Review: For the Wolf (Wilderwood #1) by Hannah Whitten

 

For the Wolf

(Wilderwood #1)

by Hannah Whitten

June 1, 2021

448 pages

Goodreads Summary:

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 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.

Review

I don't remember how I first discovered For the Wolf but I remember crystal clear counting down the days to its release. As one of my most highly anticipated 2021 read, For the Wolf impressed me with its lyrical writing and creative magic.

With ancient forest magic and driven and persistent characters, For the Wolf was an atmospheric and immersive story. It took a few tries but once the magic and its workings sank in, the bloody and nightmare-ish picture it painted was an unforgettable one.

Red had me cheering for her from the first moment we met. Brave and loyal, Red willingly goes to her destiny to protect her sister. "...she realized that preparation wasn't acceptance." (p. 34) However, she was determined to not be easily silenced. I enjoyed Red's path to control. Though some parts became quite repetitive, her growth was clearly visible.

While I very much admire the sister bond in For the Wolf, I also was slightly annoyed with pieces of it. Neve, aka the first daughter, aka Red's twin, was stubborn and single-minded in her quest to "save" her sister. I wasn't a fan of Neve's actions but I understood they were born out of desperation to get Red back. The unwavering devotion they had for each other made all the mistakes they made bearable.

It's not a fairy-tale retelling without a romance. For the Wolf features a slow burn romance that really took to the definition of "slow". Red and the Wolf did not interact a whole lot and while those minutes were indeed precious and always heart-pounding (literally), nothing happened for the longest time. I wish the sweet and hopeful moments came sooner. "A future sewn together from the tatters she'd been left with." (p. 293)

Wild and imaginative, For the Wolf ensnared me with its intriguing plot and dynamic cast of characters. Count me in in the fight For the Throne!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.