Review: For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten

Hey all, Dani here.

Wow, okay, so I’m posting a lot of reviews. I know. And I promise that some other content is coming too, but right now reviews are the easiest for me to write up fairly quickly (and I’m so behind on writing up reviews) so I’m writing a bunch and scheduling them out for right now. I do have a reading wrap-up, a book haul, and anticipated releases posts all planned out for next month…and I have tentatively planned my first couple of D&D related posts…and I might even put together a writing post next month as well, but I haven’t fully committed to that idea yet.

Anyway, I’m actually pretty glad that I’m getting back into a nice rhythm when it comes to reading and wanting to read, as well as wanting to write and blog. It’s always weird when so many small things start all building up and suddenly the tiny individual stresses have compounded to the point that you’re just not in the mindset to do much of anything other than exist. Some things are better, but some things are still a bit weird, so I’m just hoping that I don’t end up slumping again. Only time will really tell, honestly. So we’ll see what happens.

All right, let’s jump into today’s review.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

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

For fans of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale comes a dark, sweeping debut fantasy novel about a young woman who must be sacrificed to the legendary Wolf of the Wood to save her kingdom. But not all legends are true, and the Wolf isn’t the only danger lurking in the Wilderwood.

As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose—to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood—and her world—whole.

“A brilliant dark fantasy debut!” —Jodi Picoult, NYT bestselling author

My Thoughts:

Rating: 5 stars

I was entranced by this book pretty much immediately. I loved the atmosphere evoked by the writing. The characters were interesting, and the story wove together so well. To say I devoured this book quickly would be a bit of an understatement. Reading it definitely evoked that feeling of fairy tale, of fantasy, of escape and mystery and longing and encroaching darkness.

Trying to write up a coherent review for this is honestly difficult. I frankly just want to shove copies into your hands and just yell “Read it!” and run away so you can read without me hovering nearby. Seriously, I just really loved this book.

Red and Eammon (AKA the Wolf) were interesting characters and I loved watching their relationship and bond grow as they spent more time together and learned more about each other.

It was also interesting to see how the narrative of the legend was twisted to suit the views or desires of different factions. This also ties into the importance and power of religion, because the country that Red and her sister are from, religion is the country’s main power and export. They wield power across the land because their country is the one who sacrifices Second Daughters to the Wolf to save the kingdom and save the world from the threats of the Wilderwood. It is that idea that ties into twisting narrative to suit purposes.

We get to see that concept played out through characters too, as though the main bulk of the story follows Red and Eammon, we do get to see chapters that follow Neve, Red’s sister, so we see her perspective and what’s going on outside the Wilderwood after Red has entered the wood as “sacrifice.”

This story is also a story of sisterhood. Neve and Red are twin sisters, and so they have had a close bond their whole lives. To me, it’s clear how much they care about and worry about each other. This bond, and this desire to do whatever is necessary to take care of each other, is actually both a strength and a weakness, and we see this through Neve’s plot in this book…which I won’t get into details about because I feel like that sort of spoils things.

I loved this book. I loved the setting and the characters and the magic and the mystery/legend/history, and I absolutely cannot wait to read For the Throne just to see what is going to happen after everything in this book. I’m sure it’s going to be a fascinating journey.

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Well, that is all from me for today. It was a bit difficult to get this set of posts written up anyway. My morning started with a text telling me my grandpa had just passed away. I’m not quite feeling the loss just yet, but I know it’s coming. In a weird way it feels sort of fitting for this blog. I started it after my paternal grandmother passed away, and now I’m getting back into the swing of blogging and my maternal grandfather passes away. I’m still hoping to keep up with the posting schedule I’ve worked out for myself, but if I disappear for a while, that’s why.

Thanks for stopping by and I’ll be back soon with more geeky content.