3.5/5

I'm a sucker for Baba Yaga tales, so this one was right up my alley. Luckily though this wasn't as terrifying as most Baba Yaga tales can go and it's perfect for older kids/younger MG. It's delightful and has the feel of a traditional fairytale and not to mention it also has a huge case of wonderfully strong, kind, and grave female characters, both 2-legged and 4-legged! The pacing was good, not too slow but enough chapters that a lot developed over the course of time. A fun read!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

My attention was drawn to this book because of its stellar cover art. Illustrator Pauliina Hannuniemi elevates this wonderful adventure to an entire new level, lending a classic fairy tale ambience to old characters.

Many of the characters in this story are borrowed from Russian Folklore, and Sutton breathes a bit of new life into them for a spell.

This is a beautiful book full of rich adventures and exciting characters. I loved the portrayal of Baba Yaga. This magical fantasy will invite readers to explore a new world full of wolves and witches. It was delightful to have the story told in alternating voices, both the wolf's and Baba Yaga's. I love that this book will help readers discover the wealth of Russian folklore.

In the beginning the book reads like 2 parallel stories. Nadya, an orphan that lives in the orphanage and loves to explore the forest even though she has been warned how dangerous it can be and Zima, a wolf that has been taught to fear humans and wishes to help lead her pack but does not feel brave enough. When the evil tsar threatens what they love most, they must overcome their fears and work together. This is a wonderful story about finding courage and the importance of friendship and family.

i really enjoyed reading this book, it was a cute read for children and young adults. The characters were great and I really enjoyed going on this journey.

I received this as an advance copy via NetGalley.

A Wolf for a Spell spins Russian folklore around Baba Yaga into a fun new middle grade book. It follows a number of strong characters: Zima, a young wolf desperate for respect from her pack; Nadya, a young orphan who is sad her dear friend is marrying the tsar and yearns for a family of her own; and Baba Yaga, the magic-wielding old woman who is trying to save the woods before all is lost.

Zima strikes a deal the Baba Yaga, and the two end up switching bodies. Nadya goes to find Baba Yaga for help, and ends up working with the changed-wolf to confront the tsar and save the woods.

This is a tale with lots of twists and turns. I found it pretty fun, though the number of names left me confused at times. The tsar also came across as a very one-note bad guy; I wish he’d had more nuance. Still, a fun read, and a good way to introduce kids to Baba Yaga and her delightful chicken-footed house.

A Wolf for a Spell is everything a folk-tale inspired fantasy should be. This novel is a wonderful addition to a recent spate of books drawing on Russian folklore for inspiration. Atmospheric and fast-paced with complimentary illustrations, this story will have the reader on the edge of their seat as characters try, misstep, and then try again in a race against the full moon. It is part of the charm and appeal that all the characters are imperfect and at times make things worse. As all good fairy tales should, this one ends on a hopeful note, which is oh, so satisfying.

This book will appeal to both fairy tale fans and animal lovers. Utterly charming!

Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy

I absolutely loved this tale of Baba Yaga, a brave wolf and a young village girl! This was such a fairytale/folklore rich book. Not only because of the background but because of the way it was told. There's magic and mayhem and villains and heroes. This Russian folk tale story is a middle grade novel, but anyone who loves a good tale of a witch, a wolf and a villager will enjoy this whimsical and timeless tale!

Thank you to NetGalley, Karah Sutton (author), Pauliina Hannuniemi (illustrator), Random House Children's, and Knopf Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read A Wolf for a Spell in exchange for an honest review.

This book is full of Russian lore, mythology, and fairy tale elements. It almost has a "Little Red Riding Hood" feel to it in the beginning, as wolf Zima sees a girl with a red hood in the forest and chooses not to kill her, despite what Zima's pack leader orders.

Nadya, the girl with the red hood, lives at an orphanage in a nearby village. An older orphan girl that Nadya looks up to as a sister is being taken by the tsar to be wed. Nadya is hoping to be a good girl, to stay away from the forest so she can prove herself and join Katerina at the palace. When Katerina is taken, Nadya decides to visit Baba Yaga, a witch who lives in the forest, to get a gift to take to the tsar so she will be accepted.

Meanwhile, Baba Yaga made a terrible mistake with the tsars of the past and needs to fix it before it is too late. The current tsar is not the true heir, and he has some shady plans in the works when it comes to Katerina and Baba Yaga. In order for Baba Yaga to fix her mistake, she must switch bodies with a wolf, and Zima just happens to need help, thus offering herself for exchange.

Zima knows nothing of being human. When Nadya seeks Baba Yaga's help, she has no clue that the Baba Yaga she sees is actually a wolf inside the witch's body! Despite not knowing how she can help, Zima, in Baba Yaga's body, offers to help Nadya if Nadya can promise to call off the big wedding hunt the tsar has planned.

Zima must unite the forest witch, the wolves, and the people of the villages to bring light and happiness back to the land.

This is a very cute story that is easy to read and full of fairy tale magic. It is perfect for middle grade readers, but can be enjoyed by high school age, as well as adults who just need a touch of whimsy in their day. I enjoyed the magical feel of this book, the bit of nostalgia it brings to known fairy tales, and the way it provides its own new fairy tale to tell.

I love Baba Yaga stories, and this one is fantastic! Definitely one of my favorite middle grades. I loved the characters and the message of this book. And the cover is so beautiful.
I have already ordered a finished copy.

**ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for review**

An incredibly charming middle grade story that reads like a fairy tale centered on a witch (Baba Yaga), a young girl drawn to the woods, and a wolf that wants to protect its family and forest. There are wonderful illustrations inside, the writing is compelling, and I was delighted by this cute story from beginning to end.
This is a 4-star read only because it was not very exciting, which I was hoping for at times, and middle grade tends to have a cap when you're a *26 year old lady*

Since she was a pup, Zima has been taught to fear humans—especially witches—but when her family is threatened, she has no choice but to seek help from the witch Baba Yaga.

Baba Yaga never does magic for free, but it just so happens that she needs a wolf’s keen nose for a secret plan she’s brewing… Before Zima knows what’s happening, the witch has cast a switching spell and run off into the woods, while Zima is left behind in Baba Yaga’s hut—and Baba Yaga’s body!

Meanwhile, a young village girl named Nadya is also seeking the witch’s help, and when she meets Zima (in Baba Yaga’s form), they discover that they face a common enemy. With danger closing in, Zima must unite the wolves, the witches and the villagers against an evil that threatens them all.- Goodreads

I feel that I am going to mess up this review. This book was so damn good. It was 50 chapters and my ass sat and finished it within one day. All my plans went straight to trash as I read every word in this book. 

It is the perfect fairy tale about Baba Yaga if you really don't know anything about her.  Its also perfect for any reader not just a middle grader. It is told in three different point of views which adds a layer of complexity and tension to the overall novel. 

I loved how easily the author was able to blend their stories into a bigger picture and how each of them were able to get their shine in this fight. 

The magic, the fantasy in this novel is detailed but not dragged out where you feel as if the author is adding a bunch of fluff. The setting is dual and what I mean by that is you have a setting in the forest and one in a village. Just like her characters, there was a seamless flow between the two. 

I really enjoyed this book. Baba Yaga is one of my favorite fairy tales and this book did the best interpretation of it so far. The characters were enjoyable, the pace was great, I was invested from the beginning of the novel and loved the villain and the backstory of it. 

I was so happy to read this book and highly recommend it. 

5 Pickles

This was a magical adventure with wolves and witches! I loved it! This book has everything I love in adventure stories. Zima, who is a wolf, was so cute and such an amazing character to follow! Will definitely pick up more by this author in the future!

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What I liked...
» First off this was a total cover ARC request. I just couldn’t help myself. Probably one of the most beautiful middle grade fantasy covers of 2020!

» Told in alternating perspectives of a young village orphan, a wolf, and a witch, A Wolf for a Spell is a Russian inspired fairy tale full of magic, friendship, heroics, and conquering evil.

» Sutton’s writing is lovely and deliciously atmospheric. This story was short and well-paced, making for a very quick read.

» I’m a sucker for a magical forest setting, so this was right up my alley. The forest setting added to the ambiance of the story.

» The illustrations were a lovely addition and enhanced the fairy tale vibes.

» This book reminded me of a cross between a Grace Lin book and The Girl Who Drank the Moon, so if you are a fan of these things, I think it’s safe to say you’ll enjoy this book too.

What I didn't like...
» While I did enjoy the alternating perspectives, I would have liked to have seen Katerina’s perspective included since she was such an integral part of the story. It fell off that her point of view was not included.

› Recommended to ⇒ fairy tale fans

› If you liked this book, try ⇒ For a MG book that feels like a fairy tale, try When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.*

**The release date for this book was originally scheduled for September 22, 2020, but has been pushed back to December 1, 2020.**

This book is really fascinating. In the beginning, all three main characters are from opposing groups- wolves, humans or witches. Throughout the story they end up working together to face a common threat. It's really clever how the author creates all these interconnections between the characters. I enjoy that is has the energy of a folktale retelling.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Readers meet a rather different Baba Yaga when she tries to right a mistake she made in first dealing with the current Tsar. To do this, she needs to trade places with a gray wolf. Zima also makes a mistake when she does not attack a human who has come into their forest. This leads to her brother being severely injured. A bargain is struck and wolf and witch trade places. The story spins out as both characters do what they can to save their forest from destruction.
Sutton created her fantasy with rich characters who show their flaws and needs along with their strengths. Each is finding their way to save others and figure out how to adapt to new ways.

I'm a sucker for anything involving fairytales being retold, and this middle grade debut did not disappoint! It read in the tone of an old folktale being told and I loved the magical illustrations adding to the story. It gives a new twist to the old tale of Baba Yaga while still feeling classic.

A charming twist on the tale of the Baba Yaga that celebrates the forest and its creatures, told from the point of view of a young wolf, an orphan girl, and the witch herself. Zima, the wolf, must find the courage to take a stand and protect her family, even when it may mean being ostracized from her pack. Nadya, the girl, must overcome envy and the expectations of society to save the forest she loves. And the Baba Yaga? Well, she’s been at this an awful long time, and she must engage with the world around her when it is easier just to retreat to that splendid hut with chicken legs. And, oh yeah, there’s a talking, pain-in-the-rear raven. Can’t have enough of those! This will interest fans of fairy-tale based fantasy as well as those who like stories told from the animal’s point of view.

Rarely do I read a book for Middle Grade and think immediately about gifting it to everyone I know. The Russian folktale pulls the reader through a high staked multiple viewpoint adventure through the woods. Kids who haven't read any of the Baba Yaga myths are in for a treat. The animal POV reminded me of a bit of Pax by Sara Pennypacker if that book had magic. In this book, You get three rotating points of view, a girl, a wolf, and a witch. All of them have significant problems that they need to solve, and the background of the Russian forest is just ideal when they join together. The magical forest and the quirky witches home keep the scariness to a minimum, all the while building up to a satisfying conclusion. It is on my holiday shortlist as a perfect gift book this year.

I was so excited to receive this ARC from Netgalley and Random House Children’s because it has so many things that I love: Russian mythology, an animal narrator, and a spooky forest. One of my favorite ARCS I’ve ever gotten from Netgalley was Bear and the Nightingale, a YA historical fantasy based in Russia. A Wolf for a Spell is even more exciting to me to a certain extent (despite my lack of experience with middle grade books), because of Baba Yaga!!

What I Loved:

The Split Narrative. Normally, I am not a fan of split narrative. It distracts the reader, gets confusing, and often, writers use it as a tool to have the reader be omniscient. It also usually results in weird time gaps that make no sense, so the reader has no idea how far along in the story they are. In Wolf for a Spell, Sutton does a really good job of showing instead of telling. Nadya, Zima, and Baba Yaga all have a role in a larger plot, and each of them is equally important. The satisfying conclusion could not have happened if not for each of these strong female characters doing exactly what they did when they did it.

Strong Female Characters. Without being redundant, I think that Zima, Baba Yaga, and Nadya each deserve a call out for being really well-written, flawed but relatable. Zima is a wolf who has the wellbeing of her pack at the forefront, who is willing to risk losing herself to Baba Yaga to save her brother, and who can recognize that humans are not the ultimate enemy. Baba Yaga wants to save the forest at all costs, but learns that she hasn’t been listening to the forest’s needs until she meets other people. And Nadya is a brave little girl who saves her friend and the forest, and does so despite being neglected. I also love her goal of learning the forest in and out.

The Worldbuild. Sutton sets the stage for the reader to enter medieval Russia, a cold place where tsars are made through bloodshed and the forests seem all consuming. The snowstorms are fierce, the people are gritty, and things can kill you quite easily. However, Sutton also keeps it light in that these things are shown, without the characters being adversely affected by it (no one dies in the snow, or gets eaten by wolves in-page). This strikes a good balance for a middle grade book, so the reader can get the ambiance without being scarred for life.

What Didn’t Work as Well:

The Pacing. This is a minor problem, since I think overall Wolf for a Spell was paced well, but I did think that the beginning to middle of the book flew by, while the last half was slower. For me, it was fine, but for a younger reader, it may make more sense to space the action sequences further apart to keep interest engaged. I would have also made each section a little longer so the reader gets to spend time with each character more.

That is really it as far as negatives go. I am unused to reviewing middle grade books, but from the perspective of a younger reader, this hits all the right notes.

Bottom Line:

I would buy this for my niece in a heartbeat if she was old enough. Wolf for a Spell is a great way to introduce younger readers to Russian mythology and a kid-friendly way to bring in Baba Yaga, who has a bit of an infamous legacy in Russian canon. I loved the animal narrator, since it teaches children empathy for other creatures, and also has some good lessons about the environment and nature.

Favorite quote:

I am the forest. It flows through me. And now, I will flow through it.