I’ve been looking forward to Wolftamer since Soulgazer and this was such a solid sequel! I loved the theme of sacrifice and love. The decisions we make because we don’t know what else to do even if they’re tinged with resentment. Keep reading this book review of Wolftamer for my full thoughts.
Summary
Faolan has escaped death. Twice.
After a lifetime chasing freedom and legends, he was finally on the brink of becoming one himself when it all went up in flames. Stranded on the Isle of Lost Souls, bound by an oath he did not make, Faolan is plagued by dreams of drowning and a past he swore never to revisit. The pirate in him wants nothing more than to raise hell and run away—but with no ship, and no way to untether his wife, Saoirse, from the land she’s pledged herself to, Faolan is trapped.
And everyone knows who tamed the Wolf.
When their sinister rival King Maccus unveils an ancient godly relic—one with the power to unbalance their entire world—Faolan knows the game has changed. There’s only one person who can hunt down the missing relics before Maccus can, and the Wolf of the Wild will do anything to protect his wife.
Even if that means leaving her behind.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Wolftamer felt like it ripped into my past. One of the main themes of Wolftamer is the decision of Faolan to stay with Saoirse. To remain trapped on the island with her. And for Faolan it’s a huge change for him as he’s obsessed with the legend, the stories, and the adventure. But he loves Saoirse so much he decides to stay with her even though this decision is a huge identity schism and leaves him with a bit of resentment. Neither of them knows what to do with this choice which causes Faolan to feel so unmoored and unsure what he should be ‘living for’ if not the legend. And so Wolftamer felt to me so relatable in its character and relationship growth.
For Faolan, can he figure out if living for more, for the legends, for the chase, is enough? He has this ravenous hunger and ambition, born wanting, but can he want to stay still? Can he find something else he also wants? In Wolftamer, I loved Faolan’s character journey even more than Saoirse. It just felt more personal to me and reminded me of this idea of having this love, but also this choice about who we want to be, who we could be. And for Saoirse, she has to figure out if she’s the martyr, the sacrificial figure, and if she is, what does that leave for her?
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There’s plenty of action to ground these character journeys, but the ending felt a bit hasty considering how much of the book is devoted to these large themes. I also loved Saoirse having to deal with her brother and all the residual trauma that brought up! Overall, Wolftamer is such a great sequel that just needed a bit more space for the wrap up considering it’s the end! But I really enjoyed the themes and character development for both of them in this unique fantasy world. Find Wolftamer on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.