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cwerber's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Violence
smuttymcbookface's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
For the Wolf was an interesting retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, where Red is promised as a sacrifice on her 20th birthday to appease a magical being, the Wolf, so that he continues to protect them from shadow creatures.
I found this plot interesting, and although I can see the similarities to Beauty and the Beast, I do think this is much more Little Red Riding Hood when you take into accountthat he is trying to stop part of himself from devouring her at all times.
I loved the slow-burn romance, and that the Wolf was actually just a big nerdy sweety trapped into his role. Although the lack of communication was a little annoying, I felt it was aptly explained by his desire to protect her.
I found the writing a little clunky at times, too snappy or repetitive in words (benediction, I'm looking at you). But the anticipation and scenery was built so beautifully that I was happy to overlook it.
However, the part that bugged me most about For the Wolf was the ending. Red went from impassioned, but mostly logical, to being too stupid to live. The end fight was just a little bit silly altogether, and although I understand that the premise was to set up for book two, it was done in a way that made me upset I had read all this just for it to be resolved in that way.
Also, theabsorbing of the forest, then giving it back, then absorbing it again was ridiculous. Add on top of that Fife bargaining his life away again when Lyra didn't even seem to be dying? I just couldn't reconcile all of this with the amazing plot I had read up to that point.
I found this plot interesting, and although I can see the similarities to Beauty and the Beast, I do think this is much more Little Red Riding Hood when you take into account
I loved the slow-burn romance, and that the Wolf was actually just a big nerdy sweety trapped into his role. Although the lack of communication was a little annoying, I felt it was aptly explained by his desire to protect her.
I found the writing a little clunky at times, too snappy or repetitive in words (benediction, I'm looking at you). But the anticipation and scenery was built so beautifully that I was happy to overlook it.
However, the part that bugged me most about For the Wolf was the ending. Red went from impassioned, but mostly logical, to being too stupid to live. The end fight was just a little bit silly altogether, and although I understand that the premise was to set up for book two, it was done in a way that made me upset I had read all this just for it to be resolved in that way.
Also, the
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
bookaholic84's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I absolutely devoured this book, it was amazing, I loved the plot and the twist towards the end I didn’t see coming, I’m now patiently awaiting payday so I can buy book 2 to continue.
If you like fantasy, magic and a bit of romance this book is for you.
If you like fantasy, magic and a bit of romance this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Self harm
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, and Murder
readwithria's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
For the Wolf is a fairytale wrapped in a blood promise. A dark, hauntingly beautiful fantasy that is absolutely perfect for spooky season.
I love fairytale retellings, I love folklore, and I love Hannah Whitten’s other book The Foxglove King, so I went into this book wanting to love it with my whole heart. It delivered on so many things! The world was lush and beautiful, the prose was atmospheric, and the characters had such strong bonds with each other. This book took the spooky forest trope and spun it into something new and delicately beautiful.
The one thing that kept this from being a five start book for me was the pacing. It was definitely intentional, and built a lot of necessary tension, but the first half was much slower than I personally prefer. It picked up significantly around the halfway mark, and the last 40-50 pages were an avalanche of action and emotional beats.
I can’t wait to read the sequel! Hannah Whitten is making herself one of my go-to spooky season authors. 4 stars.
I love fairytale retellings, I love folklore, and I love Hannah Whitten’s other book The Foxglove King, so I went into this book wanting to love it with my whole heart. It delivered on so many things! The world was lush and beautiful, the prose was atmospheric, and the characters had such strong bonds with each other. This book took the spooky forest trope and spun it into something new and delicately beautiful.
The one thing that kept this from being a five start book for me was the pacing. It was definitely intentional, and built a lot of necessary tension, but the first half was much slower than I personally prefer. It picked up significantly around the halfway mark, and the last 40-50 pages were an avalanche of action and emotional beats.
I can’t wait to read the sequel! Hannah Whitten is making herself one of my go-to spooky season authors. 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Gore, and Self harm
Moderate: Cursing, Confinement, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
emilylovesgoodbooks's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, and Death
bea_reads_books's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Alcohol, Body horror, Violence, Animal death, Gore, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
tifftastic87's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First off, this book needs content warnings (I know they're below but they need to be here too).
⚠️ Self-harm (cutting)
When presented with her destiny as a human sacrifice, Redarys appears to take it on the chin. Really she's hiding from magic that wants to consume her. Eammon, the Wolf, is Warden of the Wilderwood where Red is destined for. But the Wilderwood is dying and Eammon is determined to save and Red and he is not accepting applications for assistants.
Supposedly, this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I fail to see it. The only similarities is a curse that makes the town think a man is a monster and love breaking that curse. The two main characters are both stubborn martyrs and that is where most of the conflict comes from. If they could be honest and communicate from the beginning things would have been better. But the main story is politics and religion.
The actual plot of the story, which is shadowed a bit by the romance plot, is one of religious fanaticism that is actually really well done. There's a dark versus light magic trope used where the religious use the dark magic and are out for power. The damn athiests only wantinf peace, love, and healthy trees.
That being said, the magic system was a little confusing. Its clear that is blood magic but it reacts different in different settings and different people. It isnt predictable unless it is. I would have liked to have seen this worked out a bit better.
Oh ya and the age gap, centuries to 20 years....
⚠️ Self-harm (cutting)
When presented with her destiny as a human sacrifice, Redarys appears to take it on the chin. Really she's hiding from magic that wants to consume her. Eammon, the Wolf, is Warden of the Wilderwood where Red is destined for. But the Wilderwood is dying and Eammon is determined to save and Red and he is not accepting applications for assistants.
Supposedly, this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I fail to see it. The only similarities is a curse that makes the town think a man is a monster and love breaking that curse. The two main characters are both stubborn martyrs and that is where most of the conflict comes from. If they could be honest and communicate from the beginning things would have been better. But the main story is politics and religion.
The actual plot of the story, which is shadowed a bit by the romance plot, is one of religious fanaticism that is actually really well done. There's a dark versus light magic trope used where the religious use the dark magic and are out for power. The damn athiests only wantinf peace, love, and healthy trees.
That being said, the magic system was a little confusing. Its clear that is blood magic but it reacts different in different settings and different people. It isnt predictable unless it is. I would have liked to have seen this worked out a bit better.
Oh ya and the age gap, centuries to 20 years....
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Eating disorder, and Murder
anniereads221's review
slow-paced
5.0
Eammon and Red own my whole heart, but not only that i love Lyra and Fife as well, Neve and Raffe were also good but these characters i am so excited to see how they will be in For The Throne.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Gore, Murder, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Body horror
chloescozycorner's review
4.5
I feel like some of the world building could have been tightened up a bit. Also there were moments where the confusion I felt was not caused with a reason, but from lack of clarity in the writing. BUT I loved Red and Eammon. I loved the themes of religion and nature. Loved the eerie vibes, and I was sucked in to all of that. If the first aspects mentioned were tightened up this would be 5 stars for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Self harm
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
luckylulureads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Self harm
Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent
Self harm aspects are not for suicidal reasons but for Magic reasons. Still, it can be hard to read, especially as some characters martyr themselves