𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 5/5⭐
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 - 5/5⭐
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 - 5/5⭐
𝐄𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - 5/5⭐
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 5/5⭐

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: Death (of a loved one), Self-harm, Alcohol (mentioned), Hallucinations (magic), Police brutality, Terminal illness, Corpse, Religious persecution.
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The Wolf's Curse by Jessica Vitalis follows Gauge, a 12-year-old boy whose life got upended when a Great White Wolf stole his grandpapá's soul before it could reach the Sea-in-the-Sky, the afterlife where the dead sail for eternity. He lives in the superstitious village of Bouge-by-the-Sea, where people believe the Wolf is the bringer of death. When the villagers accuse him of calling the Wolf, Gauge has no choice but to seek an alliance with Roux, another orphan, to prove his innocence. In their journey, they reveal astounding truths about death and the Wolf, all the while facing their grief.

The writing style was the first thing I noticed in this novel. It resembles The Book Thief and Lemony Snicket, with interludes and inputs from the narrator. It takes a couple of chapters to get used to since the initial inputs feel unnecessary. However, it creates a unique and personal narration in which the reader slowly gets to know the main character and the narrator. Their relationship is also thoroughly explored in this omniscient but personal narration style. It is emotionally complex and wholly developed, with exceptional character development as well.
Said development rests upon the grief they share, their loss of someone loved, and how they learned to grow and move past the pain. That is what makes the ending well-developed and consistent, demonstrating how their pain and growth resulted in the perfect conclusion for their story.

This novel was one of the best Wolf stories I've ever read. It makes use of the idiom "to cry wolf" as a base for a breathtaking and diverse world-building. The superstitions and customs of this country get thorough descriptions that are detailed but not overwhelmingly informative.
Nevertheless, such superstitions never alluded to racism or sexism, separating tradition and ignorance from outright prejudice, an important distinction to make in a middle-grade novel. Additionally, the different countries in this world have various beliefs, defined as simply distinct realities where things work differently and not as abnormal behaviors that should be feared or despised.

The Wolf's Curse is a breathtaking and life-changing story, fast-paced and inciting, impossible to put down, and everything a middle-grade fantasy book should be.

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an early copy in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars for this excellent debut book. I liked the unique narrator (told from the POV of a snarky wolf). I also enjoyed the changing relationships between different characters...the wolf and Gauge, Gauge and Roux, Gauge and the people of the village. I greatly appreciated the sense of setting and felt truly immersed in the world of Gatineau. And I liked how this book dealt with loss in an age appropriate way.

Due to the length and more mature content of the book (it deals with heavy themes), I would recommend this book more for upper middle grades (grades 5-7).

I absolutely loved this book! I have never before wanted the villain to win as much as I did here, but also care about and adore the main character. As a mom, I wanted to protect them all. As a mom, I was grief stricken right along side that wolf.
The author expertly crafted a world in which I would never want to live, but still I will miss those characters.

The Wolf's Curse is a heartbreakingly beautiful fantasy that is, at its heart, about grief and the different ways we cope with loss. The Wolf, reminiscent of Death in The Book Thief, narrates with a voice full of weary desperation.
Gauge is the only one who can see the Wolf, making him an outcast in the small community that is tied very closely to its death rituals. He discovers an ally in Roux, who is also struggling with grief and anxiety. As Gauge draws nearer to the truth about the Wolf and the town's leaders, he must face his own grief and find the courage to save his and Roux's lives.

Told from the point of view of the wolf, The Wolf's Curse is a captivating middle grade fantasy story. Readers will find opportunities to relate to characters' greif as well as their triumph. Jessica Vitalis has created a world with traditions that will resonate with readers while giving them an escape from every day life.

Incredible! How did the author get me to turn pages so fast, while I simultaneously had the urge to slow down so I wouldn't finish too quickly ?? This is a beautiful, atmospheric story. I will carry Gauge and Roux in my heart for a long time to come. Fantastic middle grade reading for anyone, but especially for those who have had to look grief in the face and find the strength to continue on.

I just want to hold this book in my heart and carry it around with me. It is beautifully written, full of warmth and tenderness found in the most unlikely of places.

I found The Wolf's Curse a delightful book.with a charming story. The characters were believable and I cared about them. It is easy to get caught up in the trials of this sweet boy and the friends he makes along the way. I highly recommend everyone to read this alluring tale.
By Peg Duenow

This middle grade fantasy follows the story of the Great White Wolf, sick of her centuries-long job (oh so relatable, for us adult readers), and Gauge, a young boy about to lose the grandfather who loved and protected him from superstitious townsfolk for years. What follows is a journey of grieving, friendship, misunderstanding, and unexpected kindness that sticks with you, and you’ll find yourself thinking of it long after you’ve reached the end.

The worldbuilding is beautifully done, and the Great White Wolf as the narrator is clever and funny. What I appreciated most is that this book covers grief in such a heartfelt, creative yet delicate way, and it makes us consider the things we do to help our loved ones and ourselves move on.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the chance to read an advance copy.

First, we need to acknowledge how beautiful this cover is.

Second, how well grief is written in this story.

Twelve-year-old Gauge’s life has been cursed since the day he saw an invisible Great White Wolf in his garden. Living in the superstitious town of Bouge-by-the-Sea where the ability to see the Wolf marks him as a Voyant (essentially a witch), Gauge has lived a very sheltered life. The townsfolk fear Voyant’s because they believe that they can call the Wolf and essentially call death upon whomever they please. When his Grandpapa, his protector, dies, he has to find a way to make the townspeople see how harmless he is while also grieving the loss of his last living relative.

This book was very well written, and although death and grief is not something that every child is interested in, I think this is a great book for kids who are dealing with grief and loss.

So much to unpack here. First of all, I'm in love with that cover--everything about it, and the title, just perfectly captures the heart of this book.

The Wolf's Curse centers the story of Gauge, apprentice to his carpenter grandfather. But accusations of witchcraft surround the boy, whose ability to see the Great White Wolf--the bringer of death--forces him into hiding when he should be living a normal childhood. When he befriends Roux, a young feather collector, they discover things about their village's customs that make them question everything they once believed.

This is such a special debut. Being of French descent myself, I loved that the language was the basis of Gauge's world. And the decision to have the book narrated by the snarky Wolf softens what is otherwise a heavy book. There is such a touching message about death, dying, and grief here and Vitalis uses a gentle hand to guide the reader through the process. I also loved her discussion of the superstitions we carry about passing.

A special thank you to the author and publisher for giving me a copy of this ARC to review.

This book is about death, grief, and mourning. Three things most middle grade readers are NOT asking for when they come into the library. I heard grade things about this book, but I didn't really like it, and I don't see middle grade readers liking it either.

This was a very touching read. I loved the style in which it was written. It handled subjects that can be hard to handle, but necessary to explore, and in such a lovely way. I enjoyed this!

A magical story with fairy tale vibes about Gauge, a young boy who is shunned by his village for being a Voyant, able to see the dreaded Wolf known to steal people's souls. Told from the omniscient perspective of the Wolf, who is misunderstood by the superstitious folk, this story is a wonderful tale of love, friendship, grief, and community. When Gauge's beloved grandfather dies, he is left trying to navigate his grief and mourning on his own, but soon makes friend with a village girl, Roux. The two help each other while uncovering the true secret of the Wolf's role in the villagers' lives and deaths.

I found the narration of the story to be distracting, despite a lot of delighted focus on it from the author and from other reviewers. But the story of Gauge was good enough to keep me invested and I think it's a strong book, covering issues of grief, belief, discrimination, and fairness, that will be popular with young readers.

Told from the point of view of the Wolf, it follows young Gauge and tries to offer him a job, which his grandpapá warned him about. Poignant tale of grief and healing, with a dystopian and mystical twist. Satisfying conclusion.

Compelling middle grade fantasy set in an imaginary French-inspired seaside nation. 12 year old Gauge is one of a minuscule minority of people with the innate ability to see The Wolf, a spirit believed to steal the souls of the newly dead before they can be safely released to the Sea-in-the-Sky (their version of an ideal afterlife). Normally people like Gauge are executed upon discovery and set out to sea to die of exposure or drowning as punishment for what the village assumes is the summoning of The Wolf. Gauge's loving grandfather has protected him from that fate (albeit at great cost) but with his protector's passing, Gauge suddenly finds himself alone in a highly superstitious town eager to pin their woes on an easy target. Gauge is also hunted by The Wolf, the story's narrator, who is eager to convince Gauge to take her place as The Wolf and usher Gauge into a system of life and death that is wholly foreign to the young boy. Trigger Warnings for death and mourning, although none of the deaths are violent or graphic. Ultimately a beautiful and thoughtful novel.

Beautifully written middle grade book about grief, tradition, and healing. The Wolf is a clever narrator, I adored the voice throughout the story. Gauge and Roux are charming and resourceful. I fell in love with the story-telling and the world of Gatineau.

Gauge has led a lonely existence for the past 6 years all because he said he could see a wolf, that no one saw. The Lord Mayor accused Gauge of being a Voyant and causing his wife's death. Gauge’s grandpapa was able to save Guage 6 years ago, but when his Grandpapa dies, and the wolf comes again Gauge isn’t so lucky. He is accused of being a Voyant again and the whole village is out to get him and sentence him to set sail. As he turns to Roux for help, both kids start to learn more about the releasing ceremony performed for the dead. Something doesn't seem quite right, and maybe if they discover what it is Gauge can be saved.
This is a story about a young boy’s grief and how he processes it. Without his grandpapa there to guide him, Gauge is lost and confused. He and Roux start to question all that they have been taught about what happens after death. As they learn more and more about the village’s practices regarding death they start to doubt everything they have been taught. And finally, when the truth is revealed Gauge and Roux must decide what they really do believe regarding the death of those they loved. This story takes a deep look at how people handle grief in different ways. There are many characters who are grieving and doing it in different ways. But ultimately, they all learn that to move on they must actually grieve for their loved ones. It was an interesting story about a theme everyone deals with at some point in their life.

I really enjoyed this story, primarily because of the Wolf narrator. The technique of telling the story from the Wolf’s POV but as omniscient was unique, clever, and crafty. It’s like we had a glimpse of what it might be like to be the Wolf, and like we were sharing an intimate secret with the narrator. Despite the obvious challenges of being the Wolf, I found myself sort of wanting to be in that role. She’s a sympathetic character. I anticipate this role-playing will spur good discussions in young readers too.

The topic of loss is addressed, and emotions shared. But, perhaps even more philosophical than that, I appreciate how this story promotes a critical, curious mind to question the rituals and traditions passed down in culture.

Besides that, this story was told with an eye to detail in the setting, the descriptions, the scents and sounds. I was fully immersed in the town and idiosyncrasies of Gatineau as a place different from my own, but similar enough with its sailing phrases that it seemed completely believable.