The story throws you right into the action with Wren on the run, which kept me hooked from the start. The world-building is super detailed with lots of races and creatures — it took me a bit to keep track at first, but the glossary definitely helped.

Wren is a strong, complex main character who feels real, and I liked seeing her grow as she navigates all the chaos and mysteries around her. The multiple POVs gave different angles to the story, though at times I wished there were fewer to focus more on Wren’s journey.

The pacing slowed down here and there, and some parts felt a little clunky or rushed, but the story picked up well toward the end. The mix of magic, ancient rivalries, and political intrigue kept me interested, and I’m excited to see where this series goes next.

Overall, a solid 4-star fantasy with great potential — if you like character-driven stories with a bit of mystery and action, give this a go!

A big thank you for providing me with the ARC!!

Rating: 3.5🌟

The book started off a little confusing, especially with the quick introduction of multiple characters, however the plot got easier to understand. I throughly enjoyed the story and the progression of each characters arcs.

Some characters had such great growth, while others were annoying from the beginning and did not change. Faelan’s and Randon’s arcs in particular were predictable.

Wren is definitely an unreliable narrator, but it is ultimately because she is scared and wanted to protect herself and others, as well as not knowing the full story to pretty much anything.

The names of places and creatures were a little confusing to keep up with so the glossary came in handy. The magical aspects I found to be very cool, especially with their connection to Wren.

I did figure out certain plot lines, but I did not anticipate the level and depth to which they would be. The ending, however, I did not anticipate, but it sets up the sequel in a neat - almost cliché - way.

Wren is a girl who, in this story, is on the run—but from what? A Bird Among The Wolves is a tale of intrigue, secrets, action, and the desperate desire to escape a mess that was brought on by mistake. I truly suffered for poor Wren, because she didn’t ask for any of what happened to her, nor did she cause the problems that unfold in this story.

This story is told from multiple points of view, so you get to see many angles of the narrative.
You’ll also encounter various creatures with some interesting twists. I felt that the world-building isn’t very complex, so the book doesn’t feel overwhelming.

As for the characters—this is where I struggled to connect with them, and I’m not sure if it was because of the many points of view. For a first book, it was a bit much for me. But perhaps for a different kind of reader, this would actually be the strongest point. On the other hand, I did understand that it was necessary for the story.

The ending definitely leaves you wanting more, and yes—I do want to know what’s going to happen with Wren!

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out next year. So much happened in this book and I was constantly at the edge of my seat. A lot of worldbuilding, a lot of different plot lines just connecting and diverging. Definitely a series I plan to continue on.

Rounded up to 3.5 ☺️

So, the fantasy world is intriguing and full of potential—I genuinely enjoyed the concept and the unique elements introduced. However, the world-building was occasionally unclear, and there were moments where I found it hard to follow what was happening.

The story does pick up toward the end, and those final chapters gave me hope for what’s to come. There’s definitely something here worth exploring, and I’m curious to see how it all unfolds.

With the groundwork in place, I’m optimistic that the upcoming book will bring even more depth and direction.

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for an advanced copy!

I neither loved nor hated this book. At times I was bored but then others I was captivated. I felt the writing was long winded and drawn out in places that didnt need to be, which effected the pacing for me.

Thank you to the author, Tracy Leonard Nakatani, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

She’s the weapon no one saw coming.

As kings and councils hunt for answers, and enemies seek to claim her power, Wren is swept into a storm of suspicion and ancient rivalries—caught between shifting alliances and magic no one fully understands but all seek to control. Because the demons aren’t just rising.
They’re calling to her.

And when her blood calls to the forest—and the forest calls back—Wren must confront a truth she was never meant to find.
Something old is waking.
And it knows her name.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The world building is intense. It was a little difficult to understand all the different races and countries and creatures at first because it felt like too much at once. It took me a bit to get into the story because of that, but once I did, I was hooked! There are so many complex characters, and it was nice to get snippets of various points of view in order to better understand the reasoning behind their actions. It also helps move the plot along because Wren knows next to nothing, and the others know a lot.

I can't wait to continue Wren's story in the next book as she fights to get her answers and protect her chosen family.

Thank you to netgalley and Tracy Leonard Nakatani for allowing me to read this arc.

I haven't finished this novel yet, as changes in my personal life have meant I've been distracted reading it and feel it deserves more attention than I have been able to provide it, so this is a review only for what I've read so far. I have every intention of returning to this novel in the next few weeks, when I have the capacity to really delve into it, and will update my review upon completion.

I have enjoyed how fast paced this novel is, we were thrown straight into action which definitely spiked my interest. I also like that the characters are elvish and other fantasy species, which is a nice break from Fae. Moreover, I have enjoyed the world building so far, its complexity is interesting.

I really like Wren as an FMC so far, I like her quieter character but also her strength shes shown. I look forward to seeing how she grows and where she takes us in the novel.

And finally, Im enjoying the writing style of the author. I dont normally enjoy multiple POVs, however I can see already why these have been included and appreciate the different perspective these offer in a complex world. My only setback so far is that the writing feels a little clunky, I hope this improves throughout and if not, it isnt so great of an issue that would cause me to DNF.

I look forward to returning to this novel shortly when I have the capacity to enjoy it more (because I know I will, and have so far).

I made it to about 70% before dnf'ing. The story had all the merit of a good read, but it slowly became hard to stay connected to the story. 70% in and the story hadn't really gone anywhere since the beginning chapters, it was extremely slow paced. I dnf'd because it just wasn't going anywhere, there were no character arcs and no real plot development. I don't feel like I've missed anything by skim reading the last 30%.

This story was really quite interesting, and I had a great time getting thrown right into the action of it all! I think this was a fun first story but definitely needs some extra love as it didn't always feel coherent to the reader. It was clunky and awkward which is okay, but I think had it been more ironed out this would have read so much better!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

This book had me hooked from the first page. The characters were flawed to perfection, the creatures were unique, and the world was rife with political strife. I had a blast uncovering the lore and secrets of this world throughout the story. The only drawback for me was the logistics of the world left me a bit confused. The distance traveled didn't seem to align with what was described so it took me out of the story a bit. But overall I loved it and can't wait to read the next in the series.

This story was great! The way the author set up the world and explained it to us was simple and immersive. There was mystery and intrigue with all the characters I felt like you couldn’t trust anyone and everyone seemed to have a secrets. I felt like icing wise everything felt so rushed. We really were thrown into all this action without really u see stand what the heck was going on. I felt like the multi POV was needed but it seemed like Wren needed more chapters. This was an interesting story and multiple characters stood out to me that I started to love and I’m excited to see where the next book takes them! I just hope we have a little more backstory or context In the next story to fill some plot holes! Thank you NetGalley and the author for this arc review!

I had a good time. The world building needed a little more development to be top tier for me as a high fantasy reader but I would strongly suggest this to anyone unfamiliar with fantasy and interested in action. I enjoyed the characters and the found family feeling. Excited for the next book and to see more.

Thank you to Tracey Nakatani, the publisher, and NetGalley for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I genuinely enjoyed this book, the immediate tense what’s-going-to-happen vibes dragged me in and left me wanting to know more. There was so much of Wrens story that I I needed to know and it wasn’t dumped on me in the first few chapters, it was a journey of discovery that led me to finding out more (and honestly I know that there’s even more to read about in the next book which I need now!!)

I loved Wren and Randon as a future potential, Randon immediately calling her pup, despite us not yet knowing the truth behind the order was just *chefs kiss* - a bit of a slow burn (potentially mates?) that I cannot wait to see develop further, especially their protectiveness of each other. Hopefully no one gets in the way (looking at you Arlon)

Honestly the only thing about this story that took it down .5 stars was that there were too many povs where I didn’t fully understand their loyalty, or what their end goal was. Maybe that was the point, but I could have done with just Wren, Randon, Faelin, and maybe one other.

All in all would definitely recommend to any fantasy lover and I cannot wait to read what happens next!

A bird among wolves is the first in a trilogy by Tracy Leonard Nakatani. I’ll address the elephant in the room first - the first third of this book is obviously aesthetically inspired by skyrim, which - as a skyrim girly - made it very easy for me to slip myself into the world of the novel, but if you don’t enjoy the world building of skyrim/elderscrolls, you might not enjoy this book. As it stands, I found the twist of the classic depiction of dragons (forest walkers) interesting, as well as how the book approached its ‘chosen one’ plot beats, and as the book found its footing and started to diverge from its roots I found myself pulled in and thoroughly enjoying myself.

The characters motivations made sense to me, and the inter-party conflicts between the main gang were for the most part grounded and understandable - especially interactions between Wren and Faelan as this is one of the main sources of conflict running throughout the book. Wren and Randon have a very cute slow burn romance, and I could understand why they were falling for each other. The other POV characters (especially Marius) are enjoyable to follow and I loved Adeline’s POV as she moves against the rest of the main cast, giving us a better understanding of the forces at play in the world of the book. The side characters are all fun and witty, and the author very clearly excels at writing banter and inter-character conflicts - Wilk and Gayl especially were highlights!

As stated previously, my one hang up (and is something other people mention) is that the first third of the book doesn’t do a lot to set up the world of the novel as we are dropped right into the action. I think that I might have a higher tolerance for this as I personally enjoy information being fed to me as it becomes relevant and I’m familiar with the skyrim aesthetic to the world, but there are some plot beats that could have been foreshadowed at an earlier point in order to amplify the impact of the reveals. This didn't really impact my experience reading the book, but again, if this isn't a style of worldbuilding your particularly enjoy its just something to be aware of going in.

The book definitely picks up when Wren joins the brotherhood, and I would honestly recommend reading just for the characters (they're fantastic) and the final 2/3rds of the book, because all at once I found myself suddenly pulled into the conflicts as they unfolded.

If you like video games like the elder scrolls or the witcher, as well as witty characters and a good slow burn romance, then this is defo a recommended read for you. Overall, this is a good first book to get lost in for a while, and I’m looking forward to reading the next one and seeing how the world of the series expands as the plot unfolds!

From the very first page, I was absolutely hooked. Tracy Leonard Nakatani delivers a richly imagined fantasy debut that is equal parts lyrical, visceral, and pulse-pounding. This is the kind of book you open intending to read a chapter or two—and then look up and hours has passed

Wren is a fierce, haunted protagonist whose survivalist instincts make her both dangerous and deeply human. Hidden away for most of her life, trained by her elven father to fight and disappear, she’s thrust into a world spiraling into chaos after his brutal murder. The forest demons—the ancient, soul-bound monsters long thought extinct—are returning, and Wren is more connected to them than she ever could have imagined.

What follows is a beautifully tangled journey through ancient rivalries, creeping magic, and political tension. Nakatani’s prose is immersive and thoughtful, weaving dreamlike atmosphere with brutal urgency. I especially appreciated the inclusion of a glossary and character list—small details like these show just how much care went into the worldbuilding and make the experience even more rewarding.

Also, shoutout to the copyright page. It’s rare for that to leave an impression, but the line “Violators will be fed to the wolves” was such a perfectly on-brand touch that I had to smile. It sets the tone before chapter one even begins.

As Wren grapples with her shifting power and uncertain allegiances, the stakes rise in terrifying, emotional ways. The forest doesn’t just awaken—it knows her. The final revelations had me breathless, and the slow, subtle transformation Wren undergoes is nothing short of mesmerizing.

A Bird Among Wolves is a must-read for fans of grounded, character-driven fantasy with ancient magic, enigmatic creatures, and a heroine who was never meant to be a pawn. Wren is the weapon no one saw coming—and I can’t wait to see what wakes next.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC! I devoured this story and am already eager for more.

Thank you to Tracey Leonard Akatani, NetGalley and Three Amigas Press for this ARC.

The story begins by dropping you straight into the middle with little to no context and allowing you to figure it out as you go.

The world-building is almost non-existent and it suffers from a lot of pacing issues that need to be ironed out.

The 'romance' aspects didn't quite land for me either, which wasn't helped by the romantic interest affectionately referring to Wren (our MC) as "Pup".
I'm sorry, but it gave me the ick.

The main story left me interested, but not invested.

But if you can get past that what you have left is an interesting cast of characters that you want to care about and a lot of intrigue about what's to come. It has been closely compared to the Witcher universe and from what I've seen I can agree that it carries the same vibes.

I'd be interested to see where this series goes, I feel like it has a lot of potential, but it's not likely to be at the top of my list.

I was really hopeful going into A Bird Among Wolves. The description was exactly my kind of story—hidden power, forest demons, elven bloodlines, and a heroine destined for something greater. I was ready to be obsessed. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one at about 30%.

The concept has so much potential, and I genuinely think the world Tracy Leonard Nakatani is trying to build could be fascinating. However, the execution just didn’t work for me. The writing felt a bit choppy, and I struggled to fully immerse myself in the story or connect with the characters. The pacing felt uneven, and even though I kept hoping it would pick up or click for me, it just never quite did.

That said, I still believe readers who love slow-building fantasy with mysterious lore may find this to their liking—it just didn’t resonate with me personally.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Wren's life has been spent in hiding or on the run with her father, until her father is murdered and she flees for her life. She gets swept up into Marius' capture and imprisonment, and luckily escapes. A series of events leads her to the Brotherhood. She unintentionally makes friends within the Brotherhood and is trying to make sense of what is happening between her and the Nagendron and her connection with the boy from her dreams. She is called to pieces of a magical stone that she has no clue what it can do, and it turns out it's a powerful object that several groups are hunting. Several miscommunications later and lots of people are questioning their relationships and trying to find answers to complicated questions. At the end of the book Wren is once again on the run from all the people trying to kill her.

This story does a great job giving the reader important pieces of information while leaving several characters in the dark. I am excited to see how all the pieces of the puzzle come together and how all of the characters eventually find out the important information that everyone seems to be keeping from each other. I really enjoyed the unique story and magic that were involved in this world since it combined a lot of my favorite fantasy elements. I am excited to see how Wren's story unfolds and to find out if she is the true Guardian. I am bummed that the story doesn't publish until March 2026, so I have a long time to wait until book 2 releases!!!

Spice level- 0 peppers
Rating- 3.75-4 stars, but I liked it enough that I stuck with 4 stars for my review

Thank you Tracy Leonard Nakatani and NetGalley for my copy of the eARC and the chance to read this story!!! I can't wait for book 2!!!

This book was very slow to me. Enjoyed the storyline and plot but never got fully immersed into it.
Did love the characters though, Wren is a certified baddie