Thank you so much to NetGalley and Three Amigas Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 ⭐️

Despite not knowing what was really happening or where the story was going, I did enjoy reading this because of the writing and multiple POVs.

I enjoyed Wren's backstory with her father and would have loved to see a bit more of that. The slow unravelling of the plot worked well for me, and gave us plenty of chances to get to know the characters in depth, but admittedly the pacing did feel a bit off at times because it's such an ambitious book that dealt with several storylines - political intrigue, gods, mysterious creatures.

Though I felt a bit frustrated at the lack of satisfying answers or plot development by the end of the book, I still very much enjoyed my time with these characters and this world. The themes of found family and seeing Wren learning to trust people slowly was lovely.

Our FMC Wren is half Elf, half human and has spent her life mainly hidden from the world so we were learning about the kings and elves, and creatures of the world as she did. The fantasy elements & world building was done in such a way as to not overwhelm and confuse. It has multiple POVs from the start which helped me understand the world and have a greater sense of what was going on without being swamped with info overload you usually get at the start of fantasy books.

Alas, It was written in third person which I don’t enjoy as I don’t feel as emotionally connected to the characters, but it didn’t detract too much from my enjoyment.

I honestly didn’t know where this book was going at any point in the best way! It had me on my toes. Mysterious creatures, secrets, found family, and the ground work laid for some pretty interesting storylines to unravel in future books. Cannot wait to get some answers to some burning questions!

There is a romance subplot but not a huge feature of the book, it’s definitely feels more like a YA fantasy, Over half way in I was still unsure which MMC she would end up liking, that might be me though always expecting the morally grey type to be the love interest.

My only criticism is that Wren undergoes a major Transformation during the book and I think it’s kinda rushed like oh this happened, and she’s just ok with it?…. More time could have been spent there but other than that I cannot wait to see where this story goes!

P.S. Don’t let the Multiple POVs scare you off!
The POV switched back to our main character Wren after each alternate POV, and the other characters tended to have shorter chapters to so you don’t get bogged down with characters and parts of the story you don’t enjoy as much like in GOT or similar fantasy books.

This review will be published to my Goodreads account.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC of A Bird Among Wolves by Tracy Leonard Nakatani.

This book unfortunately was a DNF for me at 29% in. The world building and the writing makes it difficult to understand what's exactly happening in this world. There is a lot of mystery around what's happening in this world but there just isn't enough information given in each point of view for me to really care about any of the characters.

There are multiple different point of views up until the point I made it to that also makes it difficult to pick up on what we're supposed to be feeling for each character. Including the FMC, Wren.

A couple of the male characters seem to have very sexist undertones. From the first chapter of Faelan's POV :

"Faelan wasn't one to take orders quietly, and when they came from a woman—especially an undeserving wench like Gayl..."

"Keep moving so she'll shut her mouth. Don't know why Ulfred lets her lead these jobs."

And then describing the FMC in this book this same male characters seem says "The slightly angular structure of her face could have made her an upper-class whore if she had more meat on her..."

Lastly, his brother later on has a quote "Just kidding, pup. Stay alert, and don't leave Gayl waiting outside for too long. She can be a real bitch."

Each of these parts seemed really cringey and made me want to stop reading immediately. Unfortunately due to that, this read has to be a DNF for me.

Overall, the description and the title are what drew me to this particular book but it doesn't seem like it's for me at this time.

Thank you to the author, Tracy Nakatani, and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of A Bird Among Wolves. Overall, I thought this was a very well-done and compelling start to what feels like an epic fantasy series in the making.

It had all the right elements: immersive world-building, fast-paced action, and a cast full of unique and diverse characters you can’t help but root for. One of the most refreshing aspects for me was the inclusion of fantasy creatures beyond the usual mainstream fare—it added a layer of originality that made the story stand out.

The glossary was a thoughtful addition and really helped keep track of the many names, places, and concepts introduced. I do hope the final version includes a map, though—this world is rich and expansive, and a visual reference would really bring it to life even more.

This book was absolutely action-packed, and the ending has me impatiently awaiting the next installment. Fingers crossed I’ll get lucky enough to receive that ARC too, because I’m not sure how I’ll wait to find out what happens next!

First thank you NetGalley for providing me an arc in exchange for my review.

3.5 ⭐️!

I will say that is this is the first fantasy book that I have read in a while, and the first half was intriguing but a. little slow. I felt that the different POVs helped the world building . The second half of the book felt more climatic. The plot twist was a little predictable, but I still enjoyed it.

It was an epic action packed fantasy book, enjoyed reading this book for it's amazing set of characters, plot twists, world building and mysteries.

Tracy Leonard Nakatani's writing style was one of the elements that brought the characters to life. The title seems to be symbolism for wren and perfectly suited for the book as she was clueless of the dangerous mysteries cloaking her life that her father took to his grave.

The best element of this book would be the characters! These characters are well developed, makes flawed decisions and are completely different from each other through their quirks. Looking forward to meet Marius, Faelan, and Randon in the next installment and Gayl was my favourite character.

There was potential for sizzling chemistry between the characters that could have been explored, at few places the pacing was a bit off— sometimes, it felt too slow and then, rushed.

Thanks to Tracy Leonard Nakatani and Victory Editing Co-op on NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a tough read for me. I started it more than once and it took three tries before I could get past the beginning. One of the biggest challenges for me was the timing of the story - I’m not a huge fan of fantasy that starts in the middle of the action. Without world building, I just feel confused.

The pacing then felt off, the story felt rushed like I could never really find my bearings. I’m also not a fan of this many POVs in the first novel of a series. I prefer to spend time with one or two characters in a world as it is building.

I will say I enjoyed the relationships between the characters, particularly between Arlon and Wren. I also loved the twin dynamic of Faelan and Randon.

2.5 stars rounded to 3

This book was a truly immersive and exhilarating experience! From the very first page, I was completely captivated by the well-developed FMC and the intricate plot. The author's ability to seamlessly weave together multiple character perspectives kept me engaged and eager to uncover every layer of the story. I was genuinely invested in the characters' journeys, feeling their triumphs and heartaches as if they were my own. There were moments of suspense that had me holding my breath, and times when the emotional depth resonated deeply. What truly stood out was the author's incredible imagination; the world-building was fantastic and felt utterly unique. The writing itself was superb, making it impossible to put the book down. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to read it and am already counting down the days until the next installment. That cliffhanger ending has me on the edge of my seat, desperately hoping he found her! I know there's so much more to this story, and I can't wait to see where it goes next. This is a must-read for anyone looking for a gripping and imaginative escape

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC. This story was right up my street - Elves and humans living side by side in a magical land with gods and mythical creatures. Yes, the writing was a little clunky at times, but it didn’t detract from the story or the characters. I love that there is a prequel that fills in (hopefully) some of the backstory. There’s definitely more to explore here. And the cliffhanger ending? Bring on book 2!

4 star read for me! I am highly anticipating the next book. I loved the main character and many of side characters. I loved the fast paced world building and the magical energy in this story! I am very excited for the 2nd book.

🌟🌟🌟.5
I got the chance to read this book as an ARC before its release date next year on March 31, 2026. I think overall this was a good story, and I’m curious to see where it goes and what happens to the characters.
What I think worked in this book. The multiple POV’s was such a great addition to the story. While there were some characters whose POV I was not excited to read, what it added to the story was very helpful. I think having these multiple POVs also helped to keep the story moving.
I LOVED the relationship between Randon and Wren. I love his personality and his story is so interesting to discover throughout the book. In fact I loved all of the relationships Wren built with the Order. The found family dynamic was great and I thought it developed very naturally across the book.
I did not feel like the backstory and history of this world was developed enough. Too much was left up to the reader to figure out on their own and at times took me out of the story trying to keep everything straight.
I wish that Wren had more of a personality. I felt like her only driving characteristic was protecting those that she loves, by running away from them. I think that her mistrust in the world makes sense given her upbringing, but running away and not trusting was all I got from her. Likewise all I got from Faelan was mistrust and I wish there was more from his character.
Overall this was a fun read. There’s a lot in this story that I’m curious how it will develop, but it wasn’t earth shattering for me.

Let me start by saying this book wasn't for me but I encourage you to try it for yourself.

A Bird Among Wolves Starts out very strong and does not stop trowing its all at Wren. With such a strong opening chapter there is a sense of urgency and time running out from page one. With a twist here and a turn there this book starts at 60 and goes up from there. The romance is a medium burn that will only get hotter as the series progresses.

Everything in this book felt connected making it feel like the word its self was more of a small town. However, the world building felt fresh and new, rather than an old world rewritten.

This story is told primarily though Wrens POV but it does switch here and there. I don't fell like we would have missed much keeping to one POV but it was a good change of pace throughout the book. i will say that Wren is an optimistic hero that you just want to root for.

The over all story felt like the author was trying to tell us as much as possible as fast as possible. I can only hope the pacing remains the same in following books.

The writing was smooth in someplace but clunky in others. If given this book and one written by a more experienced author, I am confident I would be able to tell witch was a debut. All things consider this book shows the author has a lot of potential that I am excited to see shine though in the rest of this series.

Happy Reading!

When I started reading A Bird Among Wolves, I was immediately thrown into the thick of the story - no context, no backstory, just vibes. And weirdly enough I didn’t mind that at first. But now that I’ve gone back and read the actual plot summary, I realise I probably learned more about the overarching story from that than I did from the first part of the book. I would’ve really appreciated a bit of setup or background … something to ground me in the world before I was dropped into it.

That said I did enjoy what I read. Wren is our main character and even though I wasn’t given much about her upfront, I did like her. She’s cautious and strong - clearly shaped by being raised in hiding by her father … I appreciated her quiet resilience. Once I found my footing and understood what was happening, I really started to enjoy the world and the atmosphere. It gave off a certain vibe I loved and I especially enjoyed the found family dynamic that formed when she joined the warrior group. That part was great.

What I struggled with a little was the number of different points of view. I get why the author included them … it’s a complex and richly built world and those POVs helped expand it and show how all the different pieces fit together. But personally I just found myself wanting more of Wren and less of everyone else. It wasn’t confusing exactly, just maybe a little diluted? I wanted to stay in the heart of her story.

Still I thought this was a beautifully written, mysterious story with a ton of depth. It honestly felt like watching an epic fantasy miniseries which was full of secrets, layers, and shifting alliances. And I’d absolutely read more to see what happens next.

4’3/5⭐️ First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an arc of “A bird among wolves”. Wow, i really really enjoyed this book. The fantasy world the author has created is very interesting and I cannot wait to read more about it in the second book! I also really enjoyed Wren as the main character and the other members of the Brotherhood. If you like fantasy books with an interesting lore and wolves involved I highly recommend!!

Omg, I finished this last night. This was so good! I’m gong to be honest, it took me a minute to settle into the book. The first part was me trying to figure out the setting and who all the characters were, and what was happening. There were quite a few names so I ended up going through the glossary of characters and locations. It didn’t take long for me to get into this though. I felt like the monsters and the diverse groups of people were pretty unique and I liked that. I also really liked Wren. I liked the found family aspect, I ended up liking the different pov’s. The plot never felt slow to me, it was pretty steady paced so I was invested the whole way through. I loved it. If this series was already in the universe, I would definitely be picking up the next book to see what happens. I’m giving this a 4.5 stars although on here it seems there’s no option for a half. Great book and great job author!!

It was a fun read
Im excited to see what wrens adventure is going to look like
Thanks to the author and net galley for the arc

This book had me captivated within the first chapter. We have elves, humans, wolves, magical forest creatures, found family and political intrigue. There’s a lot of world building happening in the beginning and at times my head was spinning a little between the different names of regions and types of people, the political levels (kings, queens, kingdoms) and who was loyal to where. There are multiple POV’s which I loved! It gives so much depth to the overarching plot. The glossary at the back was very helpful but I think a map would be a really useful addition as well (which I got in my inbox after I signed up for the author’s newsletter!). This was a very well written story with so much detail. I felt like I was experiencing the characters’ feelings and thoughts, especially that part in chapter 35 with the “changing”. It was so good.

There was no spice but we get hints of attraction, some kissing, and some romantic tension. This is going to be the slowest of slow burns 😅😩 but I think it’ll be worth it once we get there.
The overall plot is really intriguing and once we established the world and characters, it really picked up and I feel sooooo invested now. I enjoyed the magic in this world and can’t wait to see more of it unfold. There were several unexpected twists that were exciting and emotionally powerful. I need to know what’s going to happen Tracey!!! Definitely gave me Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass vibes. I can’t tell you how many times I got full body Goosebumps! I need book 2 like yesterday…

AND I just found out Marius has a prequel novella “Crimson Coronation” so I’m off to binge that because I desperately need more.

Thank you @netgalley and @wolfxlady for the opportunity to read this ARC 🖤

This. Was. Epic.

I did not want it to end. I need to know what happens next!

There’s wolf shifters. There’s ravens. Theres these dragon like things with feathers and horns. There’s politics and secrets. Multiple POVs. Like whose side are we on and what’s really going on? I’m not sure but I want to keep reading and figure it out!!

The world building and character development is insane.

I luckily got an ARC of this through @netgalley and eyeballed it on my Kindle.

So far no real spice but I could see some happening at some point. Definitely plot driven though!!

I dunno, it’s like an adventure that’s all I can really say and you should read it!

“I don’t smell anything but dirt, guts, and blood,”

“Secrets were best kept in the hands of the dead.”

“He would find Wren. He would bring her home. Even if there was no home left to bring her back to.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The cover is so pretty. The title makes sense for the story; I love the name Wren. I don't think the plot was for me. Especially because of how unclear the different factions and names were, I felt lost in the story for the majority of the book. The use of werewolves, setting, and the magic system didn't feel as fleshed out as it could've been. Details were repeated, not in any way that made it clear what the characters were referring to. The different POVs also didn't help establish the word beyond Wren's POV, it had me feeling more flung around the world with zero basis of what was going on. Unfortunately, not a hit for me.

Ok, I'm giving this a 3.5* but I have reason to believe I could be wrong.
As always, thank you for the ARC NetGalley <3
The first half of this book I loved, one might say I couldn't put it down. Second half, I struggled to pick it up.
BUT, at the halfway point of this book my life sort of went haywire.
So is it me? Or the second half? How philisophical.
Love the lore of it all, did find some things hard to follow and would have loved a more in depth world building for each "race".
I will be reading #2, so hell ya. Hoping for a bit more battle & wolf when we return.

One thing to note in the ARC that I'm hoping they fix for the e-book/print version is that the Reference/Glossary and trigger warning were located at the back of the book - odd thing to overlook.