasy read that hits the spot? Lisa Lacriola serves up just what you need in the second installment of her Species Chronicles, The Order of the Wolf: Covenant.
The story follows Toni Luello after the events of the first book, The Order of the Wolf: Lineage, where the disappearance of her great-aunt leads Toni to discover a secret society of witches and the wolf-human hybrids (the Blessed) they protect.
Wolves and Humans, Enemies and Allies
After spending months in her new wolf form, Toni returns to find Regan, her lover, has returned — though Regan’s growing obsession with the Blessed further drives a wedge between the two as it becomes clear her obsession may outweigh her love.
Toni’s personal relationships become increasingly complicated as she struggles to find balance between her dualling human and wolf identities, and the line between allies and enemies continually shifts.
Her wolf pack, led by her very-much-alive great-aunt Elena, offers a sense of belonging and acceptance Toni hasn’t experienced before. Meanwhile, Toni’s therapist, Dr. Enna Weber, becomes more enmeshed in both Toni’s human and wolfen worlds, while an elusive male wolf keeps appearing in Toni’s path and the surprisingly alluring Agent Gina Torres’s motives become suspect.
Is Gina really just searching for the PTSD-curing elixir Elena’s lover was developing, or does she want something more from Toni?
As Toni uncovers the hidden truths about the elixir and her supernatural ancestry, members of the mysterious Covenant, an archaic organization determined to protect humanity from the supernatural, draw far closer than Toni realizes.
Prophecy claims Toni is the last —and strongest — of the Blessed. But is prophecy set in stone, or will Toni’s journey take her down an unexpected path?
Love, Obsession and Lust
The Order of the Wolf boasts complex dynamics for such a short read (only 140 pages). Toni’s abandonment issues and Regan’s obsession, for instance, collide to create the kind of high-stakes emotional journey that marks this as more than just another lighthearted urban fantasy.
The romantic drama is captivating and scandalous as past relationships are revealed, and a new budding romance sprouts forth — or is it simply lust?
Author Lisa Lacriola also provides well-rounded and engaging queer representation within the story. The pack, as well as her close human allies, act as a surrogate family for Toni since the loss of family when she came out, an experience many in the LGBTQ community are sure to identify with.
But while Toni identifies as a lesbian, and all her on-page relationships have been with women, why is she also drawn to the male wolf and the young male barista? Perhaps sexual orientation is more fluid than convention would have us believe (or is it just a wolf thing?).
Strong Characters and Worldbuilding
The story also features an array of strong female characters, each strong in their own way — which is a breath of fresh air in a world where strength is often aligned with masculine traits, making every “strong” female character a fighter or stone-cold assassin.
Whether it’s Toni’s tenacity or Gina’s intelligence, Elena’s leadership or her second, Aliya’s, loyalty, the author gives each character their own unique personalities and strengths.
Lacriola also strengthens the foundations of her urban fantasy setting by weaving in unique real-world elements. Among the pack, she incorporates actual wolf psychology, body language and pack hierarchy behaviors, rather than the romanticized or humanized behaviors often found in shifter romances (there are no alphaholes here!).
She also incorporates the real history of wolf conservation efforts in the U.S., layering in supernatural causes and effects of the historic culling of wolf populations. She also provides a brief yet thoughtful glimpse into Wiccan spirituality, thanks to the witches’ roles in the Order of the Wolf.
Overall, The Order of the Wolf: Covenant is a story with unexpected depth given its brevity. Urban fantasy lovers are sure to devour this quick read in a single sitting — and beg for more!
About Lisa Lacriola:
Lisa Lacriola is a writer in the Chicagoland area. She started writing in grade school and majored in English at Northeastern University, graduating with a BA in 2010. Lacriola’s work has been featured in numerous publications, such as Leather Views, Minerva Rising and the Illinois Eagle, and she has received two awards of merit from National Louis University’s journal, Mosaic, for her non-fiction essays.
After completing National Louis University’s M.S. program in Written Communications, Lacriola began working on The Order of the Wolf.
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