Winter of the Wolf is a story about the apparent suicide of a teenager, Sam and his sister Bean, who loves and idolises him so much that she refuses to believe he would ever kill himself. She decides to take it upon herself to research into his death and try to find out what else could possibly be the reason for his death other than suicide.

The narrator was easy to listen to, she brought the story to life and I always appreciate a good narrator. The author does a very good job of letting the reader get to know each of the characters in the story. This helps keep it interesting. Sam was into the Intuit culture and practiced all of their spiritual beliefs. He was also very into nature and animals, and he often spoke and taught his sister and friends about his beliefs and culture. After his death, Bean and her friend used this knowledge to seek into his death, and perform rituals that might possibly help her learn more information.

This book deals with death, grief and coming to terms, and acceptance, coming of age, and moving on with life after experiencing a death in the family. It is treated well in my opinion and it was a good read.

I particularly enjoyed the way the book ended. Bean and the rest of the friends and family were finally able to discover what exactly had happened to Sam. Bean and her family were in a good place at the end and the book ended on a happy note.

I also loved the tie in with wolves, since I am a huge fan of wolves, and I am glad to hear that some of the proceeds of the book sales are donated to wolf sanctuaries. ♡

I would like to thank #NetGalley and #WinteroftheWolf along with the publisher Greenleaf Audiobooks for my audioARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this audio book received in exchange for an honest review.

Winter of the Wolf begins with the apparent suicide of Bean's (the main character) older brother Sam. The major draw for me was that Sam believed in the teachings of the Inuit people and so, the story deeply focused on Bean's interactions with nature and the influence of the spirit world.

I enjoyed the overall story and Bean's search for what happened to her brother. That being said, I found that the writing style seemed to be intended for a much younger audience, but the themes were intended for an older audience. From my perspective, this made the book difficult to read.

Lastly, I did not love the ending, but I appreciate what the author was trying to accomplish. I will leave it at that to avoid any spoilers.

Bean is 14 years old when her beloved older brother, Sam, is found dead in his room, with all signs pointing to his death being due to suicide. The book follows Bean's thoughts, feelings, and actions over the following months while she & her family try to process his death.

Firstly - yes, her name really is Bean. Not a nickname, or a cute family moniker, or even a middle name that she uses. Her legal name. Because all parents take name advice from a cute 2 year old who refers to his unborn sibling as Bean.

Now that is out of the way, the story! Elements of it I really liked - how different family members dealt with the death, how we all can become too insular in our thinking by assuming we're the only ones REALLY suffering (that's not limited to teenagers, we're all guilty!), how differing beliefs can effect our actions & grieving. I liked that Sam, Bean, and their mother were shown to have strong spiritual beliefs - signs from the universe, the interconnectivity of all things on Earth, respect for nature, a broad mind for the acceptance of things we just cannot explain - but this is where it got clunky for me. Bean explains how Sam had become obsessed with the Inuit people, their culture & beliefs. She regularly says "...because of his Inuit beliefs..." and when Bean & her friend Julie decide to stage a shamanic ritual (which they pulled off with amazing results, because why wouldn't two teenaged middle class white girls be awesome shamans right off the bat?!) I felt my discomfort grow to a point where I could no longer ignore the nagging question of "Is this the right author telling the right sort of story to be sharing Inuit cultural information, or has this slid from appreciation to appropriation?"

Then there was the 'twist' at the end where we find out the true cause of Sam's death & it felt REALLY clunky. For something that is so serious & could save lives by having the information out there, I feel it would have benefitted from being known much earlier in the book & then the remainder of the story being how Bean & her family dealt with that knowledge. It would have no doubt have needed to be a very different story but that would've been OK! It was as though the author had two books they wanted to write - one about a spiritual, nature loving family, and one about a tragic cause of death that is often very taboo - but didn't have enough material so merged them together at the last minute. It just didn't work for me.

2.5 stars for a well written first 75% - albeit with some questionable appreciation/appropriation - and then a weird, rushed final quarter.

Thank you to NetGalley & Greenleaf Audiobooks for this eAudio download in return for my honest review.

I find it difficult to rate this book because there are two parallel stories being told, one which fills three-quarters of the book in a meandering, didactic, unauthentic way, and another story which is inserted at the end and is really the heart of the narrative, but was unfortunately cloaked by the less compelling and drawn out introduction and side story. This review will have to have spoilers because there is no way to discuss it without revealing at least some of the conclusion. I will also note that the title is somewhat misleading because it has nothing to do with wolves except for infrequent mentions of the animal as a sort of totem. The summary of the novel in Goodreads says it is "an exploration in grief, suicide, spiritualism, and Inuit culture" and all of those subjects are dealt with, but they lead the reader away from the actual theme of the book, which is teen autoerotic asphyxiation and accidental death. It almost feels as if the creators of the books feared the topic would not be received well by readers, so disguised it in a long, forced discussion of spiritualism which reads like a teen self-help or new age guide. The narrator's inner dialogue sounds formal and prosaic, not at all like the thoughts of a teenage protagonist, and the book derails as it tries to weave together Inuit beliefs, spiritual practices, and the grief of a family mourning the apparent suicide of one of the teenage children. The author deserves accolades for taking on such difficult subject matter, and there seems to be very few books to compare this to, but a more honest and direct approach to the topic of teen autoerotic asphyxiation could have been more convincing, compelling, and cohesive. The sudden reveal near the end that the death was accidental and resulted from self-harm in the form of stimulation-seeking seems jarring and forced, and because it was disguised for almost the entirety of the book, the effect is that even the author did not want to talk about this tough topic. Adding to the discomfort is the narrator's tone, which was high-pitched and nasally for young female characters whereas adult characters over-enunciated. I wanted to like this title more than I did, but I hope it inspires other YA authors to tackle this subject.

I loved this book! It had a unique storyline and one which would appeal to young adults. The narrator suited the theme of the book well and I could imagine the narrator as the character (the book is in first person).

I was sceptical going into this book but I actually enjoyed listening to it. The narrator did a really good job and the meaning behind the story was very educational. It’s not a ‘hurt you brain’ mystery like some, but I like that there’s still some mystery to it. The setting is fun and there is mention of Inuit beliefs and spirituality so if you like that stuff this book is perfect. Even as someone who doesn’t like those things, the book was still enjoyable. I really bonded with the main character over the story and found myself cheering her on. There’s even a bit of romance

A beautiful tale of grief and how it affects a family.

TW: suicide; depression; intense grief.

In this beautifully written novel with powerful symbolism, we follow Bean, a 14-year-old girl, her family, and close friends after the death of her older brother Sam. Everyone is convinced that Sam's death was a suicide. Bean, however, believes there is more to it than just what meets the eye.

Through her beliefs and those of her late brother, Bean is able to help herself and her family work through their guilt and grief.

It is definitely worth picking up!


For this review, I was provided with the audiobook version of the book. Kelly Pruner does an impressive job of narrating the book. It was impossible to stop listening.
It was just somewhat confusing whenever there was a long dialog between Bean and Julie as their voices were pretty much the same, making it hard to follow.

All in all, this book deserves a solid 4 stars!

Winter of the Wolf follows Bean, a 15 year old who is very close to her older brother Sam. After a minor car accident, Sam is found dead at his home - an apparent victim of suicide.

The author does a good job of showing how family members react to grief in very different ways, and also how self centered a typical 15 year old is.

Bean and her friend Julie decide that they don't believe that Sam committed suicide, and so investigate the last few days of his life in an attempt to discover what really happened. As Sam followed the beliefs of the Inuit, they dig into those beliefs, awaken their own spirituality, and try to connect to Sam's spirit.

Those Inuit beliefs are explored in some ways, but that angle did not seem to be fully developed in the book. Sam had requested a natural funeral, and while it was discussed, there was no follow through.

The book seemed to wrap up very quickly, once the big reveal occurs. I won't spoil the plot for future readers, but I was disappointed in the families reaction to the news, and to the bearer of the news. There was an easy acceptance of what happened - and I don't believe that was realistic. Bean's closing sentiments sounded lovely - but I doubt very much that a 15 year old would feel that way 19 months after her brother's death. Six years after the loss of a close family member, I am nowhere close to that yet.

I listened to the book, and the narrator did a very good job with this book. Her voice was different, and appropriate, for all of the different characters and made it easy to listen and follow along with the plot.

I am grateful for the opportunity to review this ARC.

3.5 / 5 stars

S U M M A R Y
Fifteen-year-old Bean loses her older brother, Sam, to an apparent suicide the night they are in an accident together. This implodes the entire family and community in a variety of ways with long-reaching consequences for everyone. Sam was a big believer of Inuit ways, and Bean is something of a spiritualist. The book explores the traumas and griefs and the ways of handling them in a variety of ways, including Bean questioning how her brother really died and what happens to the soul once the body is gone.

Characters: I really did enjoy the complex, interwoven family dynamics in this book. It felt very real in so many ways. Bean was very much a person, full of flaws as well as strengths. She efinitely read as a more mature teenager, but it felt like it made sense in context of the story. I didn't hate any of the characters.

Plot: Definitely not your most fast-paced book ever, it nevertheless held my attention. I listened to it n the course of a (somewhat slow) work day, so it was a quick read that did prick my heart. If you're in for a character study and heartache, this book definitely has it, but don't expect a bunch of twists or thrills or such. I enjoyed the spiritualism aspects of this book, mainly because it's close to some of my own interests, but I don't think it will be for everyone. 

Narration: Decent narration. A few minor switches when it came to Bean and her best friend. Didn't deter my enjoyment, but also not the favorite voice I've ever listened to. Solid listen though.

Overall: I'm probably not the target audience for this, which is probably where it lost stars for me. But overall a good solid read that I don't regret reading at all. Also, side note, loved the afterwords and everything. Also, yay wolves

Recommend to: Anyone who wants something that deals with grief and loss.

I really did love this book. After a while, when Bean & her mother were working through the stages of grieving, I wanted to give up on it. I thought it was never going to get to what I thought was the point of the book. But, I kept going, and I'm more than glad that I did! I love the book. I love how they did work through the stages of grieving. And then finding out the reason at the end was a shocker! I'm so glad it wasn't talked about too early in the book. It definitely needs to be discussed, don't get me wrong, but the surprise of what it was would have killed the book if revealed too soon. Perfect! I have already told others. Thank you Net Galley and Martha Hunt Handler for allowing me to listen.

#Winter of the Wolf #NetGalley

This was a very emotional story of Bean and her family coming to terms with the tragic death of her brother Sam. Even though the police ruled it suicide, something didn't feel quite right about it. As she cannot accept that he intentionally killed himself, Bean begins an investigation. Since Sam was passionate about the Inuit culture, Bean follows a spiritual journey looking for answers. Eventually she finds the truth.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book, even with the dark subject matter. The author wrote his book after the death of her friend's son.
The narrator did a good job and spoke very clearly.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free e-audio ARC for an honest review.

My heart was in pieces when I finished this book. I wanted to wait a few days before writing a review so that I know if I actually like it as much, and yes it deserves every praise possible and more. A beautiful must read for everyone!

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As a person who is very interested in learning about different belief systems, I found that aspect to be very interesting. While the book wasn’t perfect I enjoyed it and I’m glad to have read it. I will be recommending to a friend who has similar interests in learning about different beliefs. If you are interested in that as well, this is worth a read.

Winter of the Wolf is a tragic mystery narrated by a young girl named Bean whose brother has died, and Bean is determined to unravel the mystery of her brother's death. Though all evidence points to a suice, her heart and intuition compel her to dig deeper. With help from her friend Julie, they retrace Sam's steps, delve into his Inuit beliefs, and reconnect with their spiritual beliefs to uncover clues...and all book sales proceeds received by the author will go to the Wolf Conservation Center! What generosity!

This was my first Audiobook through NetGalley and I enjoyed it so much! I love audiobooks and will definitely be requesting more. Winter of the Wolf was a great listen!

I did not enjoy the narrator of this book and unfortunately this lead me to DNF this book, this review of 2 stars is mostly due to the audiobook narrator and does not reflect the authors writing.

Winter of the Wolf is a story of a girl, Bean, and her family surviving after the loss of her brother, Sam. Everyone believes that Sam's death was a suicide, except for Bean. Bean sets out to find out if it really was a suicide or not. I believe the author portrayed believable gamily dynamics after the loss of a loved one. I loved Julie, Bean's best friend, and her role in the story. The author also included Inuit culture, as was Sam's belief. I found that very interesting. After finding out the reason behind Sam's death, the author provides information about the cause of death at the end of the book. I also like how Bean "grew" over the course of the story and how she realizes that just because she thought things were one way they weren't always that way. You don't know what other people are thinking and feeling, and Bean finally comes to understand that. Overall this is a book of healing and continuing life after the death of a loved one.

I listened to this as an audiobook. I did not care for the narrators voice as Julie and the mothers in the story. When she read as Bean she was fine.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for a free audio book (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

I listened to this as an audiobook. I loved it! It is a story that has some thought-provoking untraditional concepts for all of us to consider. The main character is a 15-year-old girl who is telling the story of her relationship with her brother.

It is a very good book for young adults as well.

Really felt just like a real life story, As the family is going thru a terrible tragic event. I
wanted to cry for them. Even if only a story it felt really like a nightmare for someone.
It's the kind of story we all think in the back of our minds please don't let it happen to me.
But I enjoyed it and recommend you try it!

I lost half of my brain cells while listening to Winter Of The Wolf, I don’t even know why I bothered to finish it. The entire book just didn’t make sense to me, Bean was a really awful character who used depression to be mean to her family and blamed them for not being there for her when they were grieving. She kept repeating over and over again that Sam wouldn’t kill himself, I heard that sentence a thousand times while reading. In the end, Sam’s best friend confesses that he was the cause of Sam’s death but Bean and her family just pretended like he didn’t do anything and went on with their day, like what? I didn’t like this book at all, really don’t recommend it.

🍁This is a honest review. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

🍁All my opinions are my own.

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🍁Synopsis: An exploration in grief, suicide, spiritualism, and Inuit culture, Winter of the Wolf follows Bean, an empathic and spiritually evolved fifteen-year-old, who is determined to unravel the mystery of her brother Sam's death. Though all evidence points to a suicide, her heart and intuition compel her to dig deeper. With help from her friend Julie, they retrace Sam's steps, delve into his Inuit beliefs, and reconnect with their spiritual beliefs to uncover clues beyond material understanding.
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🍁Review: I give this book 4 stars.

🍁We follow Bean who just can’t believe that her favorite brother committed suïcide. And she is determined to find out what really happend that fateful night. I loved the buildup off the story. I really wanted to know what happend and was is really suïcide. Also the problems that are happening in her family are really on point. And is really something that can happen in real life.