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There is some humour in the story, particularly in the character of the cowardly and well-named Skyver, but the author does not shy away from sadness or loss, and Furgal has much to endure in the course of his adventures. What is more, the reader is frequently reminded that the hero and his companions are canines, and that their notion of justice is very different from the human one. Although it is not their fault, dogs who are ill-treated can easily become vicious killers in their turn, and indeed, several of the humans who abuse dogs come to graphically described and gory ends. It is true that a good few of the humans Furgal encounters are either ignorant or cruel, but there is balance in the portrayals, and some are kind, or at the very least well-meaning. Things get a lot better for him when Furgal meets a human who can speak 'dog', but the message of the book is uncompromising: dogs and humans simply do not share the same ideas about happiness or freedom. This is a thrilling story, full of heart-in-the-mouth moments and derring-do, but it also has a more thoughtful side as Furgal learns the lore of the winds and the Doglands, and it will provide readers, especially animal-lovers, with a lot of pleasure.

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