Thank you to Three Amigas Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
I have to say, I was a bit worried when starting this book, as I had seen so many people DNF it. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This is not a romantasy by any means—the romantic subplot is faint and, in my opinion, quite unimportant. The book is mostly fantasy, focusing on the kingdoms and the many creatures behind the walls.
Wren is a very interesting character. She often finds herself in situations beyond her control and frequently bears the consequences of others’ actions. To be honest, even after finishing the book, I’m still unsure of her true intentions and desires. That said, I loved the Brotherhood and enjoyed the multiple POVs, which I have to say added a lot to the story.
Overall, I would recommend this book! It was an enjoyable read and a solid fantasy—high stakes, with characters that felt real.
Goodreads rating: 3.75

Thank you so much to Netgalley & Victory Editing for the advanced copy!

In a Bird Among Wolves, we follow our main character, Wren, as she’s thrown into the completely unfamiliar world beyond the isolated life she lived with her father. After his grisly, untimely death, Wren must do as he instructed and run as far as she can.

I found Wren to be a really great FMC, She’s young but she’s not a petite little waif with glass bones (praise the lord). Our girl is tall, strong and well able to handle herself in a fight which is so refreshing and made for some fun fight scenes.

The ensuing Witcher-like adventure includes; found family, a deliciously slow burning romance, plenty of adrenaline and an intricate political nexus between the cities & races dotted throughout the kingdom.

The author succeeds in building a complex world, including magical creatures beyond your standard fare, with ease. I was hooked within the first two chapters and I really enjoyed that the story was woven together at a steady pace, without flooding the reader with too much information at once. I can’t wait for this book to be released in March 2026 as I know it’ll make a great book club/group read pick or gift for the fantasy readers in my life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Three Amigas Press for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Bird Among Wolves by Tracy Leonard Nakatani is a captivating fantasy that had me hooked from the first page. Despite some minor issues, I found myself unable to put this book down.

The story follows Wren, a character whose journey from fearful and distrusting to finding her true strength forms the heart of this tale. While I appreciated the realistic portrayal of someone dealing with trauma and fear, I would have loved to see more of Wren's inner strength emerge before her major transformation. Her growth felt a bit too dependent on external changes rather than internal development.

The supporting characters shine, particularly Randon, whose development throughout the story was expertly handled. However, Faelen remained frustratingly one-note—so consistently broody and angry that it was difficult to see him as anything beyond an antagonist, even when the story seemed to want us to view him differently.

Nakatani's pacing is excellent, keeping the plot moving at just the right speed. However, the multiple POVs can be overwhelming, especially early on. The worldbuilding is complex and immersive, but I'd strongly recommend reading the glossary first—it would have saved me considerable confusion about the various factions and relationships. The shifting perspectives reminded me of When the Moon Hatched in terms of complexity, and it took quite a while to sort out who was aligned with whom.
The writing is generally strong, though some of Wren's internal monologue felt a bit juvenile, particularly her self-talk after major events.

Despite these minor critiques, this is an engaging fantasy that fans of complex worldbuilding and character-driven plots will enjoy. Recommended for readers who don't mind juggling multiple POVs and appreciate stories where characters earn their strength through adversity!

The cover and the description really brought me in. The magic system, i feel like i have read something like it before. For the first book the balance of keeping it exciting and world building for the rest of the series fell a bit short for me. I did enjoy the plot concept and the character interaction so i will stay invested in the series in hope that it will get more intense later. And that maybe there will be more battle scenes.

DNF @ Ch 9/15%

I really liked the premise of this book. Burn and everything run? yes! Elves and forest demons? yes! Weird magic, creepy forests, politics and rivalries? YES!

It started off okay. Like any good fantasy novel, there's usually a lot of world building in the beginning, but this felt like it tried go too fast, too quickly. You're thrown into the action right away, but instead of being pulled in I was just confused. There are a lot of terms and place names used without much description as to what they encompass. And yes, there is a glossary at the back, but even those definitions were lacking. If the glossary is expected to be read and these terms understood before beginning the story because they won't be explained, then I would expect that to be put upfront and made a bit more obvious.

This confusion and the transitions between scenes/chapters made things feel clunky. More than once I had to go back and reread bits because I felt like I had missed something, but I hadn't.

Normally, I would've given it to about 25 or 30% before making a DNF decision, because it wasn't all bad. I liked the plot and I did want to see what happened. But when I found the authors instagram and website, I was very disappointed to see nothing but AI slop for the "artwork" and character "art". Considering authors are as much victims of ai theft as other artists, I don't get why they use these things in the first place. Either way, I don't support it, and I will not willingly support the works of those that use it.

absolutely enjoyed this fast paced, multi POV fantasy especially the character dynamics. so much top tier banter and dialogue that truly flows so well and had me really invested in each character.

A Bird Among Wolves is a rich fantasy debut with a truly intriguing lead and a world full of ancient secrets, layered magic, and rising darkness. While the story took me a little time to get into—mainly due to the large cast of characters and shifting POVs—it really found its rhythm in the second half, and I found myself fully pulled into Wren’s journey!

Wren herself is one of the most relatable fantasy heroines I’ve read in a while. She’s not the typical heroine, and I was the most excited to read her POV's. She's the kind of protagonist who feels real and grounded, even in a world full of elves, demons, and mysterious forest magic.

The world-building is deep and ambitious. At first, I had to reread a few sections to keep track of everything and all the names, but once I settled into the flow, I really appreciated how layered it all was. The second half especially delivers, with the pace picking up and the stakes rising. Without spoiling anything—I’ll just say the ending left me wanting the next book immediately!!!

Huge thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early—I’m sharing my thoughts voluntarily and with genuine appreciation.

“A Bird Among Wolves” delivers everything a stellar fantasy novel should: a richly developed world, compelling characters, an enthralling plot, and a fantasy world that feels both original and satisfying. At the heart of this story is Wren, a protagonist so vividly crafted that readers will find themselves deeply invested in her fate from the very first page.
Forced to flee her home after her father’s death, Wren is thrust into a dangerous political web that lands her in captivity. Though innocent, she finds herself ensnared by forces beyond her control, her true origins, and her unknown destiny, slowly unraveling before her. Wren is more than just a survivor; she is a catalyst for change, a figure around whom the world itself seems to bend. The author masterfully builds her character, making her development feel inevitable. Along the way, Wren attracts allies and adversaries, blurring the lines between friend and foe in a way that keeps the reader guessing.
The supporting cast is just as well-crafted, each character adding depth and intrigue to the narrative. Yet Wren remains the undeniable nucleus of the story, her journey driving the plot forward with relentless momentum.
Nakatani’s worldbuilding is immersive and vivid, striking the perfect balance between detail and restraint. The introduction of creatures like the Forest Walkers, once peaceful, now twisted into something terrifying, adds a further layer of mystery.
By the novel’s end, Wren’s quest is far from over, and readers will undoubtedly clamour for the next chapter in her saga. “A Bird Among Wolves” is a standout fantasy that promises, and delivers, an unforgettable adventure. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven epics and intricate, fantasy worlds.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc.
This book had me hooked from the beginning, I couldn’t put it down.
If you like Books with Elves, Wolves, Enemies , political intrigue and secrets a bird among wolves is the book for you. I also really enjoyed the multiple POVS.
I can’t wait for Book 2

pre thoughts
- Medieval

overall
- This had be invested from chapter 1
- immaculate world building
- Fast paced
- The main FMC Wren is a great representation of a strong FMC and it was quite enjoyable following her journey.
- Cant wait to read the next book in this series

stars 3.5 rounded to 4
spice 0

tropes
- Multiple POV
- Found family
- Strong FMC
- Action
- Slow burn

Thank you to Netgaller for the opportunty to review this eARC, all thoughs and opions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

I was really excited about this book from the start. The beginning was very much like the opening of Skyrim and I was so into that. But as the book continued on, it sort of just became a generic fantasy book? Nothing really stood out or was memorable. There are 5 different POVs, with Wren's being the most prominent one. One of the characters I would simply groan when it was their turn because I simply did not care about them.

I understand that this will be a series, but at the end of the book, I truly couldn't tell you what the overarching goal of the series will be.

Take a shot every time "the wolf" is mentioned.

I feel like this has potential, but needs more refining and direction.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

A Bird Among Wolves was a great read overall, though it started off a bit slow and somewhat confusing due to the number of characters and shifting points of view. Once I got a handle on the different character names and locations, the story became much easier to follow—and much more enjoyable.

The story follows Wren, who is searching for a friend to help her after her father’s death. Instead, she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and is arrested alongside a notorious king killer. After a mythical creature appears, Wren and another prisoner escape, setting off a chain of events that marks her as a person of interest.

As Wren finds herself in a new city, her friend advises her to share a carefully crafted version of her story, one that will benefit her. She becomes entangled in the politics and military of the city, training as a soldier and uncovering more magical elements tied to her past and her identity. Through multiple POVs, we learn that many powerful people are watching her closely.

Without giving away too much, I’ll just say that the second half of the book really picks up, and I found myself binge-reading to see how everything would unfold. If you enjoy slow-burn fantasy with layered characters and a touch of magic and mystery, this one is worth the read!

Rating: 3.5/5

As you might guess from reading that, this novel hits the ground running. There are moments here and there that let us catch a breath, and it's broken up some with multiple POVs, but overall, the pacing is quick.

I generally enjoy multiple POV books, especially in the fantasy genre, though for me, this one does fall into the trap of some POVs being less enjoyable than the others. The characters are engaging and *mostly* likable, and the worldbuilding was interesting and interspersed throughout the book.

This novel is a good time. One scene in particular involves characters finding and retrieving piglets, and it reminded me of a mission you'd play in a cozy rpg video game. I don't mean that in a bad way; I love cozy games, and it was a short, fun scene.

This is listed as book one in the Ashes of Akkavara series. I don't know if I'll continue with the series. I did enjoy reading this, but it didn't quite give me the level of excitement or intrigue that would usually hook me in the first book of a series.

A Bird Among Wolves pulled me in with its haunting atmosphere and layered storytelling. The tension between vulnerability and strength was beautifully written, and the characters felt raw and real. A few slower parts kept it from being a full five stars, but overall, a gripping and emotional read.

• I received an ARC for this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and I appreciate both your work and commitment to this project. The following opinion is my own and holds no major spoilers. •

I love puzzles. The sensation of picking up a small piece, finding out where it goes, feeling like maybe there’s no way in hell I’m gonna be able to finish it and after long hours you click the last connection and you look back to everything you did and it feels *just right*.

Well, this book is the nightmare version of this.

It’s like trying to complete a puzzle where you have no idea what’s the bigger picture, where the pieces have different sizes and where the connections need to be cut open so they fit somewhere because nothing makes sense and they keep throwing you information after information and you have no idea where any of that fits.

There’s a major vague idea of a big conflict in the world but the FMC is thrown around so many places I couldn’t register where the actual story would begin or what was still prologue/background construction/flashback.

I had to push my way through this book and it only got worse once the characters’ names kept changing to first name/last name/typos. (I seriously thought the guy’s name was Random because it was a placement name only to find out it was a typo and it was RandoN). If I wasn’t committed to reviewing this book, I’d probably have DNF’d at 40% or so.

I also hate when people write about diverse races but don’t take their time introducing what they actually look like and you need to keep a shadow in your mind until much later in the story where you have a proper picture of it and then it’s just a chimera that gives you no connection at all. Now imagine this with at least 3-4 types of races.

I found this book to be confusing and it reads like a draft in some chapters. In the end the puzzle that was this book looked like a blob of pieces and most of them weren't even used at all. I hope it goes through some severe editing before being published.

I really enjoyed this book. From the writing style, the different POV’s & the characters. I loved how it dived straight into the story. My only complaint is now having to wait for book two!
Really looking forward to seeing how the story continues!

A Bird Among Wolves was refreshing and beautifully written. Wren’s character development was a joy to be a part of and I am dying for more! This book has a well paced plot, good characters, and an enjoyable story. I recommend!

This book was well written and I throughly enjoyed the world building! The book drops you into the action right away with Wren on the run and I couldn’t put it down. Will be waiting for the second book!!!

Thank you for this ARC!

The premise of the book pulled me in and I love the creative use of different names for different kinds of elves and creatures.
While the characters are well developed and the story and action kept me hooked, I missed more worldbuilding and the information and bits of backstories woven inbetween, even if they were written in perfect moments, broke me out of the narrative in several places. I also would have loved a more realistic and descriptive way of Ulfred's changing, for example, but that's a personal preference, so I don't mind it as much.

Overall, A Bird Among Wolves is a good story but it didn't truly keep me rooting enough to want to read book 2.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

⭐️3.75⭐️
Thank you to NetGally and the Author for this ARC, it is my first time reading an ARC copy so thank you for the opportunity!

I really enjoyed it and thought it was well written but the different POV’s very early on was a little confusing for me. Eventually I understood what was going on but to begin with I was a little lost.

There are a lot of characters in this story and they seem to pop up out of no where with not much introduction but again, as I read on it began to make more sense.

The storyline was great and there was a lovely sense of found family, political intrigue and uncovering of the truth.
It has a good amount of action throughout the whole book.
Overall a great read!

The glossary at the end was very helpful because trying to work out the difference between Norverans and Demorans along with all the other sub species was hard from reading the book!

I also think a map would be a good idea as the story is based in such a large world that a map would really help visualise where each town/ city is.