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olivialandryxo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
5.0
This was already on my TBR, but I moved it much further up after one of my favorite bookish content creators read and loved it. I’m so glad I did, because it’s a hidden gem in the adult fantasy genre.
As soon as I started reading it, I was enthralled. Whitten’s writing is beautiful, the world and lore she created intriguing and easy to become immersed in. Although the slower pace is consistent throughout nearly the entire novel, my interest never wavered because I always wanted to know what happened next.
The best part of the story was undeniably the characters. Red and Eammon are two people both cursed to bear something started by prior generations, and even though her brazenness is quite a contrast to his quieter nature, they shared the same determination to uphold their bargains. From that, a tentative friendship blossomed, and then came a tender, heartwarming slow-burn romance. GOOD GOD I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! ❤️❤️❤️
You know that moment in books when a character addresses the protagonist one way, and then the love interest is like “that’s my spouse”? This book has that and it is so amazing, so satisfying. I didn’t know I needed that specific trope in my life until this moment.
As soon as I started reading it, I was enthralled. Whitten’s writing is beautiful, the world and lore she created intriguing and easy to become immersed in. Although the slower pace is consistent throughout nearly the entire novel, my interest never wavered because I always wanted to know what happened next.
The best part of the story was undeniably the characters. Red and Eammon are two people both cursed to bear something started by prior generations, and even though her brazenness is quite a contrast to his quieter nature, they shared the same determination to uphold their bargains. From that, a tentative friendship blossomed, and then came a tender, heartwarming slow-burn romance. GOOD GOD I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! ❤️❤️❤️
You know that moment in books when a character addresses the protagonist one way, and then the love interest is like “that’s my spouse”? This book has that and it is so amazing, so satisfying. I didn’t know I needed that specific trope in my life until this moment.
‘I love you. I’m for the Wolf.’
‘I’m for you.’
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO JUST DEAL WITH THAT? MY HEART’S GONNA COMBUST. 🥺🥺🥺
The ending went in a couple of different unexpected directions, and the pace definitely picked up in those final chapters. I can’t say much without spoiling, but it was a mix of entertaining and nerve-wracking, and I would just like to thank Hannah Whitten for not breaking me with the cliffhanger I fully expected we’d get. So thank you, Ms. Whitten. You’ll never see this, but thank you nonetheless. :)
I knew something was up with Kiri almost instantly. I had a feeling she poisoned the queen, and it didn’t surprise me to find out she’d also poisoned the High Priestess. She’s messed up, in more ways than one, and I have a bad feeling about her. The fact that she’s not dead…. she won’t accept defeat that easily. I have a feeling she’ll be back.
And also, maybe this is bad of me, but I don’t really care that Neve is trapped in the Shadowlands. I lost interest in her chapters after a couple of them, as they took me away from Red and Eammon and that was the story I wanted to read. Like, I’m glad she’s not dead, she doesn’t deserve that, but god, she was manipulated so easily. And it’s honestly her own fault that she’s in the situation she’s in. So. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So yeah, Red and Eammon and Lyra and Fife have stolen my heart—although it was mostly the first two—and this is now one of my favorite adult fantasies. I want my own copy, and I want everyone to read this. Also, the sequel comes out two days after my birthday, so that’ll be a brilliant present to myself. Love that for me!!
Representation
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO JUST DEAL WITH THAT? MY HEART’S GONNA COMBUST. 🥺🥺🥺
The ending went in a couple of different unexpected directions, and the pace definitely picked up in those final chapters. I can’t say much without spoiling, but it was a mix of entertaining and nerve-wracking, and I would just like to thank Hannah Whitten for not breaking me with the cliffhanger I fully expected we’d get. So thank you, Ms. Whitten. You’ll never see this, but thank you nonetheless. :)
And also, maybe this is bad of me, but I don’t really care that Neve is trapped in the Shadowlands. I lost interest in her chapters after a couple of them, as they took me away from Red and Eammon and that was the story I wanted to read. Like, I’m glad she’s not dead, she doesn’t deserve that, but god, she was manipulated so easily. And it’s honestly her own fault that she’s in the situation she’s in. So. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So yeah, Red and Eammon and Lyra and Fife have stolen my heart—although it was mostly the first two—and this is now one of my favorite adult fantasies. I want my own copy, and I want everyone to read this. Also, the sequel comes out two days after my birthday, so that’ll be a brilliant present to myself. Love that for me!!
Representation
- side characters of color
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
thebookishworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I had high hopes for this book, and I wanted to like this book more than I did, which is why the reality of this book is so disappointing.
I think the two major things working against this book were the world-building and the pacing. I would have appreciated more information on how the magic worked, why they even want the Kings to return, how the monsters got there, etc. Literally the only thing that was thoroughly explained was that the trees need blood to stay strong and will do anything to have it.
l think the thing that worked against this book was the pacing. Over halfway through the book, I was still confused about what was happening, and why I should care. It felt like until almost the 70% mark the entire book was just Eammon being like "sorry, I have to bleed all over these trees," and Red being like "I have this freaky power and I miss my sister." And then, in the final 30%, all of the pieces slot together and is sorta-kinda-not-at-all resolved. There needed to be more action and plot beyond just bleeding over different trees for 280 pages of the story. I think the interludes with Neve and what was happening back in Valleyda was what kept the plot moving along, and because of that, I think this book would have benefitted from being told from primarily from Neve's perspective, with the interludes coming from Red. I get why the author chose to tell this first story from Red's perspective, in order to set up the world and show how the myths were wrong and warped, but, if that was the case, there should have been more going on during Red's chapters.
I think the two major things working against this book were the world-building and the pacing. I would have appreciated more information on how the magic worked, why they even want the Kings to return, how the monsters got there, etc. Literally the only thing that was thoroughly explained was that the trees need blood to stay strong and will do anything to have it.
l think the thing that worked against this book was the pacing. Over halfway through the book, I was still confused about what was happening, and why I should care. It felt like until almost the 70% mark the entire book was just Eammon being like "sorry, I have to bleed all over these trees," and Red being like "I have this freaky power and I miss my sister." And then, in the final 30%, all of the pieces slot together and is sorta-kinda-not-at-all resolved. There needed to be more action and plot beyond just bleeding over different trees for 280 pages of the story. I think the interludes with Neve and what was happening back in Valleyda was what kept the plot moving along, and because of that, I think this book would have benefitted from being told from primarily from Neve's perspective, with the interludes coming from Red. I get why the author chose to tell this first story from Red's perspective, in order to set up the world and show how the myths were wrong and warped, but, if that was the case, there should have been more going on during Red's chapters.
Also, every character in this book was so hellbent on either being a martyr or saving somebody who didn't want/need saving, and that got annoying quickly, especially at the end. Eammon and Red's eventual romance and get-together was done way too quickly. We see them reluctantly become friends but no tension is built between them to explain how we got from that to this all-sacrificing love. And (this is a minor, petty gripe) their hookup is way too tame - if you're going to make me sit through hundreds of pages of nothing happening, at least give me more than just a fade-to-black sex scene that leaves it murky on if they even had sex.
It became pretty clear early on that this book was just a setup to a sequel following Neve's story, but I think in order for that method to be successful, you need to make this first book compelling enough to make me want to read the next book in the series, and, for now, I don't think that was accomplished for me. If the purpose of this book was just to set up the series, it could have been a novella and not over 400 pages, of which only the last ~100 really did or revealed anything. If you're committed to plowing through this one to get the backstory built up and then moving on to the sequel once it is published, I think you'll enjoy this book, but otherwise, I would save your time and read/watch a spoiler-y review of this book and then just read the second book when it comes out.
I will say, for all its flaws, the writing in this book is absolutely beautiful. There are some really amazing lines in here and Whitten does a great job building a rich atmosphere.
I will say, for all its flaws, the writing in this book is absolutely beautiful. There are some really amazing lines in here and Whitten does a great job building a rich atmosphere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
risingsunreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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
3.0
For the wolf is a magical fantasy book with a mixture of fairytale retellings. From Little Red Riding Hood to Beauty and the Beast to Sleeping Beauty (which I think is included in the next book in the series).
The book deals around the themes of corrupt religion which plays a big part in the book - how religion altered the views of those in the kingdoms and has a big influence. And the slow corruption of the religion in Valleyda and how it can twist the story of the ‘wilderwood’.
Whilst I was really excited about the book I struggled with the world building of the book, I like the concept of the wolf and the wilderwood but I feel like I didn’t really get told how the magic was created etc. however the book is beautifully written with the descriptions of the characters, buildings and wilderwood. The writing is really great as she describes the corruption subtlety.
I really enjoyed the relationship between red and the wolf how it wasn’t toxic like most fantasy books with a controlling male character. The Wolf is described as a selfless person and is shown through his acts and constantly putting himself on the line for those around him. Red is a strong headed character, trying to protect her sister from the power growing inside her and willingly accepts her ‘fate’ of the wilderwood. I liked the slow burn of red and the wolfs relationship but I feel like they jumped from strangers to lovers quickly and we don’t see the little moments in between. I’d also have liked to seen more of the side characters like Fife and Lyra as I felt their origin story’s could of added to their decisions.
Some parts I struggled to get through as the book has ‘Valleyda interlude’ where you get Neve (red’s sister) view and her descended into madness by the religion around her. I felt these parts were under developed and too much information rather than the story flowing from perspectives. I feel like as nice as the descriptions of the scenery and world was I’d like to have seen more depth to the characters.
The book deals around the themes of corrupt religion which plays a big part in the book - how religion altered the views of those in the kingdoms and has a big influence. And the slow corruption of the religion in Valleyda and how it can twist the story of the ‘wilderwood’.
Whilst I was really excited about the book I struggled with the world building of the book, I like the concept of the wolf and the wilderwood but I feel like I didn’t really get told how the magic was created etc. however the book is beautifully written with the descriptions of the characters, buildings and wilderwood. The writing is really great as she describes the corruption subtlety.
I really enjoyed the relationship between red and the wolf how it wasn’t toxic like most fantasy books with a controlling male character. The Wolf is described as a selfless person and is shown through his acts and constantly putting himself on the line for those around him. Red is a strong headed character, trying to protect her sister from the power growing inside her and willingly accepts her ‘fate’ of the wilderwood. I liked the slow burn of red and the wolfs relationship but I feel like they jumped from strangers to lovers quickly and we don’t see the little moments in between. I’d also have liked to seen more of the side characters like Fife and Lyra as I felt their origin story’s could of added to their decisions.
Some parts I struggled to get through as the book has ‘Valleyda interlude’ where you get Neve (red’s sister) view and her descended into madness by the religion around her. I felt these parts were under developed and too much information rather than the story flowing from perspectives. I feel like as nice as the descriptions of the scenery and world was I’d like to have seen more depth to the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
hypecity's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
bookishshenanigans's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
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: Body horror, Death, Self harm, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
fieldsofcow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Self harm, and Blood
mimi_gee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
meggers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Self harm
aggiesreadingtime's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Firstly, I am so grateful to the Orbit books for gifting me this beautiful book! I absolutely loved it and here's why:
Let's start with the fact that writing style of Hannah Whitten is beautiful and creative, and simply amazing. I enjoyed every paragraph and every line!
The story is mostly told from Red perspective, a second daughter to a queen that is send to the bloodthirsty magical forest For The Wolf. However, we learn that Wolf ain't what we expected at all! Far from it, actually and the forest holds more secrets that were assumed.
I must say, I loved Redarys as character from the very beginning. She is strong minded person and definetly not inicent sacrifice we often see in books. And she grows so much through the story that I admired more and more! Definetly one of my favorite main protagonist there is!
Also, we get few chapters from Neve perspective, the first daughter of the queen that is meant For The Throne. We see how she griefs her sister and does everything in her power to save her, yet... maybe she needs to be saved herself.
It's hard to say much about this book without sharing spoilers. But I can tell this much: this is a slow burn romance book where magic is not spells or charms, but lives deep I people's hearts and veins, also is dangerous and unpredictable. And mostly, it's a story of many secrets and carries lots of pain in it, but also shows the strength of love, how much we are willing to do for it. And sometimes those decisions ain't the best, sometimes we trust wrong people and end up paying harshly for it.
I truly recommend this book to you and any fantasy lover. It's beautiful retteling of Red Riding Hood, a little bit of Beauty and The Beast as well. It have folk vibe to it and is so well written! I absolutely loved it! 🖤
And the ending! Kind of saw it coming. Partly. Yet, was left shocked and craving for more!
However, have I mind that there is big self harm theme in it. And if you are sensitive to the topic - think carefully before picking up this read 😊
Let's start with the fact that writing style of Hannah Whitten is beautiful and creative, and simply amazing. I enjoyed every paragraph and every line!
The story is mostly told from Red perspective, a second daughter to a queen that is send to the bloodthirsty magical forest For The Wolf. However, we learn that Wolf ain't what we expected at all! Far from it, actually and the forest holds more secrets that were assumed.
I must say, I loved Redarys as character from the very beginning. She is strong minded person and definetly not inicent sacrifice we often see in books. And she grows so much through the story that I admired more and more! Definetly one of my favorite main protagonist there is!
Also, we get few chapters from Neve perspective, the first daughter of the queen that is meant For The Throne. We see how she griefs her sister and does everything in her power to save her, yet... maybe she needs to be saved herself.
It's hard to say much about this book without sharing spoilers. But I can tell this much: this is a slow burn romance book where magic is not spells or charms, but lives deep I people's hearts and veins, also is dangerous and unpredictable. And mostly, it's a story of many secrets and carries lots of pain in it, but also shows the strength of love, how much we are willing to do for it. And sometimes those decisions ain't the best, sometimes we trust wrong people and end up paying harshly for it.
I truly recommend this book to you and any fantasy lover. It's beautiful retteling of Red Riding Hood, a little bit of Beauty and The Beast as well. It have folk vibe to it and is so well written! I absolutely loved it! 🖤
And the ending! Kind of saw it coming. Partly. Yet, was left shocked and craving for more!
However, have I mind that there is big self harm theme in it. And if you are sensitive to the topic - think carefully before picking up this read 😊
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm