For the Wolf | Book Review

 Book: For the Wolf (Wilderwood 1) by Hannah Whitten
Release Date: June 1st 2021
Tags: Fairytale Retelling | Red Riding Hood | Beauty and the Beast | Magical Forest | Family | Sibling Love | Manipulation
Trigger/Content Warnings: Parental Neglect | Anxiety | Panic Attacks | Self-Harm | Hallucinations | Death of a Parent | Gore | Blood

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.

For the Wolf is one that has been making the rounds in the last year and when it was added to my twitter challenge by one of my twitter friends it ended up on my yearly tbr. But it wasn’t until I got the sequel in my hands that I actually picked it up. I certainly enjoyed For the Wolf. It isn’t perfect though.

For the Wolf initially seems to be a red riding hood fairytale, even more so hinted at by the cover. Yet as we continue the story it feels more like a Beaty and the Beast retelling. Red is the beauty and our wolf who is just human, is the beast for his monstrous connections. But he isn’t really. He is just trapped in a cage not of his own making. Once Red enters, things start to change. She seems to be the second daughter that will change everything. Except you know, he doesn’t want to hear that. Save me from stuborn men.

But I ended up falling for the basic story and the mystery. What did everything mean? Who are these kings? What is this land? What are these woods? The author made it an atmosperic read with a creepy wood which is what I like in my wood stories. And in the end I quite liked our main characters the wolf and red. They aren’t nessecarily the most captivating characters once you start the book but they both grow throughout in their own way and towards each other.

However I do think the book was a bit too long. Certainly some things could have been cut. There were also the interlude chapters towards Red’s sister who is trying to save her. I understand the need for the look at what is happening there as it is so important for the ending and the next book. But it pulls away from the story that is happening. It could have been dealt with differently.

And lastly I feel like we should have gotten a bit more on our side characters. They were there for so long with the Wold and clearly they are important to him. But then why not show that connection a bit more?