New Book Alert: Star Wolf: A Space Opera (Songs of Star and Winter Book One) by L.A. Frederick; Brilliant Start to Science Fiction Series Starting Anthromorphic Animals

New Book Alert: Star Wolf: A Space Opera (Songs of Star and Winter Book One) by L.A. Frederick; Brilliant Start To Science Fiction Series Starring Anthromorphic Animals

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews


Spoilers: If the Star Fox video game franchise, Brian Jacques' Redwall series, Game of Thrones, and Star Wars had a group orgy and a baby came from that strange union, L.A. Frederick's Star Wolf would be that baby. It is derivative of other science fiction works especially ones with animals in the lead, but somehow it works and is engaging.


Star Wolf is the son of Sun Wolf, the leader of the wolf planet, Lupus. In this universe, anthromorphic animals live on their own planets and are able to walk, talk, wear clothing, think, and reason. They have been able to do this since the Big Bang. Oh they are aware of Earth, but it is a prison planet where animals are sentenced to have their sentience removed and serve as the animals in which we are familiar.

Rather I should say Earth used to exist. In the first few pages, it is destroyed by a colossal weapon operated by Winter Tiger, head of the Tiger race. The Tigers are at peace with the other Worlds since the Apex Wars between them and the Lions ended. However, what the other animal races don't know is that Winter Tiger and his crew have destroyed five planets. In public, they blame it on the Space Kraken. Star Wolf is suspicious, so he and his crew investigate the possibility that the Tigers are lying. This investigation puts them in direct conflict with the Tigers who now have Star Wolf and his team on their hit list.

The world building is rather clever, especially for people who know a lot about animals. Even though the characters are human-like, they still retain their animal environments. (Gazelles live on a planet filled with grassy plains, Lions live on a planet-wide savanna.) They also have their animal like traits. (The Wolves have great hearing. A Blodhound character's sense of smell is useful.) Frederick no doubt studied the behaviors and environments of animals before writing this work and it shows.

There are some cute references to how animals behave on Earth. The leader of Canis, the dog planet, is revealed to be a Jack Russell Terrier. Star Wolf remembers that when they were sent to Earth, Jack Russells ended up "high on energy but void of brain." (Something tells me that Frederick is well acquainted with the breed).


Star Wolf shows the typical leader-like qualities with a strong youthful impetuosity that puts him at odds with his more conservative traditional father. He is clever enough to recognize that Winter Tiger is lying by observing the behaviors of other animals that are clearly on Winter Tiger's payroll, but reckless enough to denounce him during the Council of Worlds meeting. This outburst causes the Wolves' exile from the Council and them to be temporarily devoid of allies.

The greatest thing that Star Wolf does is create a Band of Breeds, a group of different animals united to fight against the Tigers. Everything from a crotchety old Badger, to a loyal Bloodhound, to a cunning Fox that plays both sides, are on the team. Their great qualities merge as they band together to take down Winter Tiger.


The final chapters reveal a new member to the Band of Breeds and some greater Tiger-caused destruction. This makes the second book possibly a great follow up.