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unquietlibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.5
“So where are you going, then?” “To do Wolf-things.”
For the Wolf is a dark, romantic, and sometimes funny fairytale retelling that came out in 2021. With elements of Red Riding Hood, and also Beauty and the Beast, For the Wolf still gives us an original and engaging story with strongly developed characters. The world Hannah Whitten created is rich and full of mystery. It has some very interesting elements to it and is complicated without being confusing or overwhelming. I enjoyed the details the author put into the backstory, and appreciated that it was laid out in a way so as not to take away from the main story, but instead added to its development.
The two sisters, Red and Neve, are complex and engaging in their own ways. But the story isn’t limited to just them, there is a fascinating collection of characters in the Wilderwood and surrounding area that all deserve their own story. The plot itself has enough twists and turns to keep things interesting, and I couldn’t predict how the book would end. I did know that the story wasn’t exactly over, because For the Throne (the sequel) had already been announced when I started reading it. I loved the way Hannah Whitten wove fairytales into her book but didn’t rely too heavily on them to carry the plot.
I’m very excited for the sequel, and I’m glad I don’t have to wait for ages for it to come out! For the Wolf focused on Red, and it looks like For the Throne will give Neve the limelight. I’m looking forward to seeing how Neve’s story plays out! I would recommend For the Wolf to anyone who enjoys Young Adult fantasy, especially fairytale retellings.
The two sisters, Red and Neve, are complex and engaging in their own ways. But the story isn’t limited to just them, there is a fascinating collection of characters in the Wilderwood and surrounding area that all deserve their own story. The plot itself has enough twists and turns to keep things interesting, and I couldn’t predict how the book would end. I did know that the story wasn’t exactly over, because For the Throne (the sequel) had already been announced when I started reading it. I loved the way Hannah Whitten wove fairytales into her book but didn’t rely too heavily on them to carry the plot.
I’m very excited for the sequel, and I’m glad I don’t have to wait for ages for it to come out! For the Wolf focused on Red, and it looks like For the Throne will give Neve the limelight. I’m looking forward to seeing how Neve’s story plays out! I would recommend For the Wolf to anyone who enjoys Young Adult fantasy, especially fairytale retellings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
felicia_enesten's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
looseleafellie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
For the Wolf follows Red, a princess who is destined to go into the Wilderwood to be claimed by the Wolf in order to save her kingdom’s captured gods. But upon arriving, she realizes that a lot of what she’s been told is a lie, and now she must use her dangerous magic to help save the Wilderwood and her loved ones …
This book starts off slow, but it builds up into a fantastically atmospheric and gripping read! I’m OBSESSED with Red and Eammon’s relationship, and Red’s sister Neve really grew on me despite all her gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing 😄 I also loved Fife and my aroace queen Lyra!
You’d have thought this was a Little Red Riding Hood retelling from the, uh, everything about it, but actually it’s much more like Beauty and the Beast, complete with a library! BatB retellings can sometimes verge into questionable territory with the captivity aspect, but I actually loved the way For the Wolf handles consent and makes it clear that Red is staying in the Wilderwood because she wants to (hilariously, the titular Wolf keeps trying to send her back home and she’s having none of it 😂).
If you’re looking for an atmospheric read with a slow build, romance, and magic, this one’s for you!
This book starts off slow, but it builds up into a fantastically atmospheric and gripping read! I’m OBSESSED with Red and Eammon’s relationship, and Red’s sister Neve really grew on me despite all her gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing 😄 I also loved Fife and my aroace queen Lyra!
You’d have thought this was a Little Red Riding Hood retelling from the, uh, everything about it, but actually it’s much more like Beauty and the Beast, complete with a library! BatB retellings can sometimes verge into questionable territory with the captivity aspect, but I actually loved the way For the Wolf handles consent and makes it clear that Red is staying in the Wilderwood because she wants to (hilariously, the titular Wolf keeps trying to send her back home and she’s having none of it 😂).
If you’re looking for an atmospheric read with a slow build, romance, and magic, this one’s for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
The self-harm component is for the purposes of magic use.autumnalis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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: Self harm and Blood
dannythestreet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Stalking, and Alcohol
lhisalisa21's review against another edition
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Self harm
lolaslalaland's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Second Daughter will be sent to the Wolf in the Wilderwood in the hopes of appeasing him and granting the Kings their freedom so they may return and be the gods of the people once more.
Redarys unfortunately was born second after her twin, Neverah. But when Red goes to the Wilderwood and meets the Wolf, things are not as she thought they would be.
I was very excited to read this one, but found myself a little bit disappointed which is why I couldn't give it a full 4 stars.
First off, this book was super atmospheric! I felt like I was there in the woods, in the cold, surrounded by magic. I genuinely loved how the setting and the magic were tied together and it just made it that much more enthralling. I had zero qualms with the writing or the setting or the eldritch magic. It was awesome!
But I did have some issues with the pacing which ended up lessening my enjoyment of other things such as plot and characters.
So, if you've heard about this book at all, you know it is spoken of as being a fantasy romance but also with political intrigue. And it is, but I felt like it wasn't very well balanced. As I said before, I loved the fantasy aspect. The romance was probably my least enjoyed part mainly due to the age gap, but also because it felt a lot more YA than adult. Finally, the political/historical side felt very underdeveloped and rushed.
Basically, I really enjoyed this book, I liked reading it, but it felt weak in multiple areas. I am still excited to read the sequel, I actually feel like it might end up pleasing me more.
Recommend for: mild romance, mild political intrigue, eldritch magic, haunted forest, shadow creatures, sister bond, atmospheric (winter/fall), manipulation.
TW: self-harm, large age gap relationship.
Redarys unfortunately was born second after her twin, Neverah. But when Red goes to the Wilderwood and meets the Wolf, things are not as she thought they would be.
I was very excited to read this one, but found myself a little bit disappointed which is why I couldn't give it a full 4 stars.
First off, this book was super atmospheric! I felt like I was there in the woods, in the cold, surrounded by magic. I genuinely loved how the setting and the magic were tied together and it just made it that much more enthralling. I had zero qualms with the writing or the setting or the eldritch magic. It was awesome!
But I did have some issues with the pacing which ended up lessening my enjoyment of other things such as plot and characters.
So, if you've heard about this book at all, you know it is spoken of as being a fantasy romance but also with political intrigue. And it is, but I felt like it wasn't very well balanced. As I said before, I loved the fantasy aspect. The romance was probably my least enjoyed part mainly due to the age gap, but also because it felt a lot more YA than adult. Finally, the political/historical side felt very underdeveloped and rushed.
Basically, I really enjoyed this book, I liked reading it, but it felt weak in multiple areas. I am still excited to read the sequel, I actually feel like it might end up pleasing me more.
Recommend for: mild romance, mild political intrigue, eldritch magic, haunted forest, shadow creatures, sister bond, atmospheric (winter/fall), manipulation.
TW: self-harm, large age gap relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
historic_wince's review against another edition
2.0
This book wasn't for me. I found the story really difficult to get into, even when there were elements I really liked and found interesting. In particular, I did not care for the writing style, especially the repetition. I felt the author told me a lot of things, rather than showing them. And sometimes this was so excessive, I felt a bit insulted as the reader. While I didn't find fault with the events that happened, most of the events of the main plot seemed to take place in a timescale that I was not convinced by.
Nearly DNFed, only finished because I had a long car ride and it filled the time nicely.
Nearly DNFed, only finished because I had a long car ride and it filled the time nicely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Self harm, and Blood
tiitu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content