The Sight is a young adult fantasy novel written by British author David Clement-Davies. It is the first novel in The Sight series, with its sequel Fell taking place after. It follows a pack of wolves cursed by a lone wolf, Morgra, whose powers foretell the destiny of one of the mother wolf's pups: Larka, a white wolf gifted with a mysterious power known as The Sight. The story follows Larka's life as she is burdened with pain and terror that comes with the prophecy, as well as seeing the viewpoints of Larka's parents, Huttser and Palla, and her adoptive brother Kar.
Written in 2002, Clement-Davies's was inspired to write The Sight after experiencing Romania in winter of 1990, and was inspired by superstition and folklore, such as Dracula.
The Sight is the first within its own series that follows the wolf pack, but is also implied to be set in the same setting as Fire Bringer, Clement-Davies' debut novel.
Contents
Plot Introduction
A wolf pack seeks shelter beneath the shadow of an abandoned castle. The she-wolf, Palla, is ready to give birth but fears for their survival against the harsh winter of 15th century Transylvania. However, a more dangerous threat comes from a lone wolf named Morgra, who possesses a mysterious and terrifying power known as the Sight. Accompanying her is a raven named Kraar, who feeds on the dead. Morgra's powers foretells the destiny of one of Palla's pups; to possess a power greater than Morgras and potentially have the ability to control the world and those to come. Despite Morgra's eerie prophecy, the pack remains undaunted and are willing to do whatever it takes to protect each other. Even if it means battling against all of nature, the dead and the one creature wolves fear the most — Man.
Characters
Larka is the main character and, like Morgra, has the Sight. At first she is terrified, but as the story progresses she learns to control her power. Because of Morgra's "curse" all her packmates dies except her mother, father, her brother (who in the middle of the book fell through the ice on a river and then lost his memory), and her best friend Kar. She has a pure white pelt and gold eyes. Larka dies alongside Morgra after plummeting from a height and into rocks below, a death of which she foresaw, which greatly distresses her family - especially Fell and Kar. Larka and Kar realised they were in love later in the book when Kar brought Larka back from The Searchers. Without Kar, Larka would've died without completing her mission. She longed to have Cubs with him and start a pack of their own, but died before this could happen and appeared in Kar's dream. Her parents, Huttser and Palla, name grey cub from their next litter after Larka.
Fell is Larka's brother. He has a pure black pelt with yellow eyes with a sliver of green in the right eye. As a pup he pretended he was scared of nothing as a show of courage; he also proved to be a troublemaker and would often tease Kar. He was also jealous of the attention Larka have Kar. After Fell fell through the ice, he was found by Morgra and brainwashed to make him believe he was Wolfbane. Larka brought him back to believe in who he really was and help bring about the Vision. Fell also has the Sight, although this is not clearly stated until Larka confronts him in Harja. After the events of the story, Fell leaves the pack and makes his own journey alone to find his sense of self. His journey is continued in the book Fell.
Morgra is the main antagonist. She possesses the Sight, and is Palla's half sister. She was believed to be a pup killer, which was an accusation brought about by a tragic misunderstanding revealed to the pack by Brassa. Her Helper, a bird companion that helps any wolf with the Sight learn to see through the eyes of birds, is a raven named Kraar. Morgra desired to fulfill the prophecy and bring about the Vision herself to become the Man-Varg. She died by falling off a cliff with Larka, failing to complete her mission.
Huttser is Larka and Fell's father and Dragga of the pack. He is described as a large silver wolf with reddish flecks in his tail. His sister is Kipcha. Huttser is a proud and strong wolf who proves to be a capable leader and fighter. He maintains a shaky relationship with Kar, who he adamantly rejects for being weak and not one of his own, but the two eventually are able to make up and recognise each other as father and son. Palla is his mate whom he loves. He often thanked the wolf gods, Tor and Fenris, for the fact Palla chose him to be her mate and said she was the most brave and beautiful she wolf he ever saw.
Morgra and the Pup
A vixen was rooting around the den one day. Morgra was the only one who saw it, and so grabbed a pup to save it from the vixen. However, in her panic, she bit down too hard and snapped its neck. When Morgra went to bury it, the pack found her and accused her of stealing and killing it. She was exiled from the pack. Later, it was revealed that Brassa was the only one in the pack who witnessed the event but did not stand up for her as she believed Morgra could still pose a risk. Rumour was that Morgra felt bitter that she couldn't have pups of her own, so she stole a pup from her own pack. After tasting a fellow wolf's blood, it was said that a wolf couldn't get enough and so kept killing its own.
The Searchers
The Searchers are the ghosts of wolves that have died. They can be summoned by the Summoning Howl, which can only be used by one with the power of the Sight. If the Searchers touch a living wolf, then that wolf can have its mind read and controlled by the one that used the Summoning Howl. The Searchers are neither good nor evil, but they have to do what the Summoner commands. These wolves are found in the "Red Meadow" which can only be reached when a wolf who possesses the Sight makes a kill, sleeps, and then calls Fenris's name (a Varg god). Once that has been done they can walk the pathways of death, but there is a chance that they might not be able to return.
The Balkar
The Balkar (also called "Night Hunters") are a group of Draggas, or alpha male wolves, who do Morgra's bidding. They are vicious and will do anything their leader asks of them (though not always without some uncertainty about it) even if it will lead them to their own death. Before, they were led by Tratto, a great Dragga who let all wolves live in peace and freedom, who then was murdered by Morgra, who fed him lies in his old age.
Eventually, his blessing, known as Tratto’s Blessing which permitted wolves to enter other wolves' territory, was changed into Larka's Blessing for all she did at Harja.
Sight
The Sight is a power that very few wolves have, and it is difficult to control. It is believed by some that the true power of the Sight is to heal one's mind and body. Only a very small amount is known about the Sight, and most wolves consider it to be a myth. Wolves who have the gift of the Sight have potential to have these powers:
The ability to see through the eyes of Lera (wild animals) and feel their pain when hunting them.
The ability to look into water and see visions of the past, present and future.
The ability to talk to birds and to see through the eyes of a bird. (Goes with the first power)
To bring forth the Vision by looking through the eyes of a human at the citadel of Harja and enslave all the Lera to their will.
To howl to the Searchers/Fenris, and either summon them to do one's bidding, or enter the Red Meadow (or field of the dead) and speak with the dead, summoning them with fresh meat from a recent kill.
The ability to look into the eyes of other Lera and control their will.
A telekinetic power used to throw physical items or creatures, or hold them in place.