Wolf of Withervale

Noss Saga, Book 1

An ambitious, sweeping saga. As epic as it is queer.

Lago was only a child when the shapeshifter entrusted the wolf-like mask to his care—an artifact so powerful that it could come to shape the entire world of Noss. Now that he is coming of age, Lago is becoming ever more fearful of the ominous relics influence, of the empire who has scented its trail and is coming after it. Coming after him.

Aided by his best friend, an enigmatic scout, and his trusty dog, Lago seeks refuge in the vastness of the Heartpine Dome. The eighty-mile-wide structure had remained sealed for centuries, safeguarding more than mere secrets. Now that the domes entrails are stirring, the mysteries of the long-vanished Miscam tribes are coming to light, and the shapeshifting animal spirits are making their return.

Powers untold hide behind the blinkless eyeholes of the canid mask, powers that could tip the balance in the war. Lago is barely beginning to learn how to wield the dark visage, but he can already feel its potential. And he can feel a different change coming, deep in his marrow.

Wolf of Withervale is the first installment of the Noss Saga, an epic LGBTQ+ fantasy series.

©2023 Joaquín Baldwin (P)2024 Joaquín Baldwin

Fantastic in-depth Characters

I loved the characters of this series. Very well written and fun to listen to.

The best new thing in fiction

The story and characters are all so real. The pace is perfect and development is precisely what is needed. Amazing and engaging. I cannot recommend it enough.

The best LGBT fantasy series I've read.

Excellent plot balance for an LGBT. The natural progress of the plot, character development, world building, and realistic balance of LGBT topics/characters. Too many LGBT books over focus on these topics and forsake the plot in doing so, but this was perfectly balanced. The in depth world building and inclusion of real world science terms, prehistoric & non extinct animals, and a plethora of online reference guides to help was phenomenal! To develop new languages is so cool. The narrator did an amazing job creating unique and consistent voices too, though he should avoid singing. 😅. I'd definitely rate higher than 5 stars of i could. Can't wait for the rest of the series.

Adored this first installment

The narration was fantastic.
The protagonist and the world felt interwoven alongside the protagonist being loathsome, made for a very fun adventure. Adore the focus on alternative body types as far as romance interests go.

Engaging and long

The story and setting are a wonderful blend. The story is extraordinarily long, but somehow never loses you. The world is ever growing at a steady pace, always allowing new discoveries without overwhelming. It’s a magnificent read for anyone who enjoys fantastical nature!