'In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen' is a refreshing fantasy novel - the first installment of the 'Geomancer' trilogy by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

The story is really well paced, and I appreciate that the chapters are short and to the point - the plot doesn't suffer from being bogged down by overly descriptive world-building, and something interesting happens in each chapter to keep the reader's interest.

I enjoyed the magic system being nature based, and that the most interesting characters are girls/women. Even the 'villians' of the story are more nuanced than the typical 'good vs. evil' fantasy trope.

I'm looking forward to continuing with this series and checking out the author's other works in the meantime :)

~ Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title ~

I'm a huge fan of Kiran's books, so I was super excited to read the first in the Geomancer series, and it definitely didn't disappoint.
There's just something special about Kiran's storytelling that is so delightful. The sense of place and vivid imagery brings In The Shadow Of The Wolf Queen alive.

This story follows Ysolda, who lives with her sister Hari, a young girl who can hear nature using an amulet in Glaw Woods. There's many myths and superstitions surrounding the forest, including that of the Wolf Queen. After a mysterious earthquake rocks the place Ysolda calls home, she desperately tries to find Hari, who has disappeared. Undertaking a bracing rescue mission with her faithful Hawk Nara, Ysolda is determined to find her sister, but who are the people in the cloaks, who actually is the Wolf Queen and what does she want with the pair of them?

Full of magic and adventure with themes of nature running through it, this is a beautiful story of sisterhood and resilience. The pacing is superb with something happening in each chapter that captivates the reader's attention. I would recommend this to everyone from younger readers to older readers and can't wait for the next book in the series. It's absolutely brilliant and so addictive! I will forever recommend Kiran as a storyteller, and this is why.

As soon as I realised that Kiran Milwood Hargrave had written another book, I knew I had to read it. I was delighted to discover that this is book 1 in a trilogy which means there will be more to come!
From the very beginning, you are immediately immersed in a world which is so richly described that it feels real - from the unique Ogham language used by the main characters to the culture and beliefs of the people living within the village. The main protagonists are amazing from the Wolf Queen herself who is imperious and used to being obeyed to Ysolda who does not regard herself as special at all. Throughout, you get the impression that there is yet more to be revealed.
I raced through book 1 and will be eagerly looking out for book 2.

A book by Kiran Millwood Hargave is always a treat, but this one was exceptional. It is incredibly beautifully written, so that the reader has to linger over every sentence, every page. The characters are fantastic - I loved Ysolda, with her courage and loyalty and love of her sister - and her sea hawk Nara! The wolf queen herself is so memorable. There's a really interesting blurring of history, myth and fantasy, which makes the story world rich and strange, but also familiar. I can't wait for the rest of the series.

Trust Kiran Millwood Hargrave to deliver a book filled with whimsy and steeped in folklore, myths and legends. In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen is no different, and it is what I enjoyed most about this book.

However, this book was very hard for me to get into, which is the main reason for giving it 3 stars. I can't quite place what it was that didn't pull me in, but it did frustrate me. I think I'll have to give the finished copy a try, and hopefully that will work better for me. In any case, I am excited to continue this series!

As a huge fan of Kiran Millwood Hargrave's adult and children's books, I was really excited to hear that she was releasing a fantasy trilogy. I was not disappointed.
In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen follows Ysolda, who has to rescue her tree-whisperer sister, Hari. Alone, bar her loyal sea hawk, Ysolda has to travel through decaying forests and to the notorious Wolf Queen herself. What follows is a well-paced, exciting and warm adventure, with darker elements than in Kiran's other children's books. There is nothing that I wouldn't share with my Year 6 class in it so far, but I'm unsure if it will be a YA-aimed fantasy series when it is completed.
What I loved about this story is that it shows the magic of nature, with descriptions so vivid they play like a film in your head. There was a scene towards the end that was confusing as I couldn't quite picture what was happening but this was a one-off. The storytelling and worldbuilding is superb, with things revealed carefully throughout and no massive info dumps. The characters, including the animal ones, are vivid, with the General Shiv and the strange girl in the opening chapter (no spoilers here!) being particular favourites.
This had enough excitement for a standalone but equally is the perfect introduction to the world and story of a trilogy. I'm looking forward to sharing this with children in my class who adore fantasy adventure stories as much as I do, and am looking forward to the sequel too. 4.5 rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think this will be the start to a great children's fantasy series, but the pacing was a bit off for me and lead me to struggle slightly. It seemed simultaneously very fast but also like it was taking too long for things to happen. I liked the characters and I think getting to know them better in the later books and learning more of their backstory will be really interesting.

The animals were also a great addition to the story and really made it - Nara and the wolves were fantastic and their personalities were very enjoyable. I'm also looking forward to the dynamic between the Wolf Queen and her daughter when they come face to face again, and learning more about what happened between them too.

An enjoyable story that sets up the rest of the series well and promises to be full of adventure and magic.

This magical first of a new series novel by a talented and best-selling author has all the makings of a classic.

We follow a feisty young protagonist Ysolda and her trusty hawk friend Nara as they navigate adventures beyond the realms they know in order to solve a mystery and save a loved one.

This has all the elements of a great MG fantasy; magical forests, giant wolves, a haughty queen and enough action to keep the story flowing with a good few cliff-hanger chapter ends.

I know that this will be popular amongst the 10-13 year bracket, and I’ll certainly ensure a copy makes its way into the school library. I’m looking forward to part two in the series now.. there’s unanswered questions and scope for lots more of Ysolda’s storyline, plus potential for spin-offs too!

I lived this book. There were twists and turns that I didn't get and the writing was amazing. The whole book had me wanting to know more and I was gutted when it was over! Another fabulous read by a phenomenal author.

Kiran Millwood Hargrave is an excellent writer, who has written many books for children alongside some for adults. This book is the start of her new fantasy trilogy. I enjoyed the world-building and characters, and was particularly intrigued by the wolf-queen herself. It sets up the series well, but I confess that I didn’t find it a fully satisfying read by itself. This being said, I will be interested to read the next books in the series, and maybe it would appeal better to younger readers,

A phenomenal read from the most sensational author. With wonderful characters, a stunning setting, and a fast paced plot, this has the makings of a new children's classic!

What a fabulous new series from such a superb writer. It is full of adventure, mystery and magic. An absolute roller coaster of a ride and some very interesting characters. I can't wait for the next in the series.

This has set itself up to be a wonderful series and the ending will definitely leave you wanting more!

We get to know Ysolda and her hawk Nara and follow them in their adventures to save their sister whilst following the clues to find the Anchorite. The wolf queen is a formidable woman and Ysolda find herself in her clutches and forced to lead her to this mythical Anchorite…

I’m not sure how it world read for children but for a children’s book I found it to be heavily descriptive which may be a struggle for some and could make for harder reading. I enjoyed it and it added to its immersiveness but the style may not suit all.

It had a steady beginning and found that it really started to pick up half way through the book. There was plenty of drama and action to keep you entertained but at times I struggled to remain invested in the story although I’m not sure why! Ysolda was a great character and I’m intrigued to see how she will navigate her quest in the next book as they still have a lot to face in their journey!.

Kiran Millwood Hargreaves’s writing just goes from strength to strength and this magical, nature centred , mystical story is a real page turner. It has strong themes of respecting nature and family loyalty and characters that inspire you to become invested in their lives very quickly. I loved the descriptions of the huge wolves that are not just used for transport but are also much loved by the queen, Seren. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

You can always trust Kiran Millwood Hargrave to whisk you away into a far off land with the power of her gorgeous prose. What a beautiful, magic world to start a series in with nature imbued into every fibre. My only regret is not reading this book in a mossy forest instead of on my couch.

An interesting start to what I'm sure will be a popular series. Probably for those who prefer a more descriptive, slow paced story. Very enjoyable for the right reader, but unfortunately not quite the right style for me.

At present, we already have an established set of books in our curriculum and The Girl of Ink and Stars by the same author is included in this. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved the strong, diverse characters that Kiran created. I loved the ambiguity of the Wolf Queen and am interested to see whether she will return. I’m particularly excited to see little nods to ‘our’ world and enjoyed trying to piece together exactly where Glaw Wood and The Lakes could be. Having a large number of Pakistani pupils, they will love the inclusion of little bits of their own language. All in all, a lovely return to the fantasy genre / magical realism that was my initial introduction to Kiran’s work.

The natural world is changing, becoming unfamiliar to those who rely upon its resources. Hari and Ysolda are orphaned, wild sisters living on the cusp of Glaw Wood. Until one night Ysolda finds their home swallowed by the earth and her older sister abducted for her gifts. Here she must be brave and embark on an uncertain quest to find Hari and confront the people who took her.

In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen was my first leap into Hargrave’s writing for a younger audience! And like her adult novels, this is dense with lyrical language that creates an immersive reading experience. The reader is immediately transported to the looming, formidable presence of the forest and the power that lies within the land. Bookworms who enjoyed the Hobbit or Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke should keep an eye on this series; it’s bound to be magical.

Thank you to both Netgalley and Hachette for this whimsical adventure!

In The Shadow of the Wolf Queen is the first installment of a new fantasy trilogy and it follows the fortunes of Ysolde, as she tries to find her sister, Hari, who was abducted by riders. Set in a beautiful world of forests and magic, where the trees speak their own language to those who have the gift of Listening, this book is a wonderful introduction to a new fantasy realm.

In some ways it reminded me of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, in others it was reminiscent of the Robin Hood fable. It is nicely paced, with an ending that leaves you eager for the next book in the series, however, I'm not sure I'll remember the story that well by the time book two is published. It is a well drawn fantasy novel and is perfect for the YA audience it is aimed at, but it didn't feel particularly memorable to me. Maybe I'll feel differently once I've read the whole series. I am looking forward to book two coming out in due course.

As with all of this author's work, the writing style is beautifully lyrical, almost poetic and she paints a vivid world with her carefully chosen words.The cover art is stunning and would look great face-out on a bookshelf. It is a fairly short book, one that I read over a couple of afternoons, sitting in the garden. As this novel is filled with earth magic, I felt it was fitting to read it in the garden, surrounded by trees, with the birds chirping and the bees humming alongside me. All in all, it is a very pleasant read and a lovely book to take on holiday with you, or to sprawl in a park or garden with. Happy summer reading!

Beautiful world-building with a solid story and plot; I enjoyed the story. It's very descriptive, which may put some children off. If this was for adults, I'd argue it would count as grimdark. The magic is rich and different, the setting is harsh, but ultimately it's the people who are the bigger threat. Ysolda's sister gets kidnapped, so she goes on a mission to save her and gets tangled up in a story far more complicated than she could have guessed. I enjoyed the collection of characters and hope to see them again.