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CHARLES DE LINT and his wife, the artist MaryAnn Harris, live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. His evocative novels, including Moonheart, The Onion Girl, and Widdershins, have earned him a devoted following and critical acclaim as a master of contemporary magical fiction in the manner of storytellers like John Crowley, Jonathan Carroll, Alice Hoffman, Ray Bradbury, and Isabel Allende.

His name when he was human was Kern. Now he is the most feared of beings: a werewolf. When the change first came upon him, his parents drove him away with silver daggers. Later, he sought human companionship, but he could not hide the truth for long. And so he kept running until he ran headlong into the deadliest pursuer of all—a harper bent on stealing his life away. By chance Kern was able to find refuge at the Inn of the Yellow Tinker, and the woman he was destined to love. But can he risk both human and harper vengeance to keep her?

Kathy Egner, Ph.D. - Children's Literature

In this reissue of one of De Lint's early works, the reader is immediately caught up in a fantasy world where people live together with mythical creatures, both good and evil. The protagonist is called Kern when he is in human form. However, he is a "shapechanger" and can change from human to wolf form and back again. What is surprising is that Kern is quite different from the usual werewolf, with all its negative connotations. Kern has only killed in self-defense or in defense of someone who he loves. However, werewolves are feared, and Kern has had to run from one place to another, never daring to be himself. The look of horror on the faces of those he has loved when they find out he is a shapechanger prevents him from getting attached to people. However, when some people who run an inn rescue him, he falls in love with their daughter, Ainsy. An evil magician whose magic is centered in the harp he plays is determined to destroy Kern and makes it seem as though he is a killer. In the drama that unfolds, the battle between good and evil is played out. The book is almost impossible to put down, but the ending, although satisfying, is a bit too simplistic. The book is highly recommended for De Lint fans and for fantasy-lovers in general. 2004 (orig. 1988), Penguin/Firebird, Ages 12 up.