A review by camiandkitread
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

I knew I needed to get Hannah Whitten’s debut fantasy novel “For the Wolf” off my TBR when one of my book besties told me it was her favorite read of 2022. 

“For the Wolf” tells the story of Red, the first Second Daughter to be born in centuries. As a Second Daughter, her only purpose is to be sacrificed to appease the Wolf of the Wilderwood—the First Daughter is for the Throne but the Second Daughter is for the Wolf. Red resigned herself to her fate since it meant no longer endangering her loved ones with the wild magic she struggles to control. 

It’s not until she meets the Wolf that she realizes that all the legends are a lie. The Wolf isn’t a monster, he’s just a man. This changes Red’s perspective on her entire life—including her magic. She realizes that if she wants to protect her loved ones from the real monsters, she must work with the Wolf and learn how to weird her magic before it’s too late. 

This was not the book that I thought it was going to be. I assumed it was a Little Red Riding Hood retelling, which it is in only the loosest sense. It’s actually the best Beauty and the Beast retelling I’ve come across, and there are a million of them out there. 

I also assumed our heroine would be a “Not Like Other Girls” character since she was so remarkable blasé about her impending sacrifice. I was wrong. Red is an amazing heroine—she’s clever and determined and resilient. 

The Wolf was also a fantastic character, my favorite in the book. It was so refreshing to read about a male main character in a fantasy novel that wasn’t an irredeemable a*****e to the female main character throughout the story because he’s afraid to fall in love or trust some again. 

“For the Wolf” was a rich high fantasy set against a dark, mystical backdrop. Listen to my book bestie and me when we say “This is a five star read!”
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