Speculative fiction, definitely. The Wolf That Was shares the love story of "wise woman" Tirian (though she inherits the role while she is still a girl) and cursed explorer, Bran — a man and a wolf sharing space, though only one body is able to be materialized at a time and both minds stay alert. The wolf's shifting is dependent on the phases of the moon.
The setting is "the old country" where magic is alive and well — hence wise women and healers and curses on men. But the world stays roughly the same as we know it — men and women seeking fortune and glory, kid, fortune and glory. And power. Always power.
Michelle did such a great job with her secondary characters of evil that I loved to read the scenes between King Fallon and his queen, Sorcha. Two of a kind, they just couldn't quite grasp what love was all about.
The same couldn't be said for our hero and heroine as they gladly sacrificed, not only for each other, but for the others in their lives whom they loved.
My biggest concern: How do you earn love? By being loving? I'm not convinced of the possibility.
