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Rating: 
Summary: "We've Never Met. Probably Never Will..."
Review: "The Wolf Star" (also published as "Wolf Star Rising") is the second of four books known as the Claidi journals, stories told in the format of a diary by the young escaped-slave Claidi and her travels throughout a fantasy world in search of her origins and a home of her own. In the first installment "The Wolf Tower", which you really must read if you want to understand what's going on in this story, Claidi escaped the confines of the House with the handsome Nemian, only to find that his intentions for her were less than honourable. Taking her to his dismal city and the matriarch Ironel, Claidi found that the inexorable Law of the Wolf Tower made her the new distributor of the cruel and unnecessary rules that governed the land.
Destroying the mechanisms that put the Law in place, Claidi made her escape with the handsome bandit-leader Argul - her betrothed. At the beginning of this new part of her diary, Claidi is immensely excited about her approaching wedding to the man she loves, and her acceptance into the extended family of the Hulta. But as she prepares on the wedding day, a catastrophe occurs - she is kidnapped by men of the Wolf Tower in a great balloon, and taken across the sea to a strange place known as the Rise. With only clockwork figurines for company, Claidi desperately searches for a way to escape the confusing and dangerous moving rooms of the Rise, a huge palace and garden carved into the side of a great cliff.
Soon she discovers that she's not alone - the Rise is the home of the elusive and confusing Prince Venarion (or Venn for short), who is just as bewildered at Claidi's presence in his home as she is. Abandoned by his mother Ustareth at a young age, Claidi suspects that somehow she is connected to the events that are now unfolding: the hidden designs of the House and the someone who has plans for them both without either of them knowing, someone who mysteriously signs their letters as "we", and who has a secret agenda going on. Wanting only to uncover the mystery of the higher interest in her, and to return to her beloved Argul, Claidi talks Venn into undertaking a trek deep into the Rise to find the library - the one place where they might both find the answers they're looking for.
Unfortunately in continuing the story, Tanith Lee raises more questions than answers, and many of her ideas come across as confused and contradicting. She possibly has a master-plan in mind for the completion of the story and the unfolding of the mystery, but she is unravelling it in a very muddled way - it's almost as if she's making it up as she goes along and later figuring out how all the clues fit together, rather than the other way around. Despite this however, the characters, the story and the mystery of Claidi's role in the world is interesting enough to keep one reading.
There are also complaints concerning the setting of the book - "The Wolf Tower" was a journey that took place over a large area, whilst here Claidi is stuck almost entirely within a single house. Granted, it is an exceptionally fascinating house, with moving rooms and clockwork servants, but much of the appeal of the first book was the scale and freedom of Claidi's travels. Here, that is gone.
But "The Wolf Star" is a good follow-up to the previous book, and most will be interested enough in picking up the next one "Wolf Queen," even though I am always frustrated at writers/publishers that split books into more than one volume needlessly. Claidi's journal is one big story - it should be presented as one large volume, not lots of little ones. There are overviews of the previous book at the start of each new installment, but I'd recommend reading them in order.
Rating: 
Summary: Wolf Star
Review: After reading the first book, Wolf Tower, I didn't really like it. But I wanted to finish the series anyway. This book was more, well, boring, than the last one. And came someone tell me WHY she fell for Venn again? Beacuse it's like, wherever she goes, she falls in love with whoever's there, just because they were there. I mean, really, she fell in love with Nemian, Argul, AND Venn. That's really sad. I don't like this book at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Very pleased
Review: I was lured into reading Gail Carson Levine's 'Ella Enchanted" after hearing how wonderful it was... I was pleased with this book enough that I read it through twice... but I was still wanting for something. Going through my local bookstore I pulled book after book, till I noticed 'Wolf Tower' had a note from Kirkus Review recommending it for fans of 'Ella Enchanted'... I am so glad I picked this book up... however, this is the second, not the first of the series... The second picked up wonderfully from where the first left off... it flowed smoothly. The descriptions were very good, I can't bring myself to say wonderful due to the fact I felt left hanging at points, but I was able to close my eyes and see Claidi's world, or Ven'n's as it happened. I love the character's Lee has created... Claidi seems to be everything a girl wants to be- brave, fairly intelligent, leading her own life, it's very appealing- Argul is an interesting one, that I feel I don't know very well at all, and Ven'n, he was an interesting one.. I could identify with him more than the others, perhaps it is that his mother favors my father... a depressing thought. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes storys of the downtrodden who, through trials, come out top dog. ;-) Not my best summary, but ah well.
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Summary: "Once our eyes meet, I'll be home."
Review: The sequel to "Wolf Tower" begins in the Hulta camp with Claidi preparing for her marriage to Argul. However, her preparations are cut short with the arrival of men in a hot air balloon who kidnap Claidi and take her far away from her new family. She is taken to the strange and mysterious Wolf Star Rise, a place beyond anything she has ever imagined. There she meets Venn, the aloof prince who bears an uncanny resemblance to her beloved Argul. She learns that she was brought to the Rise under the directions of Ironel after destroying the Law of the Wolf Tower. She believes that she is being held prisoner but soon learns to like (not quite love) her life at the Rise. And it is there that she will learn some shocking truths about her family, as well as Argul's.
The setting of Wolf Star Rise is the most interesting aspect of the novel. The Rise as well as all of the creatures in and around it were created by Venn's mother Ustareth, the mysterious scientist and magician who abandoned her son at a young age. Claidi's adventures at the rise take her through many different rooms, most of which change locations on a daily basis. She and Venn even make a few days journey to the library and almost run out of provisions when it does not turn up where they expected it to. The Rise is also home to mechanical dolls, such as the servants Grem and Jotto, who look and act human but are set apart by such things as leaves growing from their heads. Another strange character is Treacle, who waters the gardens with her tears. Claidi encounters strange animals as well. The vraburrs, for example, are a bizarre cross between a lion and a rabbit. She also comes across flying rats the size of dogs and dines with miniature versions of lions and horses, etc. And watching over all of the events at the Rise is the myterious Wolf Star, which rises each night in the east and sets each morning in the same spot.
"Wolf Star" is a fun story and is sure to hold the interest of any young (or old, for that matter) fantasy fan. She has grown quite a bit since her last journal volume and is more independent and strong-willed. Venn often tells her to act more like a lady and Claidi informs him that she has no desire to imitate the Royal Ladies of the Towers. It is great to see her finally standing up for herself. And of course, her journal entries make the story much more intimate and draw the reader further into her world.
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Summary: Where's the fun of the first book?
Review: This book is really good. Claidi has been taken away from her beloved Argul right before the wedding. She is taken to a place called the Rise and makes some unexpected discoveries. Those discoveries i will not reveal thats why you need to read this book. By the end of the story she makes her way back to Argul and it ends there while she is in the sky drawing closer to her bethrothed and beloved Argul. After this book comes the third in its series(Wolf Queen). I really suggest you read it and find out what happens.
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Summary: Wonderful
Review: This book was absolutely wonderful! It was the greatest book that i have ever read. i truely enjoyed it. it's great for teens and younger kids. i just have to say that i loved this book
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Summary: Second in the Claidi Journals Trilogy
Review: This is the continuing story of Claidissa Star, or Claidi as she prefers. Claidi thought that her adventures were over and now she can get married and settle down to her life with the Hulta. But on her wedding day mysterious balloon come out of the sky and carry Claidi away to who-know-where. After months of travel Claidi arrives at Castle Rise. With its moving rooms, a gigantic water fall, an enormous jungle full of dangerous animals, and miles of ocean, will Claidi ever be reunited with her true love?
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Summary: What happened to the great Claidi ?
Review: What happened to the fun, energetic, exciting Claidi we met in the first one? This second one and the third one are a great mess.
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Summary: A Captivating Book
Review: When my friend first wanted me to read this book series I turned it down. But my love of reading got the better of me so I had to do it and now I'm really glad I did! This series has totally captured me into reading all of them! It's a wonderful book for many ages!
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Summary: Wolf Brilliance!
Review: Wow! I don't regret my month's wait of getting this book! I thought the first journal was outstanding, however, this journal blew me away! Such adventure!!!! When I read about the places Claidi went, it was as if I was there. If you read this book you will get into it so quickly that you won't want to finish! The book also makes you want more when you finish, but that's a whole other review!
If you aren't a big romantic and love adventure, you would like this book. However, if you love reading about two loved ones who have to be apart from one another this is the book for you as well! Lee, the author made such a brilliant character that I fell in love with the moment I read the first book! Her wit just makes me laugh and wish I could be more like her This journal relates back to the first one so if you haven't read Claidi's first journal you must rush out to a bookstore and get the copy as well as this one! The whole collection of journals are outstanding! Enjoy reading!
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