Reviews with content warning for Self harm - The Wolf and the Woodsman

This was ok, interesting enough to finish but I don’t think it will truly be memorable for me. For an adult novel with older characters, the inner monologue and thirsting over the love interest was a bit gratuitous, and quickly went from forced proximity enemies to lovers to “I’d die for you instant love”.

I also was not sure how I should take the low level magic world with real life Jewish and Hungarian historical elements? I don’t know much about either, so it was sometimes confusing to know if a piece of worldbuilding it was something that was historical or made for this book.

I think if you like more historical romance novels, this might be better for you than for me! I was expecting a lot more magic based on the first couple of pages.

Content Warnings

lovefromhannah's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

ava reid is a literary force to be reckoned with.

despite this being her debut, I actually read juniper and thorn prior to this. perhaps this was a mistake on my behalf as I enjoyed that more. whereas this fantasy is more folklore, oral tradition, holly black-esque conventions, juniper and thorn is more adjacent to the horror of girlhood, body autonomy and complex family relationships. on paper, I was destined to like juniper and thorn more - but I still really enjoyed the wolf and the woodsman and being witness to her growth as a writer.

I was originally going to give this 4.5 stars I kid you not: in the epilogue there are a couple of lines that suggest that there is a good chance the main romance don't end up together after the events of the book?!?! like you just said you would make her your wife and now (and I quote):

"One day when I come for our council meetings," I begin carefully, "you will have a new bride. You must."

...

To my suprise, Gaspar only lifts a shoulder. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. If the king has no true-born son, the crown will fall to a brother, a cousin, an uncle. The line of succession is more like a long thread that that spirals across our family tree. I can always name another heir."

It is enough to for me to hold on to, hope as thin as the knife's edge hanging above us. I will grasp it even if it cuts me; I will keep it from falling." (pp. 408-9)

Although, whilst writing quoting I do appreciate the mistletoe imagery. And honestly, the yearning and the tension was so well written that out of spite I might drop my rating to 4 stars.

I will continue to devour ava reid's backlog as I wait (im)patiently for lady macbeth to release.

Content Warnings

brysonsmommie84's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I don’t know that Meh, is truly a review…

Other people are talking about the Hungarian history and Jewish folklore, which I guess was an interesting spin that I didn’t expect going into the story. The characters go over the story of Esther (yes, from the Bible) for a hot minute and Evike (MFC) feels like her father is calling for to be like Esther and use the story to give her insight into how to save an entire kingdom of people. So… I guess it depends on how you feel about Esther’s story. This added copious amounts of gory, self mutilation, and magic.

Content Warnings

miblette's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The pacing was a bit all over the place for me. There were moments I really enjoyed, but a vast majority of the middle of the story dragged on for me.

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