For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
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Web ID: 12620756Wanted to like this
I like the characters, the premise, the setting, and the love story. My pros: - some very scenic and moody writing - good characters - original setting - healthy but brood-worthy romance - themes My cons: - pacing - writing - logic - ending Theme: This book is all about exploring choices, how and why people make them, and what counts as /real/ choice vs coerced or blind choice. I loved this! I just didn't feel it was executed in a way that hit home for me. I wish it were explored more deeply, because the way it ties into the magic and the world could be a really unique and meaningful look at how people make choices and how choices make us. Pacing: some parts of this were written in a way that I could *see* the scenes playing out in my head. And then most of the rest felt like running head first through a bunch of random things to get us to the next. It felt like the author had a series of snapshots that she knew exactly what she wanted to do with, but couldn't figure out how to get between them. This really threw me out of the book a lot and almost made me DNF. Writing: There are SO MANY references to "splinters", "cut-glass smiles" "knife-sharp" things, shards... in ways that are used that were really jarring to me. A few of these to really hit home the vibes would work, but it was just too much. Also, the brooding and character motivations felt flat and unearned. I couldn't for the life of me understand why our characters were acting how they did sometimes except that it wasn't "time" they get together. I wish it felt like a bigger exploration of internal worlds and how they interact when you try and let someone else in after a long time. There's also an extensive amount of exposition. I was told multiple times in a row what was happening in 3 different ways back to back, which kicked me out of the story and kept the characters from coming to life. Logic: Most of this book could be summed up as: the characters are confused or refuse to understand something because it won't work for the story if they understand it. Then, when they need to understand it, it just *comes* to them through a knowing in their bones. Ending: The ending made no sense and the payoff/stakes didn't feel earned or like I cared. Which was frustrating because I really liked the characters.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Must Read!
This is easily one of my favorite books I’ve ever read! The plot is familiar yet unique and the storytelling really pulls you in. I could barely put it down once I started. Looking forward to the second of this series!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
must read fairy tale mashup
For the Wolf is such an original take on the Little Red Riding Hood story with a side of Beauty and the Beast. It's dark and twisty and really delves into the deep dark forest, which of course is not what Red expected when sent to the "Wolf". While the characters could have used a little more depth the world building is so well done. The slowly building relationship between Red and the Wolf is something I'd love to see expanded on in the second book. Their strengths and motivations really complement each other and their growth as characters centers around their interactions with each other.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Nature/gothic infused magic and slow burn romance
One of my favorite books I’ve read in a while! A bit of a slow beginning but the world building and magic system in this book is amazing. The nature infused magic and gothic imagery create a beautiful and dark world that I couldn’t put down! A bit of romance as well that is a slow burn and perfectly weaves through the story.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
On the fence
I struggled with this one a bit. The writing was beautiful and descriptive yet lack fluidity at times. The love story was the one thing that kept me going and it fizzled.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Darkly Atmospheric with a Slow-Burn Romance
This book took me an embarrassingly long time to review. This is very outside the norm for me, and I initially tried to read this book just as I was hitting a book slump. I recently revisited this to give it a fair shot, and I'm glad I did. "The first daughter is for the Throne. The second daughter is for the Wolf. And the Wolves are for the Wilderwood." Talk about an attention grabber. For the Wolf is a darkly atmospheric, foreboding, and well-written reimagining of a few well-known fairytales (for me, the most prominent tale that comes to mind is Beauty and the Beast). I enjoyed how it explores familial relationships, religion, politics, and magic. I'm also an eternal sucker for romance peppered in with my fantasy, so I was excited to dive in and discover how the relationship between Red and the Wolf (a.k.a. Eammon) would develop. Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me, but I didn't fall in love with it; I was missing the love-hate struggle of wanting to finish yet lamenting the fact that it's over. When I attempted to read this book the first time and on my successful reread, I found the pace to be a little too slow at times. The writing is beautiful, don't get me wrong. The author is clearly talented and writes in a way that makes me feel as if I'm experiencing the story with the characters—the Wilderwood is a creepy character in and of itself—but the repetition, lack of action, and somewhat confusing world-building took me out of the story and made it difficult to hold my interest. What kept me going and what made the story for me are the bits that give a peek into the relationships. The bond between sisters Red and Neve is strong and realistic, and reading about Neve sparked my curiosity about her story. I also enjoyed the slow (very, very slow lol) building up of the romance between Red and Eammon. While I prefer my romance to be on the spicier end of the spectrum, their connection was sweet and had me eager for more. If this book is anything to go by, I’m curious enough to check out what this author writes next. Read this if you enjoy slower-paced reimaginings of classic tales/folklore, slow-burn romance, interesting magic systems, and strong sisterly bonds. Many thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review and for their patience.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
This book captured me !
This was my first intro into the magic/ fantasy genre and I’m so glad it was ! The way this book had me holding my breath, waiting and wanting more. Had me saying “finally” “oh my gosh” “what the heck” all out loud ! I loved it and it was so unpredictable!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Really good
Some slow parts but overall really really good. I did not care about the other characters enough to buy the sequel to this book, and don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. Highly recommend this book.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com