For The Wolf, by Hannah Whitten is a dark fairytale fantasy that comes across as a delightfully original infusion of Red Riding Hood meets Beauty and the Beast.

The Writing/Narrative. Whitten’s writing is beautiful. The prose is rich and vivid, reminiscent of traditional fairytales, and is truly captivating. The prose is perfect for people who love to get lost into the settings, with the rich descriptions building imaginative and detailed settings that come to life. From the beautiful imagery to the horrifying, Whitten certainly nails both – particularly with the forest where the inherent beauty of nature is shown as well as the terrifying dark and monstrous nature of these sentient trees. Beautiful and monstrous goes hand in hand throughout the whole book and both are captured perfectly in the descriptions of the settings and the characters.

The prose is well paced overall, with the rich descriptions balancing any slower parts by keeping you absorbed in this vivid world. The pace is maintained through the use of dual narratives, with Red’s being the primary perspective and Neve (Red’s sister) being the secondary. Though we don’t get as much of Neve (I would have liked a little more) as Red, her chapters allowed for a nice change of pace and served to give us insight into more aspects of the world and the magic available. I enjoyed the multiple narrative take and found it worked well to particularly explore the sisterly bond between the two characters.

The Plot/Worldbuilding. For The Wolf definitely has a dark fairytale like plot with inspirations from Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast. however it is done with a unique and original touch that gives this book a fresh feel while still maintaining the fairytale atmosphere.

The plot focuses on Red, the second daughter, who is a sacrifice for the Wolf. Red is to be sent to him, in the Wilderwood, and Red has accepted her fate due to her own fear of herself – she believes she is a threat to her sister. However, upon Red’s arrival she soon realises the stories about the Wolf and the Wilderwood aren’t 100% true. I really loved the plot points that focused around the Wilderwood. Everything about the Wilderwood was perfect, from the sentient trees, the bonds and bargains, to the darker truth of the Wilderwood’s purpose.

The world in this book is strongly built with extensive mythology and stories being told to us in natural ways, as well as learning more through Red’s own experiences. Though we do get hints of the politics and information regarding how the royalty works, and its deep connection with the religion that puts the Old Gods/Kings at the center, I do wish we had gotten a little bit more – though this is partly due to Neve having less chapters than Red and the Wilderwood being the core focus of the story. However, we do get a lot about the religion itself, the magic and the Wilderwood – which I loved! I adored how we learn the stories and slowly see them unravel into the truth beneath them, I adored the Wilderwood and the magic surrounding it, and I thought all of it was well developed and built an incredible world and magical system.

The magic itself was incredibly interesting, from the sentient trees, to Red and the Wolf’s connection to the forest, to the darker aspects of magic that slowly came about. There was a duality between the magic’s used that came across beautifully, one that played on desire vs selflessness, power vs protection – which was delightful. The Wilderwood magic was incredible, violent but by the end beautiful, it was an intricate system that was fascinating. The darker magic was also interesting, I look forward to seeing more of it, and the monsters were also a wonderful aspect too. Moreover, Red and Wolf’s connections with the Wilderwood were well explored and I loved learning more about it and how it centered choice by the end.

While I can’t say much on the plot itself (because spoilers!) I did enjoy it, I liked the idea of the daughters being for the throne and the wolf and how Red’s sacrifice lead to more interesting revelations that grew into a plot filled with trickery. I also enjoyed Neve’s part of the plot focusing on saving Red and how it entwined with Red’s story and the truth about the Wilderwood. The fairytale nature did mean some elements were a little predictable but the story had enough twists and turns that this wasn’t a problem.

Overall, the plot was strong, imaginative and enjoyable. While I would have liked a little more on Neve’s side, as a whole this story was an excellent dark fairytale with gorgeous magic.

The Characters. The book has a decent cast of characters that are all individual with strong voices. Though the main focus is on Red, the Wolf, and Neve who are the three most developed in the book. I liked all the side characters who added a lot to the story, though I do feel they could have had a little more development, but overall they were all interesting, likable and unique.

Red. The second daughter, destined for the Wolf. So I have seen a few reviews that all Red an annoying character, but it appears I’m in the minority here! I actually liked Red’s character by the end of the book. My very first impression of her was one of irritation, but the woman was about to be sacrificed so I understood. However, I liked her more as the book went on – is she stubborn, selfish and arrogant at times? Yes. and she does make some less than intelligent decisions – however, I actually enjoyed seeing that kind of character in the fairytale setting. Red is a very human character, flawed and imperfect, but by the end her decisions are ones to protect those she loves – her personality is quite realistic (I do think people could have been more straight with her though, less accommodating). However, her flawed personality made her easy to connect with.

I loved the sisterly bond between Red and Neve. The two clearly are close, despite the promise of sacrifice, and even separated the two think of each other and how to protect the other. I particularly liked the two didn’t harbor a hatred between them, which would have been easy as Red could have hated that she was the second daughter. I enjoyed that the author went down the route of a strong bond instead. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this progresses over book 2 because the sisters truly have a close bond and put each other first.

I also enjoyed the relationship between Red and the Wolf (though I would have liked a bit more romantic development, it was quite close to immediate love which I’m not a fan of). However, overall I liked the relationship between the two, particular the heavy focus on choice and consent – this was at the center of their relationship and I loved that. I also liked how there was a focus on two equals as individuals, but also how Wolf protects Red but Red also protects him and shows him he is not alone. The relationship is a two way thing and the two are balanced.

The Wolf. So I’m not going to tell you the wolf’s real name but it means Protector and I honestly hope that was intentional because he is the Warden, hehe. Anyway, I loved the Wolf – he is definitely your brooding, mysterious character, and I admit I’m a sucker for those. Wolf is withdrawn and mysterious but in reality he is incredibly soft and kind, wishing only to protect others from the Wilderwood. He is gentle and awkward but he is also a flawed character with a detrimental need to be isolated and protect others alone. His flaws make him realistic and human, like Red, despite his less than human character – but his flaws are understandable so he is also easy to connect with.

Neve. The first daughter, for the throne. I liked Neve’s character, the older sister wanting to protect the younger. Neve is a gentle character, who dearly loves Red and is incredibly loyal to her. While her love for her sister remains steadfast over the course of the book, Neve develops a lot and becomes more determined and powerful. I liked Neve’s character, her story was interesting from start to finish and I look forward to seeing more.I particularly liked that Neve’s determination comes from love and loyalty, not a hunger for the throne and power – which was refreshing and interesting to watch unfold.

Overall. For The Wolf, by Hannah Whitten is a beautiful dark fantasy with a classic fairytale feel. The prose is gorgeous, the magic intriguing and the plot compelling. From the sisterly bond, to the sentient trees this book has a truly magical world and a twisty plot. This book is perfect for readers who love rich and detailed prose.

*Thank you to #netgalley #orbitbooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!*

There are very few books that have descriptions that feel like they were written to pander exactly to you, but For the Wolf has literally everything I could ever want in a book. Magical wood setting? check. A main character who has a sacrificial destiny? check. Strange power that seems uncontrollable? check. Gods and weird religion? Check. Monster/man love interest? Check. It has everything that you could ever need to have a hot wolf summer, packaged with descriptive writing and a woodland setting so magical and dreamy you can smell the earth and feel the branches brush your hair.

With rich and evocative description, Whitten has spun a tale that makes it feel lived in, the woods being such an important part of the book that it is its own character, branch and soil replacing blood and bone. I love being able to picture a setting perfectly in my mind whilst reading and there are so many lush descriptions of the Wilderwood that I felt like I was trailing after red as she walked through the trees. So many beautiful lines tangle together to create a compelling and pretty prose, particularly strong when describing the magic of the Wilderwood, as well as the terror found between the branches. Sometimes the information felt a little overwhelming, particularly in instances when the same word or description would be repeated multiple times across a couple of pages which started to grate a little, but that’s really an editorial problem as opposed to a writing style problem.

Mystery is threaded throughout the novel, but never felt like the main plot point, instead focusing on Red’s new world within the Wilderwood. Although I can see how this may not appeal to all readers, my main interest was truly the setting, so I loved how much time we spent exploring Red’s new environment, as well as her magic. A secondary plot of political turmoil is perfectly balanced with the more folkloric story of Red’s ‘sacrifice’, and both have been built up nicely, making me very excited to read the sequel, particularly after that killer ending.

I would be remiss not to mention the main romance which I loved. The Wolf, Eammon, is brooding and intriguing but does not act like a monster, something that Red at first has no idea how to deal with. I’ll never say no to a slow-burn romance and the pining in For the Wolf is great, both Eammon and Red struggling with their feelings in a way that made me want to start screaming whenever they so much as looked at each other. Another key relationship was Red’s bond with her sister Neve, and the exploration of familial loyalty and sisterhood, particularly what it meant to Red to have to leave Neve behind and how far Neve would got o get her back.

Red herself is a delight, an absolute gem of a character who I love so much. She’s stubborn and bold, her brave nature lending well to her struggle with her magic and the magic in the Wilderwood. She wasn’t afraid to call people out or go her own way and luckily she never fell into the trap of feeling too special, something that can be oh too easy to do when writing a Fantasy main character. Her point of view was my favourite by far, and though I loved hearing from Neve as well, I never connected with her the same way that I did with Red, probably because of how much I preferred Red’s woodland setting and her tenacious nature.

Overall, For the Wolf is a great book for those of you who love fantasy that reads like folklore and fans of slow-burn or romances that skew a little more monster than man. With a beautiful setting and a compelling main character, this was the perfect start to hot wolf summer.

I was so thankful when I received this DRC but sadly I wasn't able to finish it. The beginning is absolutely amazing and the characters are unlike anything I have ever seen.
The culture, the setting, the religious and political aspects were solid on every side and I really thought I was in for one of the best YA fantasy I would read all year but once we met the love interest, all that tension went nowhere and the more I read the less I cared for the characters until eventually, I decided to cut my losses. Maybe I'll give it another chance someday.
I hope others enjoyed it though because I'm a huge fan of Orbit and the rest of their catalogue and the graphic designers that worked on this book are obviously extremely talented.
Thank you for this DRC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Books/Orion for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the blurb, For The Wolf seemed to be a book made for me: creepy forests, folklore and fairy-tale vibes, dark adult fantasy with a sibling relationship at its core. Because of this, For The Wolf was a highly anticipated read.

I loved the eerie atmosphere and the strong start. One of my favourite aspects of For The Wolf was the consent and the theme of choice woven throughout. I also enjoyed the introduction to the Wilderwood and learning about the Shadowlands, as well as some of the other turns that the story took. The personification of the Wilderwood was a joy to the extent that it was my favourite character in the book; its instinctive survival nature and its characterisation felt complex and well developed, and the vivid imagery and beautiful prose brought the Wilderwood to life.

Even though the story started off strong, it didn’t always hold my attention. While I enjoy a slow build up, I found this book too slow paced and the repetitive descriptions to set scenes would have been more compelling with fewer instances. I also couldn’t quite grasp who Red was as a person and the side characters didn’t feel fleshed out enough for me to be fully invested in their journey. Although I was absorbed by Eammon and his complex backstory (I wished we had a few interlude chapters from his point of view), his repetitive nature left me wanting to know more and to go deeper into his character and into his relationships with Fife, Lyra and his parents; it felt as if we only skimmed the surface with Eammon. I enjoyed Neve’s single-mindedness and almost obsession to save her sister (even if it was obvious how things would play out for Neve), but I felt that quite a few of the interlude chapters could have been short, as I found myself getting through the chapters quickly to get back to Red's story. There were also elements of the story where I felt more explanation was needed, such as why they revival of the kings was even needed, as this made one of the character’s motivations confusing.

For The Wolf is a solid fantasy debut, and an intriguing and intricate story that may appeal to fans of fairy tales and fairy-tale retellings.

For the Wolf is the first fantasy book I’ve enjoyed in a little while. A fantastic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in a fantasy kingdom it has a wonderful sisterly bond, mythology, romance, intrigue, plots, darkness and shadow and friendship. Basically everything you could possibly want.

The first daughter is for the throne and the second is for the Wolf. That’s the way it’s always been and the way it is now for Red and Neve. Neve will take her mother’s place as queen and Red will be sent to the forest, sacrificed to wolf and Wilderwood to ensure peace and freedom from the shadowy monsters who emerged last time Wolf and wood were not appeased.

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. It’s incredibly well written, atmospheric and beautifully imaginative. The writing really does immerse you into the Wilderwood, makes you bond with the characters and fall in love with the heroes. I really enjoyed this one and I can’t wait for book 2!

I enjoyed this book but it also has me a little on the fence. It has incredible world building, with highly detailed descriptions that I suspect other readers may not enjoy as much as I did. I liked how much of the lore of this land, we got introduced to at the start and how those believed tales, stories and religious practices slowly got twisted and turned as Red (our main character) learnt more about the reality of her fate. This extensive worldbuilding is what really held my attention as a reader, but it also felt lacking in areas. We were told about these dark shadows, the evil lurking under the wood, the dark magic, but when it came to demonstrating all those aspects during the plot it just somewhat skipped over them. It was all tell and very little show, which is disappointing.

The romance was cute, but instalove in its feeling and felt very young for a main character in her 20s. The contrast between Reds story in the woods and her sisters story in the city were interesting and had a really complex feel of weaving political machinations but I also don’t feel we got enough from Neve’s perspective to fully explore that side of the plot and when they did combine it was in the end rush which again left me wanting a bit more bite. I just don’t feel we really got to know the characters fully apart from Red, so I wasn’t as invested in the ending to make it feel really impactful.

I did really like the writing style, the pace was really like that of a classic fairytale and it really did a good job of drawing me in to make me want to know more. I liked that the stories played into the religion of the land and would have loved to have spent more time on that. The magic system also had a nice amount of light and dark to it and again I wish we had seen that played with more too. I still overall found it an enjoyable read it which for me started off amazing but just seemed to loose points as I continued.

I really enjoyed For The Wolf. This is a fun, compelling fairy-tale inspired atmospheric story with a large dash of romance. I think the atmosphere of the Wilderwood was probably my favourite element of the book, as it is really immersive and I’m a dark and gloomy atmosphere kind of person. While this has clear elements of Red Riding Hood and her story with the wolf, it really is a story about human monsters rather than traditional ones. I am very happy that there are quite a lot of forest-set fantasy novels published this year, and For The Wolf is in good company.

I did feel like the book was tethering on the border between YA and adult quite a lot – it feels like a YA fantasy that is trying really hard to be adult, but really it would have been more natural to sell it as a YA novel. Red, Eammon and Neve all seemed more like characters who had to finish growing up rather than as settled adults. Especially Red and Neve, the sisters at the heart of the story, are still acting like YA characters. In general, the characters weren’t quite as well-developed as I would have liked and I felt like the book as a whole would have benefitted from some more ruthless cutting in terms of dead plot. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my reading experience a lot.

‘The first daughter is for the throne. The second daughter is for the wolf.’

I was sent a digital ARC of ‘For the Wolf’ via #netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story uses elements of well-known fairytales (Red Riding Hood mainly for props and character names, Beauty and the Beast more for elements of the narrative, such as the element of sacrifice to a beast among others), but spins them into something new in this dark and intriguing fantasy.

Once I started reading ‘For the Wolf’, I was captivated by the story; I couldn’t put down this book and ended up finishing it in two sittings. The writing is enchanting yet dark, the world building is intricate, with elements of mythology, tradition and religion, yet easily accessible. I enjoyed how family relationships were explored, with Red’s complicated relationship to her mother, and the sibling bond between Red and Neve.
This is the first book in a new fantasy series - I am already eagerly anticipating the release of the second book.

Being such a huge fan of retellings, it will come as no surprise that I just had to read For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten when I heard of it. A mash up retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast, For the Wolf is a high fantasy story where the second born daughter of to the crown is sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wilderwood, in hopes that he'll return the Kings, the lost gods that have been trapped in the magical forest for centuries. After centuries without, there's now a second daughter: Red, and it's her turn to be sacrificed. She has spent her whole life knowing what her purpose was, knowing she would be willingly given up by her people for a chance to get back the Kings. Despite knowing it will lead to her death, Red is glad to be sacrificed, even though her sister, Neve, rails against the idea. For Red has a dark, dangerous magic inside her she struggles to control, and is terrified of hurting the people she loves. Inexplicably drawn to the Wilderwood, she soon discovers the Wolf is not a monster, but is himself uniquely tied to the forest. There's more to the story she's been brought up with, more than her people know. And it's Red's magic that might just save them all.

Apart from the fact that Redarys goes by Red, and the warden of the Wilderwood is known as the Wolf - but is actually called Eammon - For the Wolf is much more of a Beauty and the Beast retelling than one of Little Red Riding Hood. Eammon is believed to be a monster that kills the second daughters, when in actual fact, the Wilderwood is the only thing keeping a different realm, the Shadows Lands, a prison for the monsters that used to terrorise the world, from opening. A bargain was made years ago, to keep everyone safe. But the Sentinel trees are constantly battling rot, that will allow the way through. The second daughters are needed by the Wilderwood, the price of the bargain, to keep the Shadow Lands closed. The Wilderwood is weakening, and is desperate for the magic in Red's veins, but Eammon is doing all he can to keep her from the Wilderwood, to not let it have her.

The worldbuilding for For the Wolf is amazing! I love the religion surrounding the Kings, I loved the dark, creepy, sentient Wilderwood, the brooding, tragic Eammon, and just how messed up the magic is. It's actually a part of the Wilderwood that they both have in them. Eammon has more, due to his connection with the forest, and it's freaking disturbing everytime he uses it. From his body sprouts vines, bark grows on his skin. The Wilderwood is living inside them. But the Wilderwood also wants to be whole, to connect with their magic to do its job. It's a constant fight to stop the Wilderwood from sending vines and shrubs into any cut Red might get. There's a definite body horror element to the story, I'm not really describing it very well, but when the Wilderwood comes for you, it's not messing about! It's downright sinister.

But For the Wolf it's a much slower story than I expected. Red is terrified of her power, or not being able to control it, but seeing what Eammon goes through, trying to use his own power to heal the Sentinels that start to rot, and close the breaches that do manage to open, she realises he can't do this on his own. But he is full of guilt over the deaths of the previous second daughters, deaths he feels he should have been able to prevent if only he was stronger, and he's trying to make sure the same doesn't happen to Red. Blood or magic is the only thing that helps, and Eammon is almost bleeding himself dry to try and prevent the changes to his body brought on by using magic. And with the Wilderwood weakening, soon Eammon won't be enough. Their slow burn romance is sweets during the constant back and forth. There are baby steps, where Eammon allows her to help in small ways, but it's not enough. This is the story for the most part; Red learning about her magic, trying to learn to control it, trying to convince Eammon to let her help, with the threat of the Wilderwood, and what comes through the breaches a constant backdrop.

There were a number of interludes that go back to Neve's sister and see things from her perspective, where she's willing to do whatever it takes to get her sister back, and her collaboration with a priestess who is obsessive and fanatical. This is where the story gets darker. Things are going on while Red is trying to learn how to use her magic. Dark, sinister things. These interludes were much more disturbing than the Wilderwood itself, to be honest. So while it's slow, there is a lot that's going on, and this sense of foreboding, as you now things are going to get really, really bad. For the Wolf wasn't as exciting as I would have hoped, but it's definitely intriguing! I love the dark, sinister aspects to the story, and it really kicked up a gear towards the end, with quite the cliffhanger ending! I'm really interested to see where the story goes in the second and final book, For the Throne. If you like your fairy tale retellings dark and disturbing, definitely give this one a go!

Trigger/Content Warnings: This book features blood and gore, a panic attack, body horror, and self-harm.

I thought this was going to be a book I could loved but, even if the style of writing is excellent, I found it a bit confusing and the characters a bit underdeveloped.
There's plenty of potential but it's not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

In Valleydan, the First Daughter is for the throne. The Second Daughter is promised as a sacrifice for the Wilderwood and the wolf that lives there, in order to secure safety for their kingdom.

The atmosphere is my favourite part of the book. The haunted forest imagery is beautiful and eerie and definitely gave off both folkloric and fairy-tale vibes. I loved learning more about the different settings that were introduced throughout the novel and I liked how both the settings and the magic were intertwined.

I didn’t enjoy the romance aspect.
It didn’t help for me that Red was said to be strong-minded and stubborn, but we were shown how she entirely depended on the first man she meets inside the forest for her decisions, survival and even magic. At a certain point, I was honestly shocked to be reminded that Red was 20 years old because her behaviour felt more like that of a teen experiencing her first crush. As her love interest is several hundred years old(!) I really didn’t understand why he would be attracted to Red's childish antics, especially because they didn’t have that much chemistry to begin with.

In a similar way, I wanted more of the sibling bond between Red and her firstborn twin Neve. I liked the emphasis on their friendship, but I really wished while reading we could have seen more scenes of them where this was more established.

Even though I really liked the atmosphere and the forest, in the end, I think there was a little <i>too</i> much focus on them, which dragged down the character development and (the middle part of) the plot, which felt repetitive and too long. There was a little too much focus on the characters’ relationship to the Wood and too little on their relationship to each other, which made it difficult to connect to them and made them all feel rather flat.

I also think it was not the best idea to market this as a Red Riding Hood retelling, as it felt more like a Beauty and the Beast retelling dressed up in Little Red Riding's hood.
I do think this book will be enjoyed by fans of BatB retellings who don't mind some generic YA tropes.

Perhaps the comps to “Uprooted” and “The Bear and the Nightingale” were too ambitious and made me have unrealistic expectations going in this novel, which I did not enjoy as much as I had hoped.
For me, 2,5 stars which I'll, for now, round up to 3.

Red has, since she was born, known her fate. As the Second Daughter to the Queen it has always been known that she will have to go to the Wildwoods and be delivered to the Wolf as part of the deal to try and do what is needed to bring back the Five Kings. Her sister, Neve, urges her to run away but for reasons she doesn’t want to share Red is keen to follow through with the plans for her.
Upon her arrival at the Wolf’s castle she is surprised by what she finds. Yet something keeps her from embracing this world...her love for her sister.
We follow Red as she tries to control the wildness inside her, and tries to find a way to return to the life she has known.
An interesting idea, and there was plenty crammed in here. The background to the Kings being trapped in the Wildwood wasn’t fully explained and Neve’s behaviour seemed to be rather too convenient on occasion. However, the focus on Red and the Wolf was interesting and there were suggestions of more going on that could be explained in book two.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my thoughts.

For The Wolf by Hannah F. Whitten is the first book in the Wilderwoods series and was published on 1st June 2021.

As some of you might know that I am struggling with fairy tale retellings, especially YA, it might come as a surprise that I picked this up. Well, I picked it because it was hailed as a dark fantasy fairy tale retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that is not Young Adult.

Does it deliver? A resounding no! On so many levels. Quite contrary to some YA fantasy stories, where the characters seem to be much more mature than their late teenage years, this book’s heroine is supposed to be 20 years old but behaves like a moody teenager. Also, the story is more of a Beauty and the Beast retelling than LRRH. The parallels are very limited the heroine’s name, Red(arys), who wears a red cloak when she enters the Wilderwood to encounter the wolf; who’s actually just a young man.

I was very underwhelmed by this book. The characters are rather flat. The plot is not fully developed, neither is the magic system; the author seems to have added to the magic system whenever she needed another twist to the story, and so at around 90% I still hadn’t quite grasped all of the aspects. Furthermore, the writing, although good, is convoluted with a lot of repetitions of certain actions (people were slouching in door frames, or rubbing their faces with their palms,…) – this might have been added out of the final version, though.

1/5 Stars for at least trying to write a Little Red Riding Hood retelling that’s not YA.

DNF at 25%. I was excited to read this one because apparently it’s a Little Red Riding Hood retelling. But I found myself quite bored while reading it and I wasn’t interested at all in a predictable plot focused on a kind of Beauty and the Beast storyline where the main character is sent away to live with the monster and falls in love with him. Besides, the characters fell flat for me.

It is no secret that I absolutely love fairy-tale reimagining’s and For the Wolf the first in The Wilder Woods Books is above and beyond what I had been expecting. This is an epic debut from Hannah Whitten. The words ‘must read’ are often overused but in this case, they are right on the money. If you are a fantasy fan then this rich, intricate, twisting, barbed edge tale with echoes of Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast should be on your reading list this summer.

The fairy tales threaded into this story may be familiar but For the Wolf is refreshingly original with odes to the great fantasies from Raymond E Feist and Holly Black. What else can I add? The world building is darkly bewitching, you can feel the wildness and danger of the woods threatening to engulf our heroes. The characters are tangible, full blooded and compelling. The romance is tortured in a vein of Wuthering Heights and in Red we have a strong new fantasy heroine.

A dazzling new dark fantasy that has me counting down the days until the sequel Four out of five​

The first daughter is for the Throne. The second is for the Wolf. Red has always known her destiny, as the second daughter she will be sacrificed to the Wolf on her 20th birthday to ensure the safety of Valleyda from the Wilderwood and the monsters it keeps at bay. She has resigned herself to her fate, and goes willingly to the forest and the wolf that lays in wait. Only the wolf isn't exactly what she expected, and neither is the Wilderwood. After meeting Eammon, Red learns that not all the stories she learnt growing up are true, the Wolf isn't quite what history made him out to be, and through him Red learns that her magic and destiny aren't quite what she first imagined. But back in Valleyda Neve isn't quite so willing to accept Red's fate &amp; she sets into motion a chain of events that will change both sisters lives forever.

This will be a slightly mixed review, though I'm sure I'll be in the minority with my more negative points. Everything from the premise to the cover screamed that this would be a Red Riding Hood retelling, instead it was a pretty to the book retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Now I'm a huge Beauty and the Beast fan so I had NO issue with this change at all, but it definitely threw me a little when I first noticed the similarities. Any fan of the story will not find it hard to notice little nods to the Disney film, but Whitten does a terrific job of making this story her own adding a cursed Forest as well as other changes to keep us on our toes.


For the Wolf is told from two main POV's. We have Red on her journey to the Wilderwood and the fate that awaits her there, and Neve her sister who desperately wanted Red to run despite the consequences, and would do anything in her power to get her sister back. I liked Red. She was incredibly resilient, even in the face of death. After being tainted by the woods magic she willingly gave herself over to protect those she loves, knowing that staying in Valleyda would put her sister in danger. She has always known her destiny and has never tried to run away from it. Neve was a character I could relate to in a way as an elder sister, I'm sure I would be as unwilling as her to let my sister head off to an unknown fate, but I also felt she was incredibly naive in certain parts, her love for Red blinded her to certain peoples motivations which left her and Red at risk.

We also get a great cast of side characters, some made more of an impact than others but they all have an important part to play in the story. But by far the 'main' side character was Eammon the Wolf. I LOVED Eammon, my sweet little cinnamon roll trying to carry the weight of the world, or in this case the Wilderwood, on his shoulders. So used to having to try and protect the Kingdom by himself he is resistant in letting Red help him, needing to protect her from his own fate, even when he realises that Red only wants to be where he is.

The plot was well crafted, there were plenty of twists, some I saw coming and some I definitely did not. Though it does follow the plot of Beauty and the Beast the author manages to make it her own twist on the story and because of that you're never quite sure who you can truly trust, nor where the story is going. One thing that did throw me a little, and stick with me here, the actual story line was incredible fast paced, events happened at breakneck speed and I would have liked a little more time to get myself situated in Red's new world with it's characters and magic, that being said, the authors writing style lends itself to a slower read, so although the actual events of the book move fast, you definitely can't blitz through the story, and because of that the two just didn't mould well together for me.

For anyone who loves a little, or a lot, of romance in their fantasies then this is definitely one to read. It was angst filled, slow burn and I just loved the interactions between the characters, seeing them come to trust one another as well as themselves. Red, knowing the likelihood that her time in the forest would kill her had opened herself up to physical relationships but closed herself off emotionally, and Eammon simply didn't wait to put the 'weight' of carrying the forest onto anyone else shoulders. So seeing the pair of them opening themselves up, adding emotions into the mix, made for lots of angsty scenes that I loved.

I did think the ending was a little easy. I've seen the author talk about how 'dark' this book was, and I honestly didn't get that. There were definite dark bits, but in general I didn't get that dark and creepy vibe I think the author was going for. I also feel like the magic system was underdeveloped. I just could never seem to get my head around it, and in the scenes where the magic was being used, which are fairly frequent, I was always left a little confused as to what exactly had happened. I know this review has probably come off more negative than positive, but I did enjoy the book. Writtens writing style adds a magical element to an already magical story and completely transports you to the Wilderwood. But I do feel like the more negative points I brought up made it so I enjoyed this story, but I certainly didn't love it.

Little Red Riding Hood meets Beauty and the Beast.

We follow the story of Redarys, a second daughter born of a Valleydan Queen. Her path is already chosen centuries before she was even born:
“The first daughter is for the Throne.
The second daughter is for the Wolf.”

The second daughter is sacrificed to appease the Wolf. If he found the sacrifice satisfying, he might release the Five Kings that were imprisoned centuries ago.

For the Wolf is an atmospheric read with lush writing style, vivid descriptions, and an inventive magic system. It started dramatically: with a ball and a red gown where we meet the two sisters for the first time, Neve and Red.
Hannah Whitten fashioned a childhood dream into something fitting for adults. Her writing style is both whimsical and gothic, perfect for the dark and woodland setting. It has the classic brooding male protagonist and a strong female protagonist who doesn’t need a man to save her (yay!)

The world-building and the lore were richly imagined and complex. It’s original, creative, and interesting. The connection between the Wilderwood and the Shadowland was well done. It also explores politics and power dynamics between the nobilities, the influence of long-standing traditions, and religion on its people.

My favorite part is definitely its magic system: it’s easy to follow and based on nature. And it comes with a price: BLOOD. It also has two of my favorite tropes: sisterhood and found family. The dynamics between characters were well fleshed out.

What bothered me is the romance and the pacing. The romance felt rushed, and it could’ve been developed more. Readers were told about their connection, but the few interactions could not justify the instalove. With the pacing, it felt a bit off: what started as well-paced became repetitive, and too slow in some places, then speeding up drastically. Although, it found its footing in the last 20% of the book. It was thrilling and action-packed with a good ending, but it felt more of a set-up for the next book which left me wanting more!

Overall, For the Wolf is a well-crafted debut novel. It’s a captivating and intricately layered story. I’m eager to see where the author will take the story, despite my mixed feelings about the ending. It’s perfect for fans of retelling who love magic, romance, and gorgeous prose.

Big thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK/Orbit, and Netgalley for the DRC. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

The first daughter is for the throne. The second is for the Wolf.

Every so often I venture into reading fantasy and have been enchanted by some of the books I’ve stumbled upon, often because of their stunning covers in the first instance. When I think of my favourite books - The Night Circus, Ten Thousand Doors of January, Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series and Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrell - all come up very high on the list. Yet I certainly don’t think of myself as a fantasy blogger. I love that sense of total escape and I often read with a smile on my face because I’m so charmed by the audacity of these writers and how they bend the rules of our world with some magic realism or create a beautiful wild new world for the reader to explore. I was drawn to this book by a very beautiful cover and the thought that someone would be playing with the boundaries of a well known fairy tale.

Redarys has always known her fate. As the kingdom’s second daughter, she is doomed to become a sacrifice to the wolf who keeps Wilderwood’s gods captive in the forest. Red seems to have acquiesced to this fate and her mother’s cool and distant attitude tells Red that she too has prepared herself for this moment, by never becoming close with her daughter. Red’s sister Neve wants to rage against the kingdom and tempts Red to run away that night, as far as she can. She has even spoken to the man who loves Red and sets up a secret moment where he can declare his plans to help her run away. He is promised to Neve, but vows to help Red escape her fate. But does she want to? Red has a hidden power deep within that scares her, and she never wants to hurt someone she loves again. She feels the woods luring her and her power is exactly what they need. The stories she’s been told from childhood are not the full truth. The spirits have weakened. The wolf is just a man, as pushed into his fate as she is. Can Red use her power for good and set them all free?

From the very first pages I was drawn into this other world by the author’s use of detailed imagery. She builds a new world, from words: the sumptuous clothing and the meaning behind their colours, the rooms of the castle and even the dark woods beyond are all rendered beautifully. As guests gather for a celebration on the eve of the sacrifice, Red has chosen a blood red dress contrasting strongly with her mother and sister’s choices and making it very clear who she is. There’s a certain pride in her, of who she is and the role she’s decided to accept. I enjoyed the sisterly love between Red and Neve. We do have sections narrated by Neve to give some contrast from Red’s point of view. Although they’re quite different Neve and Red are incredibly close, they have each other’s backs and in a difficult situation I have no doubt each would fight for the other. I liked both characters, but Red is definitely the more dominant sister despite their opposing fates. Her bravery in accepting her fate and her sense of duty to the kingdom were very admirable. She has some attitude too and I loved that feistiness in her. She’s also a voracious reader and the magnificent library was like something out of my dreams.

There is romance too, a slow burning attraction between Red and her unusual beau. I liked that it wasn’t overdone or flowery, and that Red didn’t lose any of her feistiness in the relationship. She wants to be loved for the person she is, not to change. I won’t reveal her love interest, but it’s there feeling of being trapped into a life they didn’t choose that brings them together. They are bound by blood and sacrifice. He’s a proper Gothic hero too, just as strong and fierce as Red but with an edge. He’s definitely the boyfriend you wouldn’t take home to Mum. It’s a complete awakening once Red enters the wood and she learns that the myths she’s been told about the world are far from the truth. I really enjoyed my foray into the world of fantasy. We all need a brooding love interest, with dark woods and crumbling castles. This isn’t all romance though, it’s more reminiscent of the original blood thirsty fairy tales where women are willing to saw off their own toes to fit a glass slipper or where an enchantment forces them to dance every night till their feet are bleeding. There is blood, so if you’re thinking of sweet, fluffy, fairy tales it might be better to imagine Disney meets Game of Thrones. This is a well written Gothic fairy tale, with a heroine who can not only save herself, but the world as well.

DNF @ 60%

I received an eARC of this for review.

Even the audiobook on 3.5x couldn't get me through this unfortunately. I think for some people this will absolutely be a perfect book but I just found myself frustrated.

It started off strong, with the first 100 pages or so being packed full of emotive language and beautiful, raw description. Then we kept getting that dramatic and emotive language used while absolutely nothing happened, which kind of just made it feel melodramatic instead. All the marketing I've seen seemed to advertise this as an adult Red Riding Hood retelling, but instead it was very much a YA Beauty and the Beast retelling. Honestly I feel like I've read this exact book dozens of times.

I was expecting a monster boy (I was promised a monster boy!!) but instead the 'monstrous wolf' is literally just a dude with long hair and some scars. It never makes sense why they sacrifice daughters to him and he literally offers to let her leave immediately after she arrives. The plot felt really slow and confused. I couldn't tell you what anybody's motivations were, like the entire plot was handwaved away in favour of a romance that wasn't nearly as interesting as the book thought it was. Tropes were shoved in with basically no build up or explanation and it just weighed the story down.

Ultimately I was just bored for the middle 40% of the book, and couldn't push through because I didn't care about self-absorbed Red or the bland Eammon. I had really high expectations and maybe that's part of why I'm so disappointed but honestly for an adult fantasy I want more depth and explanation, and to really feel the characters. This felt like a middling YA.

"The First Daughter is for the throne. The Second Daughter is for the Wolf." I wasn't really interested in this book until I read this line. This is what draw me in. How could I resist something like this?
Spoiler: I could not. I did not.
So, I asked for an arc. I received it. I read it and here I am, reviewing it.

Well, this review might sound like I'm high, but I assure you I'm note. So, ear me out: it's Red Riding Hood (the red cape on the cover it's explanation enough), but Red Riding Hood is not eaten by the Wolf, instead falls in love with him (I would not consider this a spoiler, because I got it from the plot that Red and Wolf would be our pair), BUT the Wolf is actually the Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Moreover, Red's sister is Snow White, but it's a Snow White with the potential to become the Evil Queen herself. Everything is, of course, set in a Russian-like world because Shadow And Bone just got adapted for Netflix and so that would sell.

As I said before, this does sound like a trip, but I assure you it is not. It does work. Somehow.

I find interesting seeing different takes on different tales, especially when they are mixed like this. However, I found it too "obvious"? Like, having the Snow White's character called Snow and having black hair and white skin. I prefer retellings when it's a bit harder to spot the original tale. Still, the overall story is not bad and the enemies-to-lovers and the development of Wolf and Red's relationship was cute to read. Just like I enjoyed the "corruption arc"(? let's call it that) of another character.

Still, I must inform that if you are going into this looking for more Russian folklore – because, you know, it's advertised "for fans of Spinning Silver and The Bear and the Nightingale" – you will end up disappointed. I know this is no fault of the author in anyway, but I wanted to point this out in my review so that, if someone is reading this, they can readjust their expectation and, hence, do not leave a negative review later because they did not find what they were looking for. I readjusted my expectation without too many problem, but I know of some readers who would have just given up on this book and they would have missed out on a nice story.

This is only the first book in a duology and I'm really curious on how the story might evolve, because some things have been solved, but some others are there, worrying our protagonists and I'm curious to see if also the sequels will be so fairy tale-influenced.


Note: I read in another review that this book could be targeted as a YA and not an A. I must confess that during the reading I had totally forgot that this was not a YA: the writing style is linear and easy, the plot is "clean" and not incredibly convoluted, and the characters are relatively young (you know, hundreds of years old but with a young face still counts as a young character). So, at most this could be a NA (because the characters are, yes, young but not teens, and there is some blood and killing here and there), but I would not recommend going into this one with the expectation of reading an A.