This one is a Young Adult fantasy that reminds me of a retelling of both Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood. In this world the second daughter is always sacrificed to The Wolf who is an entity that lives in the forest and protects the kingdom from the monsters that reside there. Red is the youngest daughter so on her 19th birthday she is sent to The Wolf but her twin Neve is not ok with this and works to free her sister. When Red gets to the forest with The Wolf she soon discovers that everything they believe is not actually the truth. Overall the story was fun and I haven't read too much like it but I had a problem with The Wolf acting like an 18 year old kid when he was in fact centuries old. I don't like this in books it really takes me out of the story, I understand they do that because of the age discrepancy but it just irks me. I am undecided at this point if I will continue on with the series. Thank you Obit books for my gifted copy for review.

Wonderfully atmospheric, an amazing retelling of an old fairytale we're so familiar with, and yet this one somehow made it refreshing and unpredictable. I immediately empathized with the MC and felt all of her anger at the unfairness of life and cheered alongside her as she learned to fight back.

TW: self-harm, anxiety/panic attacks, emotional abuse

No one is more disappointed than me over this book. It was my most highly-anticipated read, and it is literally right up my alley. But no… it sadly, let me down on all counts. Firstly, Red has to be one of the most annoying MCs and reading from her perspective made me irrationally frustrated. If I’m honest, the only character I really liked was Neve; she was the only non-bland, well-developed character out of the bunch. The entire time I was reading this book, I was in a state of perpetual confusion. The world-building is just non-existent in this book. Maybe the author wanted to introduce the concept slowly but there are so many unanswered questions and plot holes for the reader to navigate. Also, the insta-love in this book drove me insane; more than half of this book is just Red suddenly having loads of empathy for Eammon and that means she loves him apparently. I don’t know what more to say, but this book left me extremely disappointed and I’m not sure if I will ever recover. Sadly, it gets 1 star from me.

2 stars DNF @ 38%

For the Wolf was unfortunately pretty boring and derivative in my opinion. There’s nothing inherently wrong with reusing tried and true tropes/ideas, however when it’s boring, I can’t really abide by it.

This is marketed for fans of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale, both of which I enjoyed immensely. This reminds me a lot of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted- it has a lot of the same elements. There’s a girl who’s forced to live with someone who she thinks is kinda evil. There’s an awful creepy forest involved and a big magical goal to achieve. Could be a vibe. It’s just… Uprooted did it better.

I’m always partial to Red Riding Hood or Beauty and the Beast Retellings. But to be honest, except for the main character’s red coat, the fact that she’s called Red, and the guy she goes to live with is called ‘The Wolf,’ there’s not much more that’s similar to Little Red Riding Hood. Honestly, this is more similar to a Beauty and the Beast retelling, although even that’s a stretch because ‘The Wolf’ is just a nice dude who’s just going through some crap.

That’s to say that if you’re looking for a fun fairy tale retelling, this probably won’t scratch that itch except for in the most surface level of ways.

So Redarys (Red) is the second daughter of a queen, and because of magical reasons, she must be sacrificed and go to ‘The Wolf’ in hopes that he would release the fabled 5 Kings that Red’s people almost worship as gods. Red’s sister isn’t too happy about this and tries to prevent Red from leaving, but Red’s resigned to her fate.

So, she goes into the scary forest to meet this crazy wolf everyone’s talking about only to find out that he’s just some dude who’s fighting a losing battle. Yeah, so this “wolf” is actually a pretty nice dude. Cool I guess but there’s no spice or interest. Like, we all saw Beauty and the Beast and I know what happens in Uprooted. I’m tired of the “big bad wolf” actually being an upstanding dude. Where’s the intrigue? The morally problematic shenanigans? At least there’s some spice to the Dragon (Uprooted) and the Beast: they’re interesting and leave you a bit wary to let your guard down. But this Wolf? Nah he’s just a dude who’s trying to save people. Yawn.

Anyway, Eammon (The Wolf) is nice, but really his character is completely based on sacrifice. All he does is sacrifice himself, emotionally, physically, spiritually, to keep evil forces at bay. It’s like him and his little rag tag squad. I suppose they’re fighting the good fight but really? No one even knows what this guy is doing so it’s hard to really see why it matters so much. Like if Eammon wasn’t magically tied to this forest I doubt he’d even be fighting this fight.

We learn quickly that everything Red thought she knew is wrong (surprise) and she has a dude in front of her who has no reason not to tell her what’s up but she just never asks questions. It’s really frustrating as a reader because obviously this guy knows what’s going on and there’s no established reason why Red can’t know what’s up. But we’re stuck in limbo because Red’s just hanging around not really asking what’s going on. It contributes to my feelings of how this book is pretty slow.

I’m also a bit sick of books where the main character is obviously very powerful magically, but they can’t control it/use their magic, and it’s just a matter of time (or when the author needs it) until it clicks. I just find it a boring plot line unless there’s some finesse and oomph to it.

I think I probably would have enjoyed this book when I was younger and not as well-versed in this kind of fantasy. However it just seems like a less-interesting version of books I’ve already read. The magic system in this book is visually cool but not well-defined. Everything seems to be a bit murky, from the main conflict to the actual magic system. Whitten did a good job of giving us a creepy forest a la Uprooted, and there were some cool scenes in there. The writing had that classic YA fantasy vibe that uses a lot of similes, but it wasn’t bad.

Also apparently this book is adult? It does read a lot like a YA Fantasy and honestly the plot gives YA vibes as well. But I guess they swear and apparently there’s a spicy scene at the end?

RIP. At the end of the day, this book was boring and slow. There also wasn’t a spicy enough romance or interesting characterization to justify it. I’m out.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Red is a Second Daughter, the first one in a hundred years, destined to be turned over to the Wolf in the Wilderwood as legend demands. Her only purpose is as a sacrifice, and that fact has shaped her life up until this point. But when Red’s 20th birthday finally arrives, and she walks into the Wood, the Wolf is not at all what she expects. Instead of the monster as foretold, the Wolf is a man with the Wood in him – the Wood that will not let him, or Red, go without a fight.

Yet another creative take on Little Red Riding Hood – one that actually has a bit more Beauty and the Beast than Little Red – this story is a far more mature retelling of the classic fairytale, most definitely new adult fantasy, if not adult adult. With a look at the dark side of religion and the lengths that people will go to gain power, there’s also an examination of sisterhood and of the importance of the bonds of chosen family. There’s fear in the unknown and even more danger in believing the stories you’ve always been told.

Red is a conundrum. Her strength starts with her voice, one which she feels she rarely uses. She’s harsh, yet forgiving, and loving, yet reserved. Definitely not your average girl heading off into the forest to find Grandmother. I loved the relationship she shared with her sister, Neve. The two grew up in a very cold, very distant household, but their love for each other is each woman’s driving force. Twins, it’s pure luck that Red is the Second Daughter; Neve escaped that fate by a mere few minutes, a guilt that is doubtlessly behind her every choice once Red heads into the Wood.

Eammon is the Wolf, though comes across more as a Beast than the monster in which he’s depicted in tales. He’s gruff, but protective, and all too aware of Red meeting potential harm. Plus, he has a library he calls home, wooing Red with his love of literature. On that, their romance is expected, yet sweet, and definitely welcome. It’s lovely to see a fictional couple that builds each other up and frets about the other as these two do.

Neve’s antics back in their town of Valleyda are where the main intrigue in this story lies – and where the cliffhanger into book 2 ends. It’s a gripping set up to what is sure to be an engaging series; it just doesn’t have to be so long. For around 450 pages, not that much happens and it could easily have been condensed. I understand the desire to get your audience to know your characters, but pacing is definitely the area that could use the most improvement. Nevertheless, I will be back for more.

Trigger warning: anxiety/panic attacks, gore, self-harm for magic use (cutting), parental death, parental neglect/emotional abuse, religious abuse.

Thanks Orbit for granting me an earc of this book. It just wasn’t for me. I didn’t like the characters and couldn’t manage to care about what was happening. I gave up at around 15%.

The premise is catching and the descriptions are lush. The pacing held back the plot, but a lot of fantasy readers will enjoy this re-imagining of a fairy tale.

Everything about FOR THE WOLF pulled me in, entangling me in deliciously layered characters and atmospheric world-building. I loved all of it so much!

A fun romantic fantasy read that I wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as I did. However, it was a tad bit too long for my taste. Will they, won't they. I also had issues having a connection with the characters. It read more of a beauty and the best retelling than it did Little Red Riding Hood.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fairy tale like story with elements of Little Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast and maybe a little Sleeping Beauty. The imagery created by her storytelling is quite magical and fitting with the fairy tale atmosphere. I did find some of the events to be a little repetitive. All in all this story is full of magic, romance, trials and tribulations with an ending that opens up the storyline for a sequel.
This is definitely a book geared towards young adults.

I was expecting some variation of Little Red Riding Hood and was surprised by a more Beauty and the Beast story starring a dangerous and enchanted forest rather than a castle. While I enjoyed the story and characters, I found the plot of the five kings to be wanting, and wish were could have understood the past legend involving them better. For the entire plot to be driven by the return of the five kings, they were the least explored characters and histories in the book.

Red has always known her sole purpose in life is to be sacrificed to the Wilderwood, and the Wolf, in the hopes they will release the old Kings. Red has accepted her fate, and willingly goes into the Wilderwood, hoping to learn more about the strange power she manifests. However, when she's finally in the Wilderwood she realizes its weaker than they thought, she is exactly what the Wilderwood wants, and the Wolf is but a man. Meanwhile, her sister Neve, who is destined for the throne, is unable to accept that her sister is gone and does everything she can to get her back.

I think I would have liked this book better if I hadn't read it directly after The Wolf and the Woodsman. The Wolf and the Woodsman had absolutely phenomenal world building, and was also an "enemies to lovers" romance, and after that I feel like For the Wolf fell flat. The premise was interesting. I am always a fan of fantasy books that feature something different as the villain (in this case, The Wilderwood), but it is not original. Given the title, cover, and main characters name I thought I was going to be reading a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood but it was more Beauty and the Beast. Don't get me wrong, I am always down for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but this wasn't one of my favorites. The beginning started off a little slow for me, but then as it got going I couldn't put it down. I was more interested in Red's chapters than in the chapters that were from Neve's point of view. Neve's storyline also seemed super predictable to me.

Overall, this was an entertaining read that would be more suitable for the YA crowd. The main character is a little older (20 I think) but it reads more like YA.

This was an interesting and unique story. I really enjoyed the two storylines between the sisters, and how it set things up for a sequel. The play on red riding hood was light, because I felt a combination with Beauty and the Beast. The curse was interesting and different. The villains were Uber creepy. Can’t wait to read the next one!!!!!

I've always been a lover of the folk tale "Red Riding Hood" for its elements of good vs evil within the characters, so I enjoy reading authors' takes on retellings of the story, their reimaginings of who is good and who is bad.

This story caught my eye . . . WELL let's just say that I often do judge books by their covers and this book has a spectacular one. Going into the story, the author creates a world swathed in cold and bitter darkness, at the edge of a world stands the Wilderwood, like stark white teeth jutting up from the maw of the earth. Whether it contains evil or holds it back it unknown. All the people of Red's nation know is that the Marked Second-born daughters must go to the woods to be sacrificed to the Wolf gods that live within our the 5 High Kings will never be free and the nation will forever continue to remain under the cold grip of winter.

So it has been for generations prior to Red, daughters have stepped into the woods never to be heard from again. Whether they were afraid or embraced their fate, she doesn't know but she does know that for her the woods call for her. So much so that the draw is greater than the cries of anguish she feels at leaving her twin, Neve, behind. Is it into the jaws of the beast that destiny awaits or will this bubbling power that desires to reach out finally find what itis looking for?

This story has many POVs. On one hand it can lead to confusion having to remember what is going on with who and where. But on the other hand, in this case, it gives insight has to what events are unfolding outside of the dire Wilderwoods and what dark forces are conspiring to topple the delicate balance that holds the world from being taken over by darkness.

I believe I would have enjoyed this story more if Red weren't so much of a passive passenger in her own life. She complained a lot about her lot in life, being the Second daughter, not having her mother's love, having a part of the forest living within her, having to live in the woods . . . Blah, blah, blah. It really does get quite dull and repetitive all the the complaining and let's not forget the overly wordy proise about how Eammon looks, tastes, smells. For a character that constantly states that she is determined to fight, she sure doesn't seem to want to.

Then there is Eammon, a character who is supposedly thousands of years old, but who blushes like a pre-teen when Red says she can't go around naked after she borrow his shirt. He let's himself get pushed around by a 20 yo girl like he knows nothing and often seems to be embarrassed than

The book is relatively long and every time I think that something drastic is about to happen that may help catapult the plot towards a climax, toward anything other than the slow pace that is set for 2/3rds of the book, I'm disappointed.

Yes, this book is a YA book and I'm most definitely an adult but I've reviewed my fair share of YAs. The story had potential with its unseen twists, but after the slow pace and the characters it was just too much.

** Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to leave an honest review in exchange of a copy of this book **

I really wanted to like this book. I'm a fan of retellings, dark creepy forests, and male protagonists with just enough mystery to satisfy. But this fell short on basically all levels for me. I didn't particularly care for the writing style or the way the author arranged the story. I really hated the main character and her sister. I also didn't care for any of the secondary characters. I'm fine with slow-burn romances and slow moving plots, but this was just boring. It didn't have anything to keep me interested at any point.

I hate writing negative reviews. I know someone put their heart and soul into writing this book baby. I also know that this book really wasn't for me. However, there are many great reviews about this book so if you're interested in reading it check a few of them out to balance out mine. You never know, it could be your favorite book of the year?

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Orbit for providing me with an eARC of this book, however all thoughts and opinions are definitely my own.

I liked the concept, the magic forest (love a good evil forest), the loose “Red Riding Hood” inspirations, but I didn’t love the characters or their romance... like it was fine, nothing wrong with them, but it didn’t wow me and after some time later I don’t remember anything particularly noteworthy about the romance in particular.
The worldbuilding was solid, the magic systems were cool.

The conflict...... It made sense but it also wasn’t very enjoyable to read. It’s one of those conflicts that’s very frustrating, because you see another character unknowingly working against everything the protagonist is working for, and turning them into an unwitting antagonist of sorts. Every “interlude” chapter had me rolling my eyes and going “oh god what is Neve doing now” and sighing heavily. Different to read, which I suppose gives it some points, but still not enjoyable to me personally.

Wasn’t all that emotionally involved in the book other than the initial “I’m super excited to read this” and that kinda died off as I read. At one point I think I set the book down for like a week and procrastinated finishing it mostly because my heart wasn’t really in it.

I wish there had been some LGBT representation in it, because as far as I could tell there wasn’t really any. The main characters and love interest were all white, and there were a couple POC side characters.

But again! I didn’t hate or really dislike it, aside from the interlude chapters, so there’s that!

The aesthetic was ✋✨

The writing was so 🍰 I loved the darkness of the atmosphere, and the relationship between Red and Eamon was so emo and angsty. While the world-building was a little eh, it read like a classic folktale! This was a lot of fun.

Thank you to Orbit Books for sending me an ARC copy of this book!

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

I WANT THE SECOND BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!!

I think you all know by now that I have a very intense love for weird, dark forest/woodland magic and any books that fall into that wide genre. This book is no different, with descriptions of the creepy Wilderwood taking over bodies to survive, and a Wolf set as its Warden.

The book follows two sisters, Red and Neve. Neve is set to be Queen after her mother dies and Red, as the Second Daughter, will be sent to the Wolf on her 20th birthday in order to appease him and keep his leashed monsters at bay. Enter Eammon, not the monster pictured, his grumpiness, and his soft spot for all the people in his care. As Red begins to learn her place in the Wilderwood, dark magic brews in the capitol she left with Neve in charge. Cue The Conflict.

I loved this book and I think, as a first book, it created more questions than answers about the workings of the world and the magic system. I don't completely fault it for that, but I think a little more time could have been spent to explore the magic system and the history of the world to help readers understand what was happening and why.

Other than that, I loved Red and Eammon and their slow-burn entanglement full of obvious interest that's tightly leashed for everyone's safety or whatever... JUST KISS.

I wanted to know more about the side characters, but I think that's another thing that's okay to build slowly in a first book and explore in follow up books.

I just love how green and atmospheric this book felt, with even the keep full of moss and trees, and a sentient, God-like forest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for my copy of this!

A dark fairy tale reborn. If Red Riding Hood met Beauty and the Beast with a romance in an enchanted forest. I loved all the characters. It was dark and refreshing reminiscent of Bear and the Nightingale and Uprooted!

Initial Thoughts
I was so excited when the publisher reached out about reading this book. It had been on my radar for so long.

Some Things I Liked
Multiple POVs. So I saw the POVs and interlude chapters were criticized for being too much but I actually really enjoyed them. I liked that we got to see what was going on in multiples places of the setting at once.
The romance. This is pretty clearly a Beauty and the Beast / Hades and Persephone retelling. I really enjoyed that element and actually loved both sisters romance plots.
Dark themes. This book is definitely more adult than YA simply because of the language, age of characters, and subject matter. The story is heavier in politics and has alludes to a decent amount of tragedy regarding the other second daughters.

Series Value
I already requested the next book in the series. I can’t wait to read it. I loved the writing style and will definitely read more of this author.

Audiobook Value
So I actually listened to this as an audiobook. I loved the narrator. But, one thing I’ll say is that the interlude chapters were a bit clunky narrated. I think this might be better read than listened to.

Final Thoughts
This book might have taken me a while to finish but it’s not for lack of enjoyment. I really loved the story and writing here.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️