A shapeshifter hero battles ancient spirits, a covert government agency, and his own dark past in a race to solve a murder that could mean the end of the world. The Heroka walk among us. Unseen, unknown. Shapeshifters. Human in appearance but with power over their animal totems. Gwyn Blaidd is a Heroka of the wolf totem. Once he led his people in a deadly war against the Tainchel, the shadowy agency that hunts his kind. Now he lives alone in his wilderness home, wolves his only companions. But when an Ojibwe girl is brutally killed in Gwyn’s old hometown, suspicion falls on his former lover. To save her, Gwyn must return, to battle not only the Tainchel, but even darker forces: ancient spirits fighting to enter our world… And rule it. Cree and Ojibwe legends mix with current day environmental conflict in this fast-paced urban fantasy that keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to its explosive conclusion. With an introduction by Charles de Lint. “An immersive and enjoyable reading experience. Readers will delight in learning more about Native American mythology, which is skillfully woven throughout the story. Smith’s novel is both well paced and deftly plotted—leaving readers curious about what comes next for the Heroka” — Publishers Weekly “What makes this such an engrossing read are the characters and Doug’s wonderful prose, a perfect blend between matter-of-fact and lyricism. I can’t remember the last time I read a book that spoke to me, so eloquently, and so deeply, on so many levels. ... I’ll be rereading it in the future because it’s that sort of book. Richly layered and deeply resonant. An old friend, from the first time you read it.” — Charles de Lint, World Fantasy Award winner “It’s the interweaving of lore and ideas that gives this novel so much substance. … With adventure, intrigue, shape-shifters, family, a touch of romance and a lot of heart, this is a book I’d recommend for readers of all genres.” —SF Crowsnest “Building on the world he created in previous short stories, Smith explores the Heroka—shapeshifting beings who can also control their totem animals—and their role in a world in which people’s relationship to nature is out of balance. He also confronts the clash of cultures between [white] interests and the rights of First Nations peoples—and how this plays out in environmental policy and control over resources. Aside from that, it’s also a gripping urban fantasy.” —David Jon Fuller, writer/editor “A tale that would resonate with the spirit of any environmentalist – the struggle of diverse species to survive, the conflict with human greed and capitalism, the invasiveness of the human presence on animal life. … As he often does, Douglas wields myth … to reveal truths that we ignore in our mundane world and teaches complexity through the poetics of language and potentials of symbols. … through beautiful prose and an exciting and powerful story.” —Speculating Canada “An excellent debut novel. … Modern controversy over aboriginal land claims is mixed with a romantic embellishment of ancient stories. … Staccato pacing and multiple POVs with a hook at the end of each short segment [keeps] the energy level perpetually high.” —The 49th Shelf–Recommended Reads “As with the finest of urban fantasy, the collision of magic and reality works wonders, resulting in an entertaining fantasy that respects our legends even as it subverts them. … [Smith] leaves the reader hoping for further Heroka stories down the road. —Cory Redekop “A fabulous book...a thriller, an urban fantasy, and definitely mythic.” —Mythic Writers About the Author Douglas Smith is a five-time award-winning author described by Library Journal as “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction.” His latest work is the multi-award-winning YA urban fantasy trilogy, The Dream Rider Saga (The Hollow Boys, The Crystal Key, and The Lost Expedition). His other books include the urban fantasy novel, The Wolf at the End of the World; the collections Borderlanz, Chimerascope, Impossibilia, and La Danse des Esprits (translated); and the writer’s guide Playing the Short Game: How to Market & Sell Short Fiction. Published in 28 languages, Doug is a 4-time winner of Canada’s Aurora Award, most recently for The Hollow Boys, as well as the juried IAP Award for the same book. He’s also been a finalist for the Astounding Award, CBC’s Bookies Award, Canada’s juried Sunburst Award, the juried Alberta Magazine Award for Fiction, and France’s juried Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane. His short fiction has appeared in the top markets in the field, including The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Amazing Stories, InterZone, Weird Tales, Baen’s Universe, Escape Pod, On Spec, Cicada, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror, and The Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy & Science Fiction (vol.2). Doug lives near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. “The man is Sturgeon good. Zelazny good. I don’t give those up easy.” —Spider Robinson, Hugo and
