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barnesbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I'd heard a lot of talk about this book a while ago, so I thought I'd give it a chance. The first half of it frustrated me because of the lack of information given to Red. It felt like it took a while for things to start happening. The second half of the book kept me enthralled and makes me want to read the next one. I like how the story mixes different fairy tales, like Little Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast, without feeling cliche or like it's trying to include too much of each. The worldbuilding is unique. The narration could get repetitive at times. Overall I enjoyed the story and want to know what happens next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Self harm, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Murder, and Alcohol
yiayiakassi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I think Whitten became enamored of the phrase "branch and bone" and tried to write a whole book around it.
Overall, it was a pretty lukewarm story, and I doubt I'll read the sequel.
Overall, it was a pretty lukewarm story, and I doubt I'll read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
kaylahcc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
Moderate: Gore, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
littlefern's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Main Complaint: Conflicts/ battles resolved too quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
gray_hamilton's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.25
Whitens writing is gorgeous, however was a bit slow for me and I wasn’t particularly captivated by the plot, (just not for me!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
reclusivebookslug's review against another edition
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
3.5
What I liked:
- Provided an overall fun reading experience; helped get me out of a reading slump
- Great set-up, especially with the religion that's built up around the magical elements
- Themes about the power of choice and autonomy
What I didn't like:
- Feels like a book that wants to stand on its own but still ends up requiring reading more of the series to feel complete or meaningful (part assumption, as I haven't read the rest of the series yet)
- Romance felt pretty generic
- World-building became a bit difficult to understand and it's thematic resonance was unclear; overall, didn't quite stick the landing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
robin_leeann's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
readwithria's review against another edition
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, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
bea_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
livrosnstuff'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Self harm