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saurahsaurus'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Murder, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Gore, and Violence
sirkeili's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Wow, this book really just drew me in and didn't let me go until I finally finished it. How do I even begin to describe this book?
I love how this tale is Little Red Riding Hood meets Beauty and the Beast, and yet it holds its own in both regards. Red's character feels both remarkably insular to the fairy tale heroine, and yet she also is so much more.
However, this story is also about love, and how far one will go for it. Red for Eammon - and him for her - as well as how far Red and Neve will go for one another. Making deals with gods and ancient beings alike, just to ensure the other is safe, whatever the price may be.
I love how this tale is Little Red Riding Hood meets Beauty and the Beast, and yet it holds its own in both regards. Red's character feels both remarkably insular to the fairy tale heroine, and yet she also is so much more.
However, this story is also about love, and how far one will go for it. Red for Eammon - and him for her - as well as how far Red and Neve will go for one another. Making deals with gods and ancient beings alike, just to ensure the other is safe, whatever the price may be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Blood, Violence, War, Confinement, Death, Self harm, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt and Classism
thehushedearth's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.5
This story is insanely unique and inventive in a sea of fairy tale retellings. It somehow seamlessly blends a Little Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast retelling into one.
The world: I found that the writing in this book was beautiful and lyrical. The prose reminded me of many of the dark fairy tales that I have read without being overtly dark to accomplish this feat. Whitten brings her world, setting, and characters to life in startling and fresh detail. I found that the dichotomy of beauty and darkness, light and shadow, in this novel were as fascinating as they were lovely.
The characters: All of Whitten's characters have a fierceness about them in one way or another that I loved. The cast of characters in this book are diverse and full of strong voices. Each of the cast of side characters had an interesting story and were unique to themselves. I would have liked to see a little more development or involvement of some of the side characters.
Red (Redarys) was born a second daughter and was therefore destined for the Wolf. While at first, I was a little put off by Red's attitude, her tenacity and strength won me over in the end. She can be a little crass, stubborn, and selfish at times, but overall I feel like this lends to her being human and flawed which makes her more relatable.
Neve (Neverah) is the first daughter and therefore, for the throne. She comes off as kind and cares for her sister in such a fierce way. Over the course of the book, we watch her character make an arc from a more meek and gentle girl to a powerful and determined woman.
I enjoyed the bond between Red and Neve, the fierce loyalty and protectiveness that the sisters share. It did lead to some less than smart decisions on both of their parts admittedly. But overall, I feel like the bond that they had was formidable and added much needed tension throughout the story as they were being pulled back together by the love that they shared.
The Wolf I think was my favorite character. He was the perfect mixture of brooding, mysterious, protective, and kind. He is the character type that I am the most in love with: the dark, intimidating, mysterious one that is secretly the sweetest, kindest person who only wants to take care of those that he loves. He is made flawed and more relatable in his awkwardness and his almost fundamental need to protect those that he cares for by himself.
Overall, I loved the story and cannot wait to see how it unfolds further in the second book.
The world: I found that the writing in this book was beautiful and lyrical. The prose reminded me of many of the dark fairy tales that I have read without being overtly dark to accomplish this feat. Whitten brings her world, setting, and characters to life in startling and fresh detail. I found that the dichotomy of beauty and darkness, light and shadow, in this novel were as fascinating as they were lovely.
The characters: All of Whitten's characters have a fierceness about them in one way or another that I loved. The cast of characters in this book are diverse and full of strong voices. Each of the cast of side characters had an interesting story and were unique to themselves. I would have liked to see a little more development or involvement of some of the side characters.
Red (Redarys) was born a second daughter and was therefore destined for the Wolf. While at first, I was a little put off by Red's attitude, her tenacity and strength won me over in the end. She can be a little crass, stubborn, and selfish at times, but overall I feel like this lends to her being human and flawed which makes her more relatable.
Neve (Neverah) is the first daughter and therefore, for the throne. She comes off as kind and cares for her sister in such a fierce way. Over the course of the book, we watch her character make an arc from a more meek and gentle girl to a powerful and determined woman.
I enjoyed the bond between Red and Neve, the fierce loyalty and protectiveness that the sisters share. It did lead to some less than smart decisions on both of their parts admittedly. But overall, I feel like the bond that they had was formidable and added much needed tension throughout the story as they were being pulled back together by the love that they shared.
The Wolf I think was my favorite character. He was the perfect mixture of brooding, mysterious, protective, and kind. He is the character type that I am the most in love with: the dark, intimidating, mysterious one that is secretly the sweetest, kindest person who only wants to take care of those that he loves. He is made flawed and more relatable in his awkwardness and his almost fundamental need to protect those that he cares for by himself.
Overall, I loved the story and cannot wait to see how it unfolds further in the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Confinement
Blood and self-harm used for magic purposes, not due to mental health issues.bookwormamy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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: Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Murder, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Kidnapping, Confinement, and Sexual content
oceanw1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement and Sexual content
booksthatburn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
FOR THE WOLF is a slow burn fantasy story full of magic and longing, built on wound care and vibing. Probably not a retelling in traditional sense, it has the bones of Beauty and the Beast, the flesh and sinew of something all its own, twisted and bloody but still whole.
The plot is there, technically, but most of the action is them running around bleeding or not bleeding or asking the other one to bleed or not bleed on something so it can do or not do a magic thing. Also there's only one bed, and some gestures at a love triangle that resolves itself with very little fanfare. If you don't like wound care and longing then read something else, as that's (gloriously, intimately) the bulk of the text. There's a larger arc involving Red's twin sister which is set to continue in the next book, and it has a lot of promise. I like this one, it hits a niche I didn't realize I was missing.
The plot is there, technically, but most of the action is them running around bleeding or not bleeding or asking the other one to bleed or not bleed on something so it can do or not do a magic thing. Also there's only one bed, and some gestures at a love triangle that resolves itself with very little fanfare. If you don't like wound care and longing then read something else, as that's (gloriously, intimately) the bulk of the text. There's a larger arc involving Red's twin sister which is set to continue in the next book, and it has a lot of promise. I like this one, it hits a niche I didn't realize I was missing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Body horror, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Sexual content, Confinement, Gore, Murder, and Death of parent
readwithde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.25
My opinion on this book changed frequently, but I think, in the end, that's what partly made it excellent and definitely memorable.
I appreciated how the early sections of lore and worldbuilding were handling all *in media res* as Red prepared to leave for the Wilderwood. For the first 100-ish pages, though, most of Red's story is lore and worldbuilding with little character development or character building. Her sister Neve, friend Raffe, and beau Arick all enjoy time apart from this influx of lore, and therfore are much more interesting towards the start of the story.
As Red learns to live with the Wolf and the others bound, Fife and Lysa, she grows in both knowledge and power, as well as developing a strong bond with Eammon, the Wolf. The middle of the book shines with their budding partnership and slow-burn romance, effectively pushing Neve's narrative to the side.
The conclusion was a bit jarring for me.The deck was stacked for a courtly intrigue/persuasive fight between the sisters, but quickly veered off course to what seemed like a climatic end. As things started towards a denouement, the action picks back up, the descriptions moving so quickly I had trouble understanding what was actually happening. It did slow back down, giving the characters a proper battle and more complete ending, but it still felt a bit vague and hollow to me.
Some of the most interesting worldbuilding I've read in a long time, and very descriptive magic; captivating.
I appreciated how the early sections of lore and worldbuilding were handling all *in media res* as Red prepared to leave for the Wilderwood. For the first 100-ish pages, though, most of Red's story is lore and worldbuilding with little character development or character building. Her sister Neve, friend Raffe, and beau Arick all enjoy time apart from this influx of lore, and therfore are much more interesting towards the start of the story.
As Red learns to live with the Wolf
The conclusion was a bit jarring for me.
Some of the most interesting worldbuilding I've read in a long time, and very descriptive magic; captivating.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Minor: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, and Sexual content
dernhelms_bag's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
forthesanityof1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
The only thing I kept thinking about while reading this was how much I could see it made into a movie by Studio Ghibli. The author knows how to take her time in all the right places and draw out the pocket of the story in a way that felt effortless, hence the Ghibli vibes. This book is a beautiful, wonderful mix of dark fantasy, fairy tales, and political intrigue. I want to gush about so many things I loved about it. The world building is fantastic, I loved the whole idea of the Wilderwood and the Wolf. The Wolf himself was so different than what I was expecting that I adored him from the get go for the subversion. The narrator, Red, feels like a breath of fresh air. I loved her attitude towards everything, her fear and her contempt and her curiosity. Her reflective nature helped make this story what it is. I think my favorite thing about this book, though, was the writing style; it's utterly captivating to me, cutting in just the right way to make the reader feel the impact of certain lines and really experience the storytelling and the uniquely terrifying setting of the Wilderwood. Holy crap, do I recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Grief, and Self harm
Minor: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Murder, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Violence
The self-harm trigger is in reference to characters
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