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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
booksandprosecco's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
tiko's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
It took me ages to read this book because the beginning was so slow but I quickly fell in love with the characters and the story got much better later on. The wolf is just ❤️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
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
wandering_not_lost's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This book started off well, with Red being a bit more grown-up about her situation than some other fairy tale heroines would be. It looked promising, but to be honest it divebombed by about the 30% mark, and by 50% I wanted to stop reading. I plowed through but the last half did not get any better.
This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, with heavy genre romance elements. I found it slow and tedious and overlong and predictable. I mean, just from the blurb my thought was,"She needs to let the Wood in and make its power her own." And what was the answer, after many many pages of wibbling back and forth? Give you three guesses and the first two don't count. Nonetheless, the plot moved weirdly slowly, taking a long time for anything to happen, and wandering into several asides that felt like odd sideshows when so much else was going to hell in a handbasket for the Wilderwood. Neve's story had the same issue: a lot of focus on her ignoring all the creepy vibes and getting drawn into a nefarious plot, but it wasn't all that complicated or interesting and took forever before anything really happened.
Even once the plot got moving, the incredibly inconsistent magic systems made a lot of the twists pretty arbitrary. Eammon wanted Red to not use her blood-magic on the wood because that was dangerous, but insisted that her learning to use DIFFERENT magic the Wood had given her was good and fine and safe. Why the difference between the two was never explained. The magic's rules are never clearly described, nor was it clear when using magic or blood would help or hurt. The Wilderwood itself seemed to change its goals and desires constantly - it would try to attack Red sometimes, help her others, getting magically closer to it would help or hurt seemingly arbitrarily, and even being able to travel in or out of it changed at several points in the story, seemingly just to throw up or remove plot barriers. In the end,the Wood kind of just...changed its rules for no real reason, opening up new options, which after the characters talking about how "no, it's impossible" all through the book, felt very unsatisfying.
And the main characters themselves did a lot of dumb things. Everything from Eammon hiding information from Red, to Red running off constantly by herself, to Neve making dumb choices from the get-go and all through her plotline, to the end, where they go out to fight the baddie and promptly split the party for no reason other than for Red to get attacked again . Red's guilt over other peoples' choices got old really quickly. Neve's constant ignoring of every big, red, flashing "EVIL THING HERE, BEWARE!" sign was eye-rollingly obvious. Secondary characters largely felt disposable or their substantial contributions to the plot were skipped over or described off page.
In the end, I just wasn't sure what the author was going for. Gothic horror? Romance? Fantasy? It didn't really succeed at any of these things, for me.
This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, with heavy genre romance elements. I found it slow and tedious and overlong and predictable. I mean, just from the blurb my thought was,
Even once the plot got moving, the incredibly inconsistent magic systems made a lot of the twists pretty arbitrary. Eammon wanted Red to not use her blood-magic on the wood because that was dangerous, but insisted that her learning to use DIFFERENT magic the Wood had given her was good and fine and safe. Why the difference between the two was never explained. The magic's rules are never clearly described, nor was it clear when using magic or blood would help or hurt. The Wilderwood itself seemed to change its goals and desires constantly - it would try to attack Red sometimes, help her others, getting magically closer to it would help or hurt seemingly arbitrarily, and even being able to travel in or out of it changed at several points in the story, seemingly just to throw up or remove plot barriers. In the end,
And the main characters themselves did a lot of dumb things. Everything from Eammon hiding information from Red, to Red running off constantly by herself, to Neve making dumb choices from the get-go and all through her plotline, to the end, where they go out to fight the baddie and promptly
In the end, I just wasn't sure what the author was going for. Gothic horror? Romance? Fantasy? It didn't really succeed at any of these things, for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Gore
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: Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
sierraechobravo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
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
megloveswords12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence
themoonphoenix's review against another edition
mysterious
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
4.0
Many years ago in a small village at the edge of Wilderwood exist this cruel tradition: The first daughter is for the Throne. The second daughter is for the Wolf.
Neve and Redarys are twins, both know their destiny since they were born, Neve will be queen, and Redarys a sacrifice for the Wolf, in change he will not attack the village.
When Redarys was young and ventured into the wood, the creepy forest taste her blood and became part of her; scared, she wants to go into the woods, although her sister and friends beg her to run away, she knows she has to
goes back into the wood.
Technically is one POV, Redarys´s story but Neve has some chapters here and there that help to better know what is happening outside the forest. Neve cant accept her sister's sacrifice and will do whatever it takes to bring his sister back, she desperately loves her sister and her love will make her do questionable things.
When Redarys arrives at her new home, she will meet a Wolf and find out that he is only a young man trying to do the right thing and it literally bleeds for a solution, She and her sister grew up hearing stories about the evil wolf and the prisoner's kings, and now she questions everything she knew, the stories are false and the forest is getting weaker, maybe her blood can be a solution.
I love the atmosphere, I live for the creepiest forest trope, and the magic system was interesting, especially the religious aspects, not only Wilderwood is a dark mystery, but also the village is surrounded by mystery and secrets.
I like the characters too, The Wolf was my favorite (the poor misunderstood thing) but Neve has great character development, love can make us mad and she is the right example. Redarys is smart and brave, she wants to help
Also, I like the secondary characters and I wish to know more about them.
Its a nice debut, starts slow but the finals chapters are a roller coaster
Neve and Redarys are twins, both know their destiny since they were born, Neve will be queen, and Redarys a sacrifice for the Wolf, in change he will not attack the village.
When Redarys was young and ventured into the wood, the creepy forest taste her blood and became part of her; scared, she wants to go into the woods, although her sister and friends beg her to run away, she knows she has to
goes back into the wood.
Technically is one POV, Redarys´s story but Neve has some chapters here and there that help to better know what is happening outside the forest. Neve cant accept her sister's sacrifice and will do whatever it takes to bring his sister back, she desperately loves her sister and her love will make her do questionable things.
When Redarys arrives at her new home, she will meet a Wolf and find out that he is only a young man trying to do the right thing and it literally bleeds for a solution, She and her sister grew up hearing stories about the evil wolf and the prisoner's kings, and now she questions everything she knew, the stories are false and the forest is getting weaker, maybe her blood can be a solution.
I love the atmosphere, I live for the creepiest forest trope, and the magic system was interesting, especially the religious aspects, not only Wilderwood is a dark mystery, but also the village is surrounded by mystery and secrets.
I like the characters too, The Wolf was my favorite (the poor misunderstood thing) but Neve has great character development, love can make us mad and she is the right example. Redarys is smart and brave, she wants to help
Also, I like the secondary characters and I wish to know more about them.
Its a nice debut, starts slow but the finals chapters are a roller coaster
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Blood