Contents
Duty calls her to kill. Freedom begs her to refuse. On the ancient steppe, Anaiti must choose which part of herself to betray.
Anaiti is a hamazan, a warrior woman trained in riding and archery yet untested in war. When her father seeks alliance with the Scythian king, she consents to an arranged marriage—but no hamazan may wed without first taking an enemy’s scalp. Riding with the warband offers her both promise and peril. Fiercely protective of her freedom yet desperate to prove her worth, refusing to kill could win her liberty . . . or lose her all she loves.
Set on the windswept steppes of the fifth century BCE, Of Wind and Wolves is a stark, poetic novel of survival and sacrifice, where violence and longing exist side by side in a world shaped by honor, freedom, and fate.
With starred and recommended reviews, it has been praised as “a deft, hypnotic tale that fuses poetry, mythology and the hard realities of life on the ancient steppe,” “a magisterial evocation of life on the steppe . . . crackles with tension,” and “brutal, poetic, and unforgettable.”
Available at these fine bookstores:
Ancient Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Cultural Heritage Fiction | Mythology & Folklore
A historical novel of extraordinary complexity set against a harsh background of tribal warfare, love, and survival. —Foreword Clarion Reviews (Five Stars)
A deft, hypnotic tale that fuses poetry, mythology, and the hard realities of life on the ancient steppe. Elliott’s powerful characters shine brightly in the well-drawn, well-researched historical context. —BlueInk Review (Starred Review)
A remarkable first book . . . full of memorable sentences and reflection on the human condition. . . an excellent work of historical fiction. —US Review of Books (Recommended Review)
A magisterial evocation of life on the steppe, J.M. Elliott’s OF WIND AND WOLVES crackles with tension. —IndieReader (IR Approved, 4.9/5 rating)
Gritty, entertaining, and intriguing. . . . Our Verdict: GET IT. —Kirkus Review (Recommended Review)
The prose is often lyrical, and the pace is as relentless as a horse’s gallop across the fierce steppes. . . . Highly recommended. —Historical Novel Review
A story of truly epic proportions, spanning vast distances both geographically and metaphorically. —Independent Book Review
Brutal, poetic, and unforgettable. . . . A haunting, vivid read that lingers long after the final page. —The Prairies Book Review
The following chapters are no longer available for preview.
Of Wind and Wolves was published in print and eBook formats in September of 2025 and is currently available for purchase through most major booksellers and several independent shops. You can find editorial reviews on my website, and additional reader reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and NetGalley.
Thank you for your interest!
Chapter Four: Feast
Chapter Five: Bonfire
Chapter Six: Marches
Chapter Seven: Girl
Chapter Eight: Lessons
Chapter Nine: Horse
Chapter Ten: Swords
Chapter Eleven: Maneaters
Chapter Twelve: Wilds
Chapter Thirteen : Trial
Chapter Fourteen: Traps
Chapter Fifteen: Vision
Chapter Sixteen: Vigil
Chapter Seventeen: Hamazon
Chapter Eighteen: Midsummer
Chapter Nineteen: Court
Chapter Twenty: Eye
Chapter Twenty-One: Karevan
Chapter Twenty-Two: Ticks
Chapter Twenty-Three: Battle
Chapter Twenty-Four: Scalp
Chapter Twenty-Five: Arrow
Chapter Twenty-Six: Priestess
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Flesh
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Blood
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Sacrilege
Chapter Thirty: Gutless
Chapter Thirty-One: Vazarka
Chapter Thirty-Two: Rathagos
Chapter Thirty-Three: Reavers
Chapter Thirty-Four: Ruthless
Chapter Thirty-Five: Storm
Chapter Thirty-Six: Warm
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Wish
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Wheel
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Bride
Chapter Forty: Hunt
Chapter Forty-One: Marsh
Chapter Forty-Two: Fate
Chapter Forty-Three: Shepherds
Chapter Forty-Four: Plot
Chapter Forty-Five: Foes
Chapter Forty-Six: Fallen
Chapter Forty-Seven: Invalid
Chapter Forty-Eight: Sacrifice
Chapter Forty-Nine: Apprentice
Chapter Fifty: Warrior
To all who read it here first, you have my gratitude!