For the Wolf ARC Review

The first daughter is for the Throne.

The second daughter is for the Wolf.

GoodReads

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.

My Review

Author’s Content Warnings HERE

For the Wolf is hands down one the best books I have ever read. I completely adored Whitten’s writing style and the premise. It was this fairytale mashup where it was just so much fun to see how she wove things together. I adored our MC Read and the Wolf so much. I found Redarys to be relatable. She didn’t pretend to not be afraid of her fate but she was noble in her reasoning to keep to it. Her love for her sister is what drove her much like her sister Neve’s love motivated her.

I wish we had gotten to know more about our other amazing side characters but to be honest I was entirely wrapped up in Red, the Wolf, Neve, and the Wilderwood.

To me it really was satisfying almost that enough time had passed since the Wolf and the Wilderwood’s beginnings that things have been miscommunicated and retold over the generations. And I actually just could have read 400 pages on the Wilderwood and its lore and still have adored this.

Whitten’s world-building was my cup of tea and the dark mythos to the religion, the order of the Five Kings and this rise of a more cult like sanction was just so intriguing to read about.

The pacing was ‘just right’ in my case, we had things happening, feelings developing and none of it felt slow for me and yet the relationships and tensions weren’t rushed either. It was a very ‘everything in its time’ feel so that it all fell into place like pieces of a jigsaw.

Red grows so much from the first pages and while I usually hate being ripped away from an MC I’m very intrigued by, I also loved every little interlude that gave us all a glimpse at what Neve was up to back in the castle. Hers was also just this amazingly intriguing storyline and I look forward to seeing more of that. (Though Kiri is utterly terrifying)

The Wolf himself is pretty much a case of ‘the caffeinated reader swoons’ I love his determination and stubbornness, sure, it’s hella annoying for Red but he does it with a purpose and his kind heart shows through more than anything.

Also 10/10 would want that cloak of Red’s in real life.

5/5 Cups of coffee from me, I would not change one thing about this aside from perhaps wishing I could fast forward to For the Throne’s release. Utter perfection on pacing, style, plot, and characters. Thank you so much to the publisher, Orbit Books UK for an ARC of this in exchange for my honest review!