Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - For the Wolf

For The Wolf is a creative story which is loosely based on the story of Little Red Riding Wolf, following our main character called Red who is destined for the Wolf. While the novel gets into the rhythm of the story and becomes enjoyable, the first 100 pages of the book have a lot of world building. For The Wolf also centres around a unique magic system and once developed into the main plot, is an enjoyable read!

Content Warnings

booksthatburn's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

readwithde's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

sierraechobravo's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

sarahblythe's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

I really loved the spin on little red riding hood/the wolf that was completely done upside down. The grasp on the magic that is being used and the bloodletting was a bit difficult to understand initially but the author does a good job at explaining it.
Romance was well integrated into it and felt very satisfying when the two characters finally admitted the relationship to themselves. Also loved the split with either twin, one inside the Wilderwood, one stuck not knowing what had happened to her sister and the chaos that was slowly building up.

Content Warnings

cammiem8's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? It's complicated

3.75

This book was interesting and kept me hooked but I felt it never quite lived up to its concept. Don’t be fooled by the title, the red riding hood connections are purely aesthetic and seem like a marketing gimmick. There are some really cool creepy images and some very intriguing bits of world building, so it’s a quick read despite being long.

Content Warnings

theespressoedition's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Talk about an absolutely breathtaking book. The writing alone was enough to make me fall in love - and then you add a brilliant plot and swoon-worthy characters and it’s everything I could possibly ask for in a fantasy novel.

I was fascinated by the Beauty and the Beast-esque retelling that morphed into something entirely its own as the story went on. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect next and I loved every second of it. It was unpredictable and gripping!

The magic system was phenomenally creative. I mean, blood magic isn’t uncommon in fantasy - but blood and earth magic combined into something dark and vicious but also beautiful??? Now that is incredible!

I was absolutely shocked and pleasantly surprised to read a BatB retelling that didn't have a manipulative, possessive, or even abusive "beast" character. Eammon was a consent king and I appreciated every minute of it.

It got to the point where even when I would wind up slightly confused by what was happening, I still absolutely had to know what came next. It had me on the edge of my seat.

Now, I’m desperate to know what kind of wood and shadow will follow Red, Eammon, Neve, and the rest of the cast into the next book.

Content Warnings

More...