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A review by biblionerdrflxn
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
4.0
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The stunning cover of this book drew me in the second I saw it, and I'm glad it did. There was so much to digest in it that I honestly think a re-read is necessary to truly grasp the many layers of the story. It brilliantly explored the politics of nation-building, and the world-building and mythology aspects of the story were captivating. The magic and faith systems were interesting, yet grotesque, and were a good metaphor for the sacrifices often necessary to achieve greatness or power while also reflecting the very real self-castigating nature of many religious beliefs/practices. The romance was believable and slow-burn, and it allowed the exploration of themes related to overcoming preconceived notions about one's enemies. The book also pointed out the importance of stories and language in both passing on one's heritage and creating a singular national identity. Incredibly heavy topics were tackled, including coming to terms with a history of abuse and oppression and exploration of the types of driving forces of abuse/oppression. The two main characters, Évike and Gáspár, illustrated two very opposing representations of how people cope with long-term abuse, and their journey of understanding their mixed feelings about their homes/oppressors was complex and compelling to read. My only complaints would be the pacing and somewhat repetitive writing, especially in the first half of the book. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and the topics it explored despite the flaws in the writing and pacing. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
The stunning cover of this book drew me in the second I saw it, and I'm glad it did. There was so much to digest in it that I honestly think a re-read is necessary to truly grasp the many layers of the story. It brilliantly explored the politics of nation-building, and the world-building and mythology aspects of the story were captivating. The magic and faith systems were interesting, yet grotesque, and were a good metaphor for the sacrifices often necessary to achieve greatness or power while also reflecting the very real self-castigating nature of many religious beliefs/practices. The romance was believable and slow-burn, and it allowed the exploration of themes related to overcoming preconceived notions about one's enemies. The book also pointed out the importance of stories and language in both passing on one's heritage and creating a singular national identity. Incredibly heavy topics were tackled, including coming to terms with a history of abuse and oppression and exploration of the types of driving forces of abuse/oppression. The two main characters, Évike and Gáspár, illustrated two very opposing representations of how people cope with long-term abuse, and their journey of understanding their mixed feelings about their homes/oppressors was complex and compelling to read. My only complaints would be the pacing and somewhat repetitive writing, especially in the first half of the book. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and the topics it explored despite the flaws in the writing and pacing. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.