Scan barcode
erinreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Racism, and Religious bigotry
gurofl's review against another edition
I liked the start of the book well enough, but about halfway through, the book turned into everything I don't like about young adult books (this is marketed as adult fantasy, but seriously. It's young adult): a bit two-dimensional, the main character doing very stupid things to advance the plot, and everything being very dramatic. From the character's feelings (going rapidly back and forth between the ends of the spectrum) and motivations, to the dialogue between the characters.
The main character is 25. She reads as a teenager.
Definitely not for me.
The main character is 25. She reads as a teenager.
Definitely not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Religious bigotry
geilie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Violence, Torture, Vomit, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, War, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Antisemitism, and Racism
kristakp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed this story. The audio book was very digestible and helped me stay focused on the plot. Sometimes it felt like the plot or the style of writing didn't match up with the ages of the characters. I enjoyed most of the choices, but it often didn't feel like I was reading about twenty-somethings on the page. Perhaps the best way I can describe it is that the author's tone felt disjointed from what felt natural for the characters. The necessity of the plot definitely led the characters instead of being informed by them, which is what I prefer.
Overall, the book was entertaining. I wanted to read more of Evike and Gaspar's story together as I wasn't fully satisfied by the end of everything.
Overall, the book was entertaining. I wanted to read more of Evike and Gaspar's story together as I wasn't fully satisfied by the end of everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism and Religious bigotry
bookishfaye's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
I found this book so profoundly moving & I can’t comprehend why it doesn’t have a higher rating on here??? This book consumed me & it’s absolutely going to be in my favourites of 2022. The way that it works epic fantasy, historical fantasy, fantasy romance, political/war fantasy, & mythology effortlessly into one stand alone moment has me so mind blown & Ava Reid is an Insta buy author for sure now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Colonisation, and Racism
kurumipanda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Gore, Self harm, Racism, Religious bigotry, Animal death, and Antisemitism
Minor: Child abuse
baroo92's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This story was a really cool idea, and there's a lot of very excellent pieces included in it! I'm definitely here for diversifying slavic-inspired fantasy, and the depiction of multiple different ethnic sub-groups within the main country's setting was awesome to learn about. I will say though that it is pretty noticeable that this is a debut novel. There are some distinct pacing issues- in several moments, I found myself having to go back and re-read through a previous page to be sure I didn't miss a mention of a particular character moving or doing a particular action in the scene. There were spots where I was deeply invested in an intense scene, and then a character would say a dramatic line, and then BOOM- end of chapter, moving on to the next chapter with a completely unrelated scene and barely any dialogue explaining the aftermath of said dramatic line. I really wanted to be attached to the characters, but with the scenes jumping around so much the characters' motivations also jumped around, which made it hard for me to root for them in their Big Goals. There was just a lot of spots of Big Scary Thing Happens, I'm Ruined Forever and then another side character appears and Nevermind, My Problem Is Fixed With A Wave Of A Hand And We're Moving To The Next Problem Without Blinking Twice About Previous Issue.
I will probably still look out for Ava Reid's future work, because I think she definitely has a lot of potential in storytelling! I just wish she could flesh out her scenes in a little better to keep our eyes on the prize.
I will probably still look out for Ava Reid's future work, because I think she definitely has a lot of potential in storytelling! I just wish she could flesh out her scenes in a little better to keep our eyes on the prize.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, Torture, and Domestic abuse
kassielovestoread's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you are a fan of Katherine Arden's The Winternight Trilogy, then you will also love The Wolf and the Woodsman. If you wanted a more developed relationship between Vasilisa and Morozko with a touch of spice and incredible angst, then you will absolutely devour this book like I have.
Eviké and Gáspár couldn't be more different, they are both steadfast in their convictions. And yet, they can't help but attempt to challenge each other's notions of the norm anyway. The banter was phenomenally written and if I could have underlined every single bit of their quips, I would've! Despite their differences, they are powerless against the growing feelings and attractions between them. And I completely ate it uppppp. If you enjoy the enemies to lovers trope, then look no further, this book does a superb job of surpassing your expectations!
This book is gorgeously written. There's really no words I can think of to properly describe how utterly perfect the writing style is. I can tell so much thought and care went into the prose! Sometimes I forget how enchanting fantasy novels can be, but I'm guaranteed to never forget so long as books like these keep finding their way into my hands. I can't wait to read more of Ava Reid's works in the future!
Eviké and Gáspár couldn't be more different, they are both steadfast in their convictions. And yet, they can't help but attempt to challenge each other's notions of the norm anyway. The banter was phenomenally written and if I could have underlined every single bit of their quips, I would've! Despite their differences, they are powerless against the growing feelings and attractions between them. And I completely ate it uppppp. If you enjoy the enemies to lovers trope, then look no further, this book does a superb job of surpassing your expectations!
This book is gorgeously written. There's really no words I can think of to properly describe how utterly perfect the writing style is. I can tell so much thought and care went into the prose! Sometimes I forget how enchanting fantasy novels can be, but I'm guaranteed to never forget so long as books like these keep finding their way into my hands. I can't wait to read more of Ava Reid's works in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Racism, and Religious bigotry
ridesthesun's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really love the premise of this one! The variety of culture and mythology was really cool, and I loved seeing the Jewish stories woven in so lovingly.
I'm not sure why, perhaps it was just bad timing, but the book overall failed to really grab me. I *wanted* to enjoy it, but I found myself checking "how much longer is this audiobook" too many times. Idk if it was the pacing or what, but it felt a lot like nothing was happening while simultaneously lots of things were happening? Not sure how. Like it felt like it was dragging while simultaneously feeling under-developed.
Anyways, I would say definitely give this one a try; the concept was brilliant, the weaving of mythology was really cool, Evike and Gaspar were lovely. Also recommend the audiobook, getting the pronunciations for everything was a huge bonus.
*does deal a *lot* with anti-Semitism, and is strongly reminiscent of pogroms and pre-WWII eastern europe. The Jewish community is written beautifully and with great care, but if that's a sensitive topic for you I would avoid this one.
I'm not sure why, perhaps it was just bad timing, but the book overall failed to really grab me. I *wanted* to enjoy it, but I found myself checking "how much longer is this audiobook" too many times. Idk if it was the pacing or what, but it felt a lot like nothing was happening while simultaneously lots of things were happening? Not sure how. Like it felt like it was dragging while simultaneously feeling under-developed.
Anyways, I would say definitely give this one a try; the concept was brilliant, the weaving of mythology was really cool, Evike and Gaspar were lovely. Also recommend the audiobook, getting the pronunciations for everything was a huge bonus.
*does deal a *lot* with anti-Semitism, and is strongly reminiscent of pogroms and pre-WWII eastern europe. The Jewish community is written beautifully and with great care, but if that's a sensitive topic for you I would avoid this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Antisemitism, Violence, Torture, Physical abuse, Murder, Gore, Blood, and Bullying
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Genocide, Antisemitism, Blood, Colonisation, Murder, Body horror, Abandonment, Death, and Death of parent
msradiosilence's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Tldr; I was expecting a lot more, and I feel like the story would’ve benefitted from a slower pace and maybe another book for the second half. There was just a lot all the time, and it smothered what was good.
Read my full review here: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/the-wolf-and-the-woodsman.
Read my full review here: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/the-wolf-and-the-woodsman.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, War, Hate crime, Classism, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Violence, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, and Torture