Rating: 
Summary: Yet another book read in a sitting.
Review: This book was not what I was expecting at all. Too often in the little niche that I call "Furry Lit," the piece tends to be more on furry and less on story...Paul has done a wonderful job with this book. There aren't many authors I will read in a sitting. The book had quite a few selling points for me, and the story hooked me in. I had only two minor beefs about the book. Number one, the gratuitous use of footnotes. It should be possible to explain something in the context of the book without using them. Number two, the epilogue. Paul, if you're reading this, the emotional punch you were going for would have been far more powerful without it. (Though I did like seeing what happened afterwards..)All in all, a great book. I'd reccomend this one without hesitation.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful and beatiful story!
Review: This is a wonderful and beatiful story, the characters are memorable and make you feel compassion or hatred towards each one. The story moves fairly smooth throughout, and the buildup of each character is amazing. Be warned though, this book is reallllly easy to read, as teh reading level is quite low for those who are avid readers. For what it is, this book is beatiful!
Rating:
Summary: Must-read for all Furry fans
Review: This is, to be honest, like no book I have ever read and it is also the most Furry-esque published novel I have found. Unlike most of the anthropromorphic animal genre, it is dark and gritty and obviously intended for an adult audience. It is also a most compelling and engrossing read, with a similar feel to two of my favourite things - ElfQuest and Princess Mononoke.
Set in Australia, the dominant sentient race are a species of anthopromorphic foxes with butterfly wings and antennae, known as the "kashra" - indeed, this is book one of the Kashran Cycle, but I am happy to note (especially since the other books don't seem to yet exist) it is a story in itself and comes to a satisfying conclusion. The two main characters are sisters, but very different in personality and appearance. There is Zhukora, the huntress, black of fur and blue of wing and fierce and ambitious of nature contrasted with the gentle, and mute, Shadarii, lover of life and the dance. For centuries the Kashran have followed a simple way of life - a hunter/gatherer cycle, but that is all about to change. The forest is dying, food is getting scarce and Zhukora unwittingly awakens a spirit that will change their world forever.
One of the successes of this epic story is that you grow attached both the antagonist and protagonist. It is a tragic, and spiritual tale and I would whole-heartedly suggest that anyone who calls themselves a "Furry" should make an effort to read it. Seriously, I cannot understand how after four years in the fandom it has only recently been drawn to my attention. For non-furries, however, don't be fooled - this is not Redwall - it is a lot more grim, more sexual and much less formulaic.
It is also illustrated by Terrie Smith, with a black and white picture in almost every chapter (including several pictures of different tribes at the back) and a colour one on front and back covers. I, personally, am not a huge Terrie Smith fan and think some of the pictures are fairly basic, but I am aware she is very popular. Although, as has already been pointed out, her pictures are a little too cute and pin-up for the general atmosphere of the story and you can almost imagine the heaving bosoms.
Rating:
Summary: A glorious, majestic world
Review: This story struck to my heart. Once I got into the story, I was just swept away. The heroine is so passionate, so loving, and the forces at play so frighteningly powerful, that you are on a rollercoaster of amazement. A lot of other reviewers here have actually talked about the plot, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I think that if you like Fantasy, and you are the kind of person that can get gripped and held by a story, this is one that you will never forget.
Rating:
Summary: Original, breathtaking, and undoubtedly recommended!
Review: Though the idea of winged foxes may seem to border along the childish, this book is far from being a children's story. Here, utter realism bubbles forth in every chapter, ensnaring the reader to turn each page with anticipation, as exquisite details ranging from inventive sports, colorful holidays and customs, diverse cultures, up to the complexity and heartfelt credibility of each character -- all effectively help in coaxing out a myriad of emotions and reactions from the readers. In other words, the reader is convincingly thrust into the fabled Kashran world, where romance can be compared to ambrosia; where legends are unearthed, lived, and forged, where danger lurks in every corner, and where battles could be easily compared to that of epic Hollywood movies. Yet the magic does not stop there, for the story itself is truly a work of art that would even make moralists and philosophers stop, look, and read, without going into mindless prattle, served in-between the lines of innovative storytelling and religious allegory. Good and evil are dissected into numerous facets, coupled with their driving forces, their chosen vessels, and their influences, not to mention their consequences -- all of which present an interesting moral spectrum to be pondered upon. All these are framed within an excellent pace, chock-full of tidbits that would make the inherent historian, theologian, and sociologist within the readers swoon with delight. Another highlight of the story would be the level of catharsis produced. This book has the raw power to draw tears or pity without being melodramatic, focusing on believable pain in its emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects; ditto for love, hatred, mirth, and other emotions that could fire up or calm down the reader. Worthwhile too would be the characters portrayal of these feelings, augmenting depth to the cast, inviting the reader to sympathize or relate with either (or both) the characters or situations, also giving solid evidence to the book's claim of being an "unforgettable story". An exercise in emotion, so to speak. Terrie Smith's illustrations accompany the readers a step further into the book's charm, handing us accurate glimpses of the different characters and tribes populating this world, fittingly complementing the superb text. Just by merely scanning the book's front and back covers, one could be speared by Those pictures are just doorways into something far more beautiful -- eye candy that would make the reader ask for more. All in all, Paul Kidd's story is a virtual masterpiece, truly a story worth keeping in one's collection. It could be judged as one of the best books ever written, and I would not ever doubt the reader if the book's alluring charm brings about any sleeplessness. This book is undoubtedly recommended for its content, insight, entertainment, and sheer reading pleasure. Maybe this book can be adapted for film or animation someday? For now, I am more than eagerly awaiting the next installment of this highly-anticipated series. Great job, Mr. Kidd!
Rating:
Summary: Characters and lessons too rare
Review: Too gentle a title for such depth and fierceness. "Why do we fight?" The answer is this book's heart. Not often for hate,"Instead, we fight for love. [It]excuses the unthinkable." Shadarii has no voice and for that is an outsider, and for us, a rarity in fiction, a normal woman in one respect: "The more unhappy Shadarii felt, the more she ate; the fatter she became, the more miserable she felt. Fat doesn't sell,so the pictures compromised, but still show a more normal woman than most in fiction. Kidd shows all his Kashra as contrasting individuals. The two sisters at the heart, and all around them are solid enough that I felt the conflicts and peaceful retreats, the words, healing or hurtful. Few are simply 'heroes' or 'villains'. Dark angry Zhukhora loves justice, her people, and one friend maybe too true to be real(but still touching and inspiring). All are intimately involved with the spiritual side of their world and its magic. Here are uncommon lessons about love, fighting for a cause, and the power and limits of violence and pacifism. Nothing graphic, so I think it's OK for any mature enough for 336 pages. There's also surprising humor which doesn't interrupt the story. This book will stay with me.
Rating:
Summary: Fairie tale with an Australian twist
Review: Where at first I found this book a standard fairy tale, as the story unfolded I liked it more and more. The Kashran culture is described in detail at the beginning of the book, in context, with a minimum of narrator explainations to slow down the text. I found the use of an Australian lexicon quite refreshing, with the characters hunting emus and kangaroos as opposed to your usual deer & Boar. The whole European fantasy genre has been mined so extensively, it's nice to see something different. The simplicity of the story works well with the fairy tale mood Kidd seems to be working, with the love and attention being devoted to the characters and cultural details. The imiagery is quite colorfull and emotions are painted across the story in primary colors. The book is elegant enough to catch and hold the attention of adult readers, but the content is suitible for teens also, I would rate the book a PG. Overall, this is a fine book, the first I've read by the author, and I'd be interested to read the following books in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Whisper of Wings: A Magnificent Fantasy
Review: Whisper of Wings is a rarity these days, an intelligent, well-done fantasy that isn't simply a rehash of Tolkien's work. The setting is completely unlike anything I've ever read, and the heroine and villainess, Shadarii and Zhukora, are real people. You empathize wth them in a way that's all too rare anymore. And the plot itself is far deeper than the usual run, almost Shakespearean in its depiction of a good person who becomes evil and destroys themself, and very nearly everyone around them. Just read the book. You'll be pleasently surprised.
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