Review by amberl3af - Tears of the Wolf

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amberl3af 's review for:

Tears of the Wolf by Elisabeth Wheatley

5.0

dark emotional sad 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: Complicated

tears of the wolf

elizabeth wheatley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️

16+

a singular detailed sex scene. detailed description of violence. child death, including miscarrage. animal death.

Tears of the Wolf was my first book by Elizabeth Wheatley, although I’ve followed her for a while, and I must say, it completely met my expectations! I enjoyed every aspect of this beautifully-crafted book, the few minor errors were pretty misable and didn’t detract from the book at all.

The worldbuilding was simple, but very well done. The political system was detailed and fleshed-out, and I had no questions about the politics. (There was a bit of underlying misogyny throughout the novel; I wonder if that will be adressed in the future?) Mostly, however, it really felt like the novel was written in (not just set in) a Viking world. I’m sure someone who’s more knowledgeable in Vikings than me will be able to notice mistakes, but it was such a realistic world, and there was nothing modern about it all (although I don’t think Vikings had Kindles.)

I loved Brynn so much as the FMC. I loved reading about a strong female character who didn’t shun all femininity. Her growth during the book was minimal (as it’s the first in a 5-book series) but I loved watching her let up her guard around Cenric, and grow from a guarded, vulnerable woman to a much stronger one towards the end.

I didn’t love Cenric as much as I did Brynn, however, I expect that will change throughout the series, and Cenric was still a brilliant MMC. He was both fearsome and gentle, and although that seems to clash it didn’t at all, and made perfect sense: he was dangerous and protective when he needed to be, but when it came to those he loves, he is gentle and careful, not pushing them at all.

Their romance was so beautiful to read about. I wouldn’t consider it slow burn- there was fondness from close to the beginning- but they didn’t immediately fall in love either. Their story began with a hasty marriage for convenience purposes only, but throughout the book, they learn that marriage could be so much more than that, and they fall in love, which they never imagined possible. Their love is so tender as well, Cenric has so much patience with Brynn, who is very reluctant to trust another man after her former husband’s mistreatment of her. It’s the sort of love that makes you desperately hope it turns out well, although Wheatley never specifically tells you you should.

One of the most prominent plot lines in the novel is Brynn mourning her son. Oesborne. I probably spelt that wrong, I’m sorry. Her grief was handled in a very sensitive manner, and she wasn’t rushed into moving past it. Moments, like in Chapter 14 where Cenric takes Brynn to her family’s cairns, were so moving, and had me in tears.

I was a bit apprehensive about the book being the first in a series, as I usually prefer longer standalones. But the plot was done very well; there were some moments of calm, during which the descriptions of their day-to-day life were extremely pleasant to read about, but the stakes were just at that right level to make the book engaging and exciting, rounding everything off neatly while still setting up potential for a much bigger conflict in the next books (which I will be picking up the moment they’re published, no questions asked.)

In the future, I would like to see more about Cenric being such an inexperienced alderman- we’ve gotten a lot already, but I look forward to seeing him interacting with some of the southerner aldermen. I’m also really excited to meet Paega, Brynn’s former husband, for the first time!

Wait, I haven’t even mentioned the best bit: TELEPATHIC DOGS. They aren’t telepathic in the sense that they have a human’s intelligence in a dog’s body, no; their thoughts mostly consist of single words friend? and pup? and it’s absolutely adorable- Snapper has my heart!

Content Warnings