Laura Gallego.
The Valley of the Wolves (1999) was the second published book by the Spanish author Laura Gallego García. The title became the first installment of the tetralogy Tower chronicles. The other books in the series are The master's curse, The dead's call y Fenris the elf. The latter narrates events prior to the beginning of the entire saga itself (prequel).
Gallego's first editorial release, end of the world, meant a dreamy literary debut (Barco de Vapor Award from Editorial SM). More, The Valley of the Wolves it represented an entry in style within the genre of fantasy. In fact, today the Valencian writer is considered a benchmark for children's readings and fantasy youth literature in Spanish. Before continuing reading, it is noted that there will be spoilers.
The author, Laura Gallego García
Born in Cuart de Poblet, Valencia, on October 11, 1977. She discovered her literary vocation as a teenager, since then unsuccessfully sent more than a dozen books to various publishers. Nevertheless, his persistence paid off in 1998, when the SM publishing group published end of the world. Meanwhile, he obtained a doctorate in Hispanic Philology at the University of Valencia.
Genres and style
Throughout two decades of literary career, Gallego has dabbled in different genres. It began with a historical-fantasy novel (end of the world). Then he experimented with science fiction (Tara's daughters, 2002) and epic fantasy (with the trilogy Idhun's memories, 2004-2006). Also noteworthy are his numerous titles of children's literature.
The Spanish writer has also produced some realistic literature texts with the series Sara and the scorers (six deliveries launched in 2009 and 2010). It is a saga highly praised for its approach to issues such as gender equality, prejudice and sportsmanship. To date, Laura Gallego has published 41 books in total.
Themes
In all the genres mentioned, the Valencian author usually gives relevance to the love. Accordingly, the narrative thread and the motivations of the characters are dominated by feelings, intrigues and resentments. That is, the subjective justifications (of the protagonists) generally take precedence over ideals such as honor, justice or duty.
Some of the most outstanding accolades and recognitions of his career
- 2002 El Barco de Vapor Children's Literature Award, for The Legend of the Wandering King.
- Cervantes Chico Award (2011).
- National Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature of 2012. This, for his book Where the trees sing.
- Imaginamalgama Award 2013, for The book of portals.
- Kelvin 505 Award 2016.
Analysis of El valley de that Wolves
The Valley of the Wolves.
You can buy the book here: The Valley of the Wolves
Structure and context
The novel consists of 14 chapters and an epilogue. Likewise, the story is located in a time before the present, since horses are the main means of transportation. Just as the daily tasks in the rural environment are carried out without machines. The narrator (omniscient) describes an imaginary world, based on legends, where magic, spells and fantastic beings are real.
Style
The third-person narrator uses a cultured language, meticulous and, at the same time, simple. Which is important to achieve a setting full of details without distracting or overloading the reader with unnecessary information. In the same way, Dialogues naturally intermingled with suspenseful situations abound in the text that lead to an exciting and fluid reading.
trances
The narrator describes the events in a very objective way, despite being subjective emotions. It is not a minor aspect, because in the novel different conflicts arise that serve to better understand the nature and feelings of the protagonist, Dana. She falls hopelessly in love with Kai, who, in turn, is a spirit.
But when Kai must return to the underworld, she decides to wait until her own death to be able to meet him again. Another obvious problem for the protagonist is her distrust in almost everything that surrounds her and in magical matters. However, Dana is deciphering her unknowns through conversations with the other characters in the story.
Main characters
Days
He is the main character. She is a little girl with black hair with blue eyes with a very deep look, brave character and she likes to study a lot. Likewise, she is in favor of following the rules of each place ... unless they contradict the wishes of her heart.
Kai
It is the co-star character. He appears at first as Dana's "imaginary friend", but in reality he is a spirit whose figure is a blond boy with light eyes, very handsome. Adventurous in behavior, always willing to collaborate unconditionally with those he appreciates.
Fenris and Maritta
Fenris a rather handsome 200-year-old elf (a youngster for the chronology of his species). Its greatest particularity is the transformation into a wolf during moonlit nights. On the other hand, Maritta is the tower's dwarf cook, grumpy and suspicious of magic. While it helps Dana when she needs it.
El Maestro
He is the tall dark man; the tower master, a very tall building full of uninhabited rooms and a huge library. Also, the teacher is a very powerful, selfish and opportunistic character. In fact, one of the key aspects of the story is that the Master murdered his own governess, Aonia (the former ruler of the tower).
Synopsis
The imaginary friend
The midwife noticed something strange about Dana as soon as she was born, but she didn't tell anyone. Her parents and siblings treated her in a normal way, but they all noticed that she was different, very quiet and cautious. When she was six years old, she met Kai, who started helping her with her daily chores. on the farm for more playtime.
Phrase by Laura Gallego.
After two years of the same "routine", one day she missed dinner time, therefore, she was strongly repressed by her parents. She argued that she was playing with Kai, but her brothers told her that Kai does not exist. A few days later, other children in the village invited her to play just to humiliate her because she spoke to herself and call her "witch."
Tower
Kai felt very anguished because he felt the cause of the situations suffered by Dana. Therefore, he hesitated to stay with his friend, but she asked him to stay forever. However, there was a gray robed man who could see Kai, this character - the Master - asked Dana's family for permission to take her to another place (the tower). To Dana's surprise, the request was accepted.
The tower is actually a school of magic located in the valley of the wolves, (so named because of the immortal beasts that roam it at night). In the tower, Dana meets Fenris, the elf, and Maritta, the dwarf cook. Later, Dana understands that she is a "Kin-shannay", a type of person capable of communicating with the dead.
The Unicorn
Dana begins to learn about magic. At that time, a mysterious golden-robed woman named Aonia (the former mistress of the tower) begins to appear to him frequently. The enigmatic presence tells him the legend of a unicorn (visible only during full moon nights) and asks him to meet him in the valley of the wolves.
Then, on a full moon night Dana and Kai manage to see the unicorn, but the wolves of the valley (immune to any spell) prevent them from following him. What's more, the dogs nearly killed Dana, saved in extremis by Fenris. After a year, Dana remembers Fenris's transformation into a wolf, thanks to which she was able to control beasts.
The Master's intentions
In a second attempt, accompanied by Fenris, Dana manages to follow the unicorn to a room where there is a well with a treasure. Which, doubles the magical power of whoever possesses it. Suddenly, The Master (who was following them) appears and throws Dana, Fenris, Maritta and Kai into a black hole perpetual, as he casts a spell to seize the unicorn's magic.
From inside the infinite hole Dana sends Aonia back to the underworld (using Maritta's body). The sorceress tries in vain to capture the Master, but he kidnaps Fenris and sneaks up to the tower. Next, when Dana, Kai, and Aonia try to follow the Master, the master casts a spell that traps Kai inside a bottle.
El trato
The Master offers to free Kai in exchange for Dana's faithfulness and eternal servitude. The girl accepts and passes the acid test (now she is a magician, she is no longer an apprentice). Just before sealing the deal with the Master, Dana is killed by Aonia.
The final showdown
Dana manages to return to the world of the living as a Kin-shannay. Once back at the Tower, he reunites with Fenris to face the Master again. In the end, the one who manages to finish off the master of the tower is Maritta, who stabs him in the back. From that day on, Dana becomes the new ruler of the tower.
Although not everything is rosy for Dana, as she must separate from Kai (who must return to the world of the dead permanently). In the epilogue, the ruler of the tower travels with Fenris to her family's farm to search for the bones of a blue dragon. Sure enough, the bone pieces are from the same beast that killed Kai five hundred years ago.