Review: For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten

For the Wolf is a book I’ve been looking forward to for a while. And while it took longer for me to read than I thought, I’m utterly hooked. For the Wolf delivers all these Beauty and the Beast vibes and it is fabulous! Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.

Summary

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

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

TW (from author website): self-harm for magic use (cutting), parental neglect/emotional abuse, mentions of physical symptoms that might be triggering to those with emetophobia, anxiety/panic attacks, parental death, gore, mild audio/visual hallucinations, religious abuse

I am not normally a fan of Beauty and the Beast, but For the Wolf delivers these vibes in an intriguing way! The romantic tension, the plant and dark magic, the friendships within the castle – all of it entranced me. While it’s slower paced than I expected – and something that you might wanna prepare yourself for – once I adjusted I was obsessed. The world building, in particular the magic, just captured my intrigue. There is magic running through Red’s veins with darkness, a potentially destructive force that keeps the shadows at bay. But also a magic she will have to learn to embrace, or else.

Entrenched in secrets, Red must figure out what she is willing to sacrifice for love, her future, and the kingdom. The forest truly becomes its own character in For the Wolf and is oozing with intrigue and darkness. Whitten is just getting started with the promises of this magic and the last chapters had my heart racing! Another favorite element had to be the slow burn romance. I’m not going to lie, some scenes had me almost shaking Red, but it all came together with yearning and tension. If you have the patience for slower romance story lines, then this will be perfect for you!

Overall,

By the end I was half screaming, “just decide y’all” and also swooning. And my last favorite element, which took me by surprise, was the sisters! We get some POV chapters from Red’s sister Neve and they are a delight. It grounds For the Wolf in a story about love and sacrifice, but also sisterhood. In their plight to be reunited, to not let the stories and folktales keep them apart. But also in the ways we will do, and make, terrible choices to find the ones we love. How that’s when we seem to be at our most vulnerable.

If you are in the mood for a slower paced book with a strong series beginning, then you have to read For the Wolf. It unfurls before you in an unhurried fashion as Whitten lays the groundwork for an expansive fairy tale vibe series. I am so excited for the next one and all the promises of sisters and love!

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Find For the Wolf on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Discussion

What is your favorite sisterhood duology?

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