A good attempt at a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I enjoyed the sister connection, the magical forest, 'The Beast' representative and the overall magical tale.

But let me tell you there was a lot of confusion for me in this book.
Firstly, the MC is nick-named 'Red' and is born 'For the Wolf', a sacrifice to the big, bad wolf. So starting off this book I thought it was to be a Little Red Riding Hood retelling. But then it switched to Beauty and the Beast and it had me scratching my head. What was the point of confusing the reader like that? What good did it bring? I can't think of anything.

Secondly, I had so many questions as I read this book and very few of them were actually answered. I understand that this is a Book 1 and they have to keep some mystery going for Book 2 but....give a girl a break and put my mind at ease on a few things. The story at times felt like it was meandering, a bit repetitive with no real direction. Remember that show 'Lost'? It felt a bit like that in this story. Some cool things, lots of questions, no answers.

Thirdly, this book talks about blood often. I mean, probably on every page once Red goes into the woods. I would bet that it's mentioned at least 300 times! I thought I would be de-sensitized to the word and the thought by the end of the book but I just got progressively woozy. Certain blood holds magical properties that are central to the story and that's fine. But couldn't magic or another word be replaced? That's a lot of ick for me. And, to make it more confusing, people had magic that could be used as well as blood that could be used. Why did they need both? I don't know.

Lots of questions left unanswered. Lots of blood discussions. But the cover is GORGEOUS and is what drew me to this book in the first place!! Doesn't it look like it's going to be a Little Red Riding Hood retelling? Hmmm.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #OrbitBooks for this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

⭐⭐⭐Plot: This story is like a mash-up of Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood. The inspiration is clear and all-in-all I think it is a great retelling. I like the two simultaneous plots that ultimately converge. It creates dramatic intrigue, mystery, and suspense. The twists are exciting and I enjoyed how things started to slowly get revealed and pieced together as we learn more about the backstory, behind the scenes, and character motivations. I really wanted some kind of spark to capture my attention in the beginning, and it didn’t achieve that for me. I just didn’t quite feel moved or pulled along with the story at first. It was quite slow until the last third of the book, where I was finally hooked to keep turning the pages. I needed more action and sense of urgency from the start. But the climax and resolution, once we finally got there, were thrilling and left me wondering what happens next in the story.

⭐⭐Characters: I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to. I really wanted to relate to them but this aspect of the story felt a little bland to me. They weren’t multi-faceted enough, and they’re character arcs weren’t prominent enough for me to feel for them. I would have liked more time spent understanding the two main characters better and focusing more on their development. I think the most interesting character is actually Red’s sister, Neve, and I think the reason for that is how much we see her transform throughout the story. The romance also fell flat for me. Although I did appreciate that it was realistic (and not cliché) in its slow-burn as the characters got to know one another, like the plot there’s just no spark for me. But by the end I was rooting for them and wanted things to work.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐World-building: This aspect of the story is the most captivating. I felt like I was surrounded by nature the entire journey. The gothic atmosphere has a dark, enchanting feel to it. I love the lore of the story world and was intrigued while learning about the history and the magic system. The seductively dangerous forest comes alive in vivid detail. The gothic undertones of blood and shadows shine through in the descriptive language that transports you into the Wilderwood. At times, certain things did feel repetitive and monotonous. But overall, it was intricately crafted in a way that I could truly picture everything as it was happening.

Overall, I do think this is a great debut novel and I look forward to seeing this author progress and seeing what she creates in the future. I think the next book in the series will be a little more fast-paced considering the way this one ended and I’m hoping to see more depth in the characters as well.

I was not prepared for how talented Hannah Whitten is, or how rich her worldbuilding would be. She is a bright new star in the fantasy genre and I can't wait for the sequel to this book, For the Throne!

This was one of the better retold fairy tale stories that I have read. It went in a completely different direction than I would have guessed. Highly recommended.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I can not believe that I am only getting around to reviewing it now! I am a huge fan of "Uprooted" and "The Bear and the Nightengale" so this book was absolutely perfect for me. This book was extremely atmospheric and the writing was intoxicating. I can not wait to read the second book!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.

A blend of Little Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast, FOR THE WOLF is a dark mythical and spellbinding new series.
The first daughter is for the throne. The second is for the wolf. Neverah is the first daughter and fights against her fate. Redarys is the second and accepts it. The wolf and woods hold the kings captive, but may the woods hold to the wolf too.

As Red begins her journey to save the kings, she learns that the myths may not be true. Maybe the woods are here for a reason and the wolf too.

I LOVE THIS. If you love Little Red Riding Hood. READ THIS.

Absolutely loved this book! The writing was remarkable and the settings are sumptuously written! Loved it!

Loved this Little Red Riding hood retelling with a twist. With the whole what if Red teamed up with the wolf. What if the wolf wasn’t’ the bad guy. I love fairy tale retellings with a twist.

4.5 Stars
A really strong debut. I loved the world building in this book and how it all unfolded. This read like a perfect mix of fantasy with romance. I never felt like the plot favored one over the other either it felt like they were perfectly entertwined.

Can't wait for book 2!

A very original story, but unfortunately, it fell a bit flat. I reminded me in some ways of Naomi Novik's Uprooted, but I found myself wanting more character development. I probably won't read the second in the series.

3.5 ⭐️(rounded up)

This felt like a perfectly standard YA fantasy book without much standing out beyond the very interesting development with Neve’s character that we really only got towards the end. It was slow to start and could’ve used a bit of editing down but there’s a very strong set up for a lot in book two.

I think this story’s strength lies in its romance plot and could’ve done more to lean into it a bit. It’s perfectly angsty and filled with chemistry in a very interesting Red Riding Hood x Beauty and the Beast inspired situation. Eammon is THE tortured, brooding love interest whose only got a soft spot for *her*.

Also magic.

The interludes breaking away from the main story made the pacing and flow of the overall book a bit odd. It always felt too abrupt and disruptive to the original plot at hand. Seeing how the two storylines merged, though, almost made it worth it.

My rating: 4.5/5
Review: “So where are you going, then?” “To do Wolf-things.”
For the Wolf is a dark, romantic, and sometimes funny fairytale retelling that came out in 2021. With elements of Red Riding Hood, and also Beauty and the Beast, For the Wolf still gives us an original and engaging story with strongly developed characters. The world Hannah Whitten created is rich and full of mystery. It has some very interesting elements to it and is complicated without being confusing or overwhelming. I enjoyed the details the author put into the backstory, and appreciated that it was laid out in a way so as not to take away from the main story, but instead added to its development.
The two sisters, Red and Neve, are complex and engaging in their own ways. But the story isn’t limited to just them, there is a fascinating collection of characters in the Wilderwood and surrounding area that all deserve their own story. The plot itself has enough twists and turns to keep things interesting, and I couldn’t predict how the book would end. I did know that the story wasn’t exactly over, because For the Throne (the sequel) had already been announced when I started reading it. I loved the way Hannah Whitten wove fairytales into her book but didn’t rely too heavily on them to carry the plot.
I’m very excited for the sequel, and I’m glad I don’t have to wait for ages for it to come out! For the Wolf focused on Red, and it looks like For the Throne will give Neve the limelight. I’m looking forward to seeing how Neve’s story plays out! I would recommend For the Wolf to anyone who enjoys Young Adult fantasy, especially fairytale retellings.

Spell-binding, alluring, original, and, without a doubt-magical. For so long I have struggled with what to say for this novel., but it comes down to an enjoyment level, and I think that's the most important thing-not once could I put this down. I loved our tortured, self-sacrificial hero and our tenacious main character, The way they grew to care for one another, to see past the lore surrounding the 'Wolf' and to truly get to know each other and, eventually, fight to save the woods together-it was beautiful.

I absolutely adored this and look forward to the next novel to see where this goes!

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC.

I wanted to love this book. The cover design is beautiful and the concept intriguing. But, unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I've been looking for a great fantasy to escape into, and I had difficulty fully submerging myself into this novel, specifically because the worldbuilding wasn't as strong/believable/coherent for me as a reader. Love the heroines and some great description of the forest, but overall I had a hard time immersing myself in this world.

The cover and synopsis of For The Wolf gave me serious little red riding hood vibes, but the book itself turned out to be this magical melding of Beauty and the Beast with earth- and blood-based magic. While the beginning is a little bit slow, I devoured the second half. And I’m anxiously awaiting the second book in the series, which promises to be even more amazing.

For the Wolf does an excellent job of creating this vivid and vibrant, yet incredibly deadly world. It’s atmospheric, dark, and quite bloody. There was a ton of mythology, politics, and religious beliefs introduced in this book and I thought that Whitten did a great job of explaining everything without ever info-dumping. And while the book did start off a bit slow, the slower pace at the beginning allowed for exploration of the world and the characters in a way that truly pays off at the end. There are plenty of twists and turns, and I loved how the idea of heroes and villains was explored. And how people can do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

I would absolutely recommend this book for people who are looking for an atmospheric, dark fantasy world! I’m very much looking forward to For the Throne and Neve’s story.

*Disclaimer: I received an advance digital copy of this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The best way I can describe For the Wolf is “Little Red Riding Hood” wanders into Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The premise had me captivated. For anyone looking for an easy fantasy read that scrambles fairy tales together, this is a magical read. Everything from the premise to the cover screamed that this would be a Red Riding Hood retelling, instead it was a pretty to the book retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Very enjoyable read

I have a soft spot for fairy-tale retellings and this year Hannah Whitten delivered on that front with her luminous novel For The Wolf. On the surface this story takes on the familiar story of Red Riding Hood. However, it takes the basic concept and builds a whole world out of it. In a kingdom bordering an ancient forest, second daughters are given up to the Wolf in order to ensure protection.

In the vein of similar fairy-tale retellings like Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale, the Wolf is no creature of darkness but a man who must sacrifice everything to stave off dark terrors. This magical story is full of twisted trees, bloody ritual, and deep magic. But the relationships are what make this story shine. Not only the simmering romance that pays off but also the relationship between the two sisters at the heart of the story. Their bond enriches both characters, and provides motivation and heartbreak for all involved. A beautifully reimagined fairy-tale full of heart and soul.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. In full transparency, it could've been the end-of-year stress and my inability to focus on a book, but I did give it a good chance. The world building was simply not enough build-up and the awkward relationship between our protagonists didn't make it believable.

This was an excellent novel by any standards, and especially for a debut. Creative and exciting, and more than a little bit scary.

It’s not as much of a Little Red Riding Hood retelling as one might think. You’ve got a protagonist named Red, and she wears a red cloak and hood, and there’s a guy known as “the Wolf” (though his name is actually Eammon) … and there’s a forest? That’s pretty much it for the similarities. No granny, no woodsman with an ax to save the day. Everyone’s eyes and ears and teeth are all appropriately human-sized. Beyond some superficial inspiration, it’s very much its own story.

So let’s get into that story. A few centuries ago, dark and evil gods were bound up by the creation of the Wilderwood, which also trapped the Five Kings who created the Wilderwood in the process. Within the Wilderwood there lived a man known as the Wolf, and the younger daughter of the queen of the adjacent kingdom. Except one day the Wolf brought the daughter’s body out of the forest, telling the people to send the next Second Daughter. Since then, every Second Daughter of the kingdom has been magically bound to the Wilderwood, compelled to go there as she enters adulthood, never to return. These sacrifices keep the monsters and dark gods bound, and (people hope) eventually the Wolf will find a Second Daughter satisfactory enough to release the Five Kings who have come to be revered as gods.

Of course it’s more complicated than that.

Redarys (“Red”), the Second Daughter of the current generation, has accepted her fate despite the objections of her slightly-older twin, Neve, who wants her to try to run. But running isn’t possible, and Red doesn’t want to escape anyway and is determined to go to the Wolf. Who turns out to be a guy named Eammon, and he’s not so much a “scary monster” as “mildly rude.” He acts as the guardian of the Wilderwood, keeping it healthy with his magic and sacrifices of his own blood. He tells Red to go, and not to let the Wilderwood consume her like it has the other Second Daughters.

The story proceeds along two lines. The primary storyline concerns Red and Eammon; her desire to understand what the Wilderwood is and how she and Eammon are connected to it, the struggle to keep the Wilderwood healthy, and the relationship between the two of them. The secondary storyline is about Neve, her distress at her sister (whom she believes is trapped with an evil monster) and her determination to find a way to free Red and bring her home.

My only real critique of the book is Neve’s storyline. It’s much weaker, and her character development isn’t nearly as good. Each Neve interlude mostly had me wanting to get back to Red. It’s not *bad* by any stretch, but not the strength of the book.

This book is a delight to read. It’s frightening in the best way. The Wilderwood is *scary*, and the monsters that occasionally break free are uncanny and creepy and frightening all at once. The last quarter or so is an extreme emotional roller coaster, tugging my heartstrings first one way and then the other. It was an intense read. It ends on a hell of a cliffhanger, so hopefully the sequel will land very soon.

Between the Beauty and the Beast vibes and the Reylo romance, this book was tailor made for me. Going to be thinking about this one for a long time!