Scan barcode
A review by tallangryplanet
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was a wild ride. I went into it with no expectations, and was pleasantly surprised, but I definitely wouldn't say it's a new favorite.
The worldbuilding and lore within the book were my favorite parts, as they are very well done. There are different religions that all feel very realistic and distinct despite their occasional similarities, although not all of them are equally explored. The characters tell each other stories throughout the story, which made the world feel much more alive, and it contributed to the exploration of identity, which I really enjoyed.
The story itself was interesting, although the plot seemed a bit scattered, as some apparently important points were suddenly abandoned and then reappeared a few chapters later, and others seemed to appear out of nowhere. However, it was still not hard to follow and I enjoyed most of it.
Lastly, the characters felt well-rounded, although at times the main character, Évike, was a bit annoying. She's 25, but she didn't seem very mature, and sometimes her thought processes made no sense. At other times, though, I liked her a lot, for she did her best with the options she had, and isn't that all we can ever do? Something that I could not get off my mind while reading through some passages was how she was just normal. She can hunt, but she's no warrior or agile spy, so she can't just hide in the shadows or charge against stronger enemies (though she sure would love to). Gáspár seems like a much more mature person, so I do wish we could have read some of his thoughts, especially concerning their relationship, as it seems to be based almost only on lust on Évike's part, which I didn't like that much.
All in all, I think this can be a nice read for anyone who is a fan of complex worlds and who doesn't mind the gory parts.
The worldbuilding and lore within the book were my favorite parts, as they are very well done. There are different religions that all feel very realistic and distinct despite their occasional similarities, although not all of them are equally explored. The characters tell each other stories throughout the story, which made the world feel much more alive, and it contributed to the exploration of identity, which I really enjoyed.
The story itself was interesting, although the plot seemed a bit scattered, as some apparently important points were suddenly abandoned and then reappeared a few chapters later, and others seemed to appear out of nowhere. However, it was still not hard to follow and I enjoyed most of it.
Lastly, the characters felt well-rounded, although at times the main character, Évike, was a bit annoying. She's 25, but she didn't seem very mature, and sometimes her thought processes made no sense. At other times, though, I liked her a lot, for she did her best with the options she had, and isn't that all we can ever do? Something that I could not get off my mind while reading through some passages was how she was just normal. She can hunt, but she's no warrior or agile spy, so she can't just hide in the shadows or charge against stronger enemies (though she sure would love to). Gáspár seems like a much more mature person, so I do wish we could have read some of his thoughts, especially concerning their relationship, as it seems to be based almost only on lust on Évike's part, which I didn't like that much.
All in all, I think this can be a nice read for anyone who is a fan of complex worlds and who doesn't mind the gory parts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry