The First Daughter is for the throne.
The Second Daughter is for the Wolf.
And the Wolves are for the Wilderwood.

For the Wolf, by debut author Hannah F. Whitten, is the first installment in the authors The Wilderwood series. This lush debut epic fantasy combines fairytale elements, rich world-building, and a dark romance to appeal directly to fans of books like Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale. For the Wolf is a dark retelling of the story of Beaty and the Beast with a bit of Little Red Riding Hood mixed it. In this story Red is bound to go into the woods as a "sacrifice" to the Wolf on her 20th birthday. Red is resigned to this fate, but things with the Wolf and the Wilderwood are not what they are rumored to be.

The Wilderwood is dying and because it’s dying, monsters from the Shadowlands are escaping into the world. The Shadowlands was created by the Wilderwood and is located directly under the forest. Eammon’s job is to close these holes between the world and the Shadowlands and kill any monsters that escape. Red (Redarys) is the second daughter, and her older sister (Neve) is the heir to Queen Isla. Red is prepared to fulfill her destiny and wishes to be away from those she loves because of the dangerous dark magic within her, which continues to change.

The people of Valleyda are hoping that in return, the Wolf will release the Kings who bargained with the forest to find away the monster Gods only to end up in Shadowland. However, losing Red isn’t something Neve is willing to accept. Once Red is sent into the forest, she realizes she’s been misinformed about many things throughout her life, including the wolf she’s destined to be given to. Red’s power is needed more than anything to save the Wilderwood.

When Red meets the wolf (Eammon) and the living forest, as well as Fife and Lyra who are bound to Wilderwood, she learns of her dangerous gifts, and a friendship, albeit reluctant with misunderstandings, gives way to the truth behind the myth, the wolf’s real presence, and the darkness within Wilderwood. Away from her family, locked in the entanglement, she cannot be reached by her sister who is desperately looking for her.

Meanwhile, Neve has fallen in league with the Order priestess's who will do anything to release their gods from the Shadowland including sacrificing Red, and destroying Wilderwood. Red struggles to understand her magic which she has ignored for 4 years, while also learning how to open her heart to another without worrying that person will treat her like her own mother did. Neve's scheming to find a way to rescue Red ends up messing things up a whole lot more than she ever thought possible.

The POV also alternates between Red in the Wilderwood's and Neve (Red’s twin sister) in Valleyda by way of Interludes. Luckily, I have been approved for the sequel and shall be reading it shortly. It appears that the story will be a shared focus on both Neve and Red next time.

With a girl wearing a red cloak on the cover and a title "For the Wolf," my first impression was that this would be a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. This was so much better. Due to this, I wish that either the title or cloak were changed to remove any connection as this novel hardly had similarities and seemed like a forced use of a wolf to draw the comparison. Anyway... the setting. This is what made the book for me. The atmosphere, deadly forest, trapped village, and mayhem were all so well described that I could picture the forest and all its horrors, magic and mysteries. I too came to love the dark forest as much as Redarys and Eammon as much as I hated it. It's role within the story made the forest a character of its own and I came to sympathize with the trees, the spirit, the plight of its tortured life. Redarys and Eammon were the next best thing, and I don't mean that lightly. Before really getting to know them, I got a bit annoyed at their constant martyrdom and "woah is me." But, the further along I got in the story the more I understood the price of sacrifice and its important role in the story. While there were some slow parts and I got annoyed with some stupid decisions by Redayrs sister, this was a unique tale with fantastic imagery, enchanting characters, a slow burn romance, and a dark fairytale-like atmosphere.

This was one of my most-anticipated releases for 2021, and it did not disappoint. I devoured it pretty much the second I had access to the e-ARC. And I devoured it again in 2022 when I listened to the audiobook in anticipation of the sequel, For the Throne.

For the Wolf focuses on Red's journey as a Second Daughter, who is sacrificed to the Wolf of the Wilderwood in the hopes of bringing the five kings back - the kings that the Wolf is said to be keeping prisoner. But when Red arrives, she finds that everything is not *quite* what she was lead to believe in the story books. We mostly follow Red, with slight POV-switches with Red's twin Neve (the First Daughter, who is For the Throne) as she tries to figure out a way to "rescue" Red.

There were a lot of things I liked. One of the biggest was the idea of consent. That's probably the biggest (and most important) difference between this book and The Beauty and the Beast, the fairy tale it draws from. In TBATB, Belle develops Stockholm Syndrome because she isn't allowed to leave the Beast's castle; however, in FTW, Red is told from the very beginning that she is not a prisoner, and in fact, is urged to leave. I also liked the commentary on religion and the cultish fanaticism that often accompanies it.

I both liked and disliked the prose/writing style. While it did often feel a bit heavy-handed (and often repetitive), I think it really suited the story well.

This was a strong debut from Whitten. I am highly anticipating For the Throne, The Foxglove King, and pretty much anything else she ever writes (please, don't ever stop writing!!!).

I went into this book thinking it was a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, but what I ended up with is a book that combines all the great parts of that story plus Beauty and the Beast and Howl's Moving Castle. Oh, and there's some blood-drinking trees in it too.

It's been a while since I've read a dark fantasy book and it was thrilling, adventurous, romantic, and mysterious. It really holds all the contents of an expertly written fantasy story within its pages.

I think the first thing I want to talk about is Red. She's resigned to her fate, kept people at a distance to avoid growing overly attached, and when the fateful day comes for her to enter the woods, she does it without any protest. Her sister, Neve, is also a major character in the story as she doesn't want to see her sister sacrifice herself and wants to find a way to help her from the grips of the Wilderwood. But when Red finally meets the Wolf, things change. Suddenly, Red isn't sacrificed. She actually has a chance at life and while she may not be able to leave the woods, she definitely takes this opportunity to have one.

I really love the care Hannah Whitten puts into her characters. They weren't flat or two-dimensional, but characters who struggle through some horrific ordeals, who are so dynamic that even the woods themselves play a character on their own. I love it when characters are so believable in the way they act that you find yourself invested in what happens to them.

I think readers will really love Eammon (aka The Wolf). While he reads a bit like an alpha male, he's definitely not the kind that makes you want to punch a wall. Instead, you understand that he's strict because he cares and while Red may not listen to everything he says, he doesn't lash out at her with anger like the infamous Beast of Beauty and the Beast.

This story is an amalgamation of that one plus Little Red Riding Hood and Howl's Moving Castle. I saw so much of Howl in Eammon, a beast because he's forced to be, a man who slowly changes as the story goes on, and a romance that I didn't even see coming! I guess romance is a part of Beauty and the Beast and Howl's and you can see the attraction between the two, so I don't know why I was so surprised when they finally connected. Perhaps it's because I'm so used to reading fantasy stories without a lot of romantic entanglement in them. But if you do love a little romance in your reads, then you'll really enjoy this one.

However, I couldn't really understand the magic. There's a lot of inferring language Hannah Whitten uses throughout the story so it almost felt like a giant puzzle to understand what's going on. Of course, it's blood magic because it's not a dark fantasy without it, but it was difficult to understand how it helped to feed the woods and protect them from the shadows. I understood the motivation of the villains and the antagonist was such a reveal, but when it came to the sentinels and the final battle scene, I just felt confused.

Overall, I can see why fans love this book! It's truly an intriguing fantasy story filled with blood magic, romance, suspense, and some very big twists. If you're a fan of dark fantasy stories that twist on some classic literature, then this is for you.

A phenomenal read that balances fantasy, intrigue, and romance, FOR THE WOLF hooks you from the first page and doesn't let you go until the final word. A tale of sisterhood, duty, and magic, I cannot wait for the sequel to dive into Neve's story.

The first daughter is for the throne and the second daughter is for the wolf. Red has known that for her entire life that she was born to be turned over towards the wolf and the Wilderwood in order to participate in the sacrifice their religion dictates they made in order for the five kings to return. Her sister Neve isn't quite as accepting, but Red knows that she needs to go, not for the kings but to save her sister from herself. What Red finds, however, is that the legends she knew are very different from the reality and now she must join forces with the wolf in order to save what she loves.

I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. A very well-written, solid romantic fantasy. Red was a well developed characters who I related to and rooted for. Her slow burn relationship with the wolf was my favorite part of the book and very well executed. Same with the sister bond between Red and Neve which was a compelling reason to keep reading, even during the interlude chapters from Neve's perspective that I didn't enjoy as much. I found the world building to be a little muddy and confusing and sometimes the flowery, descriptive language of what was happening obscured a little bit of what was actually happening. I also wish we had gotten some more information or time spent with the background characters. Ultimately though the romance and main character relationship was very well done and invested me almost immediately.

I thought this would be a more red riding hood inspired story, but as many reviewers have pointed out the parallels are much stronger with Beauty and the Beast. I also feel like this book was heavily inspired or at least seemed to be inspired by Naomi Novik's Uprooted, a book I loved.

As always, mind the content warnings. This book teeters on the YA/NA line and some of the gruesome ways the magic system works might be troubling to some readers.

I am very excited to read the next book in this duology as well as see what Whitten decides to write in the future.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read an e-book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was marketed as for fans of Uprooted and The Bear and The Nightingale, and after reading I find that to be true. As a second daughter, Red is to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the woods. Hopefully in exchange the Wolf will return the old captured gods. Red has magic she can't control. The Wolf is a man. The work together to fight off monsters in the Wilderwood. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the follow up.

This was a wonderful read, a gorgeously spun fairytale blending elements of “Little Red Riding Hood" and "Beauty and the Beast" and definitely recommended to readers who enjoy tales like Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale. I can wait for the upcoming For the Throne!

Little Red Riding Hood is one of my favorite childhood fairytales because it was always cast in a darker light. I went into this expecting an adult spin with even more darkness sprawled into the story.

For me, I wasn’t impressed with the writing. I’m an adult reader and I expect to read adult writing. This was very young adult for me. Very repetitive thoughts and the prose did not pull me in.

If YA books are more your speed, check it out.

With an intriguing premise, the execution fell flat. The world-building was interesting, but the plot and characters did not feel well-developed. Although this is classified as adult fantasy, it read more like YA.

I really enjoyed this book and I really can't wait to read more books from this author in the future. The writing was really great.

i'm a sucker (and always will be) for fairy tale retellings, the good or the bad. "for the wolf" was neither, but somewhere in between.

i enjoyed hannah whitten's lush, atmospheric prose. i felt that it mirrored the dark-magic contents of the story itself: red is a second daughter of the royal valleydan family, fated to be a sacrifice to the wolf who prowls the enchanted - and menacing - wilderwood. when she meets the wolf, however, she realizes that stories, though fiction, can contain startling truths... but also unexpected lies.

however, this book didn't end up being a standout YA fantasy novel for me. it wasn't offensive - some books in the genre are; thankfully this one wasn't - but it wasn't spectacular, either. i wish the world-building had been more intuitive, as i found it hard to grasp the magic system at the heart of this story. i also wondered how each fantasy name (whether for a person or a region) was chosen, as some of them felt trite and therefore forgettable.

that being said, i definitely want to continue reading hannah whitten's work, and i'm excited to see where she goes next!


many thanks to netgalley and orbit books for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this beauty and the beast retelling!!! It was woodsy, magical, and oddly cozy. It did drag a bit in some parts but I still quite enjoyed it. The writing style did take me out of the story sometimes but it did add to the atmosphere of the book! I'm excited for the next one!!!!

A satisfying Little Red Riding Hood Retelling - little red riding hood all grown up. Engaging, great characters, and definitely one of the best fantasies of 2021.

Red belongs to the Wolf, and to the Wilderwood. Such is the fate of every Second Daughter born. It has been centuries since the last Second Daughter, the last time when fate offered an opportunity for the Kings to return. So far, they have not. Red is ready to accept her prophesied fate, victim to a magical power that threatens to overwhelm her self-control and harm everyone around her. Yet the Wilderwood of reality does not match the Wilderwood of prophesy. The Wolf is not the feral beast of legend. The Kings, such as they are, present a challenge unlike anything Red ever expected. The key to everything may be the magical power she's sought to suppress and escape from, and the key may be the mysterious Wolf man himself.

The premise for this story was very interesting to me when I first read about it. I wanted to know more! Red is unfortunately locked into a fate beyond her control, both as a sacrifice, and a vessel for a power that is dangerous to herself and others. It's tragic! The Wolf, Eammon, turns out to be much different than Red expected, and best of all, he has a mountain of books at his disposal! The magical system blends the power of nature with bloodletting, which was interesting. Both characters are bound by an ancient historical bond, though choice is at play in the outcome of their meeting. Neve, Red's sister, isn't allowed to live happily ever after as the firstborn, and contends with her own perils back home.

The complete story of Red and Eammon is split across two books, this being the first. That means there's a fair bit of setup, and a number of loose threads that remain unwoven into the narrative by story's end. The middle portion also takes time to smell the roses, sometimes indulgently, so for readers who enjoy a skippy pace, patience may be required. The ending has a lot going on, and I'm highly interested to see what transpires in the second novel. For the Wolf is the story of a girl sacrificed for the "greater good", and in being sacrificed, discovers a world she never dreamed could exist, as all she ever knew is challenged. Recommended for readers who enjoy stories full of lore, interesting magical systems, and mysterious brooding men with books stacked to the ceiling.

This is one of the best adult fantasies I've read in a long time. It was instrumental in helping to pull me out of a reading slump. I know this book will be great for students that enjoy the whimsical but yearn for something more grounded in the literary.

A delightful book full of adventure, action, and thrills. Fun to read, engrossing world building, and very descriptive imagery made it feel like it was cinematic. It's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. Would recommend.

2.5 stars

Whenever I read a retelling, I want a story that will mark me, that will blow my mind somehow. But this one unfortunately didn't. It downright went to the pile of books I read and forgot pretty much immediately.

For the Wolf follows the second daughter as she is supposed to be with the Wolf to keep the monsters at bay. That's pretty much all I'm going to remember because I didn't love the characters, didn't like the romance either unfortunately.

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

I really loved the horrifying descriptions of the forest in this book. I thought the setting was a bit of a character of its own, which is something I always enjoy. The stakes were unique and different from things I've read in the past, which is always a treat when it comes to fantasy. I am intrigued to see where Whitten takes the series next.

I recieved an e-arc from Netgalley, thank you Netgalley and the publisher.

I started this one many times, on my phone, from the library then I ended up purchasing the audiobook to see if I could read it that way.

When I read the synopsis it sounded like a book I would love. It says it is perfected for fans of Uprooted by Naomi Novik and I loved that book.

This book is about Red, she is a Second Daughter. Her purpose in life is to be sacrificed to the Wolf in order for the gods to be released. She has growing powers that scare her and a part of her is relieved that she is leaving, so she doesn't cause anymore harm to her loved ones. Though when she meets the Wolf she realizes that he is no monster. We also follow Red's sister (I forget her name) who will become Queen.

This book sounded right up my alley, magic, a love story, siblings, multiple pov, I was very eager to read it. Unfortunately it just didn't hook my attention. It took me a long time to get through and I really had to force myself to read it.

It is a bit of a slower read, so while I didn't love it I also didn't hate it. I think I would still reccomend others pick it up if it sounds interesting to them.