This was my first book by this author. Overall, I enjoyed it. It was quick and easy to read. I think I would have appreciated it more if I was more familiar with the historical elements that tie into the storyline. This is a story about forbidden love and an invasion. Adufuns yearns to become a great warrior and quickly earns Galvira's affection, but is currently a slave in her father's service. Gelvira dreams of becoming a powerful jeweler, but an arrogant son a tribal elder wants her to be his wife instead. This is very much geared toward a much younger audience than I am used to reading, but I did appreciate the use of a strong female character and the supernatural elements throughout the story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this review copy of Jaws of the Wolf by Charlotte Jardin.
Jaws of the Wolf is the story of a young man and a young woman first separated by class (he’s a slave and she’s a warrior’s daughter) and then by an invasion of a tribe of Huns.
I appreciated the detail and research that the author put in this novel. In a large selection of YA historical and adventure novels this is the first I’ve encountered about both the Huns and the Visigoth people. Although most of the storyline is fairly straightforward there is a storyline of magic and ritual. As a reader, I do enjoy magic and mysticism I did find myself wishing that there was less emphasis on the paranormal connection between Gelvira and Adafuns (the names don’t exactly roll off the tongue) and more historical detail and world-building. This was a case where I found the addition of mystical elements distracting from the storyline and unnecessary. I also felt like it missed that angst or drama that pulls a reader in and makes them want to see what will happen next. Although a lot happened to both characters it didn’t really get my pulse up and I didn’t find myself rooting for anyone in particular (except the dogs and horses weirdly enough).
Overall, this was an interesting addition to the YA historical novels lineup and I think many readers would enjoy learning about both the Visigoths and the Huns. I personally would prefer it without the paranormal elements but that may be an added bonus to fantasy readers. Three stars for this one.

I would like to thank Griffon Press and the Netgalley website for this partnership.

I was attracted by the beautiful cover of this book.

The story takes place in the territory of Tervingi in 376 AD. We find the beautiful Gelvira who wants to become a powerful jeweller but the eldest son of his father's slave tribe wants to marry her.

Adafuns wants to show her that he is a great warrior to win her affection. When he is captured and kidnapped by the Huns his dream could come true at the price of losing Gelvira. Gelvira's starving people might be the only hope that she finally marries Adafuns to save her.

I immediately fell in love with the story, so captivating, exciting, addictive, full of suspense and twists and turns with endearing characters. I love historical fictions like this one. Can't wait to read the rest.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

Arc received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (Thank You!)
Jaws of the Wolf is a historical novel with romance and a light touch of supernatural in a Time when brutality and war were common. We follow Gelvira, a Tervingi, and Adafuns, a slave in her tribe. There's a lot of historical context and politics and the romance feels like YA.
It had a well-built world and a good pace and the characters were interesting. I really enjoyed Ada's development from slave to a warrior, however, his new situation felt a little bit too convenient and "happy" aka very unrealistic given he spent only a few months with the Huns. The Hun family that took him were way too kind, it felt really forced, a plot device for the sake of the protagonist.
Gelvira was a strong, fierce heroine and I loved the fact that she is a jewelry maker and that she kept Gog with her (Ada's dog). I think my biggest issue was the supporting characters that did not have much development. I really liked Widin and I hope the author doesn't ruin his character for the sake of the main "couple". I felt conflicted about Osuin and somehow disappointed because everything he did I saw it coming and he would have been so much better if turned into a complex character, given the situation he was in, I almost felt sorry for him.
It was an enjoyable book, however, it had too much politics and not much romance.
TW: mention of Rape; Torture.

I received this novel in exchange for an honest review. In no way does this effect my opinion of the story itself.

Gelvira just wants to make jewelry, not be a wife that just cooks and cleans but her family has other ideas for her... but when the Huns attack, things change. She ends up in a place she never thought she'd be. Gelvira is an alright character but she's rather self centered, which I guess makes sense considering how she was raised but it doesn't make her likable.

Adafuns is a slave that dreams of being a warrior and getting Gelvira as his own. He's a very determined young fellow with a sweet heart. I loved watching his growth with the Huns and how he finds himself.

Now, I want to start this off by saying that this isn't a bad book, just not a book for me. I thought there would be more romance but our couple is only together for like the first 10% of the book and for for me, that's not cutting it. Now, the writing is great, the story is pretty action packed and will keep your attention. I love the fact that's set in in this time frame (376 AD). I wish more books would do that. Yes, there are salves in this story, so you've been warned.

It would have been 3 stars if not for Adafuns's last few chapters. What a guy!!!
I loved reading about his fitting into the Running Wolf Tribe, his longing for his family and 'Vira, but his stronger longing to belong, to be someone, to be valued.
Which is precisely what he gets from the Huns.

Gelvira was selfish at turns, blind to human (the slaves') suffering. Yes, she brings them scraps of food, but does nothing more to change the situation.
Her family even sells their house slave in a time of need. She had been with them for more than a decade!!!!

It's not that I mind reading about slavery. It was a reality in times gone by, but I hoped our supposed heroine had a different opinion.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. A quick read.

YA Historical Fiction (with a dash of the mystical)

This was A really nice book to read! The characteristics where interesting and we'll fleshed and the storyline engaging.

I picked up Charlotte Jardine’s Jaws of the Wolf on a whim. In a market flooded with WWII lit, a YA historical featuring the Visigoths felt fresh and I couldn’t wait to see what the story held.

Jaws of the Wolf captured my interest straight out the gate as a dual narrative in which one of the narrators is male. Historical fiction is one of the few genres dominated by female leads and while I appreciate the appeal and intentions of those creative choices, I loved how balanced this story felt and how Adafuns allowed Jardine to organically explore societal roles and responsibilities that are traditionally masculine.

Having said that, I also loved Jardine’s use of Gelvira. I appreciate strong female characters as much as the next reader, but Jardine’s tempered approach appealed to me far more than those who reject any and all semblance of traditional femininity. Comparatively speaking, Gelvira feels both independent and contextually appropriate to the story which is something I think the genre needs more of.

Jaws of the Wolf is geared for a younger audience and doesn’t boast the heavy themes I look for, but I appreciated the historical context and detail of the story. The romance is lighter which I feel appropriate for the target demographic and I liked how it complemented rather than overwhelmed the other elements of the narrative.