A Bird among Wolves is book one in a fantasy series with a really interesting setting in a complex world with many characters, that disappointed me nonetheless.

From the beginning of the book, something felt off for me. I felt like someone gave me the third book of a series, didn‘t tell me it‘s a series and I hadn‘t read the previous books. There is such a rich world and there are so many characters, but there is no world or character building. Everything is just there, nothing is explained. It was confusing and frustrating, because I felt like I was missing something all the time. And yes, there is a HUGE glossary at the end of the book, but I want to read a story, not a glossary. I find an author, who invents new worlds and creatures super cool, but please explain them in the story so I understand them while reading, without needing to scroll back and forth.

The book was told in multiple POVs, but sadly none of the characters appealed to me. They were either unlikable or their behaviour was against all logic. Wren, the FMC, made me mad! It‘s mentioned multiple times that her father taught her how to defend herself, how to flee and hide, but the whole book she‘s just passive. Everything happens to her and the only three times she takes action it’s rash and unintelligent. Really, she has no survival instincts!

I‘m kind of interested in how this all unfolds, but honestly, not enough to read the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Three Amigas Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you for allowing me to arc read this book. I found it hard to get into at first, now this could have been my mindset at the time or maybe I just wasn’t understanding the layout of the book.
However I persevered and found I was following the story. It’s was okay and very good in parts, maybe just not for me. Which I wouldn’t hold against the book or author!!

First of all thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and Tracy Leonard Nakatani for the chance to read and review this book.

This was an arc read and I enjoyed it so much. This book has all the peak traits of a good fantasy book. There’s creatures and monsters (werewolves, elves, gods), but they all have a unique and different representation to them. The setting has a medieval sort of vibe, but again with its own unique representation. There are plenty of antagonists whose opposition to the FMC keeps her on her toes. The book has the ever popular morally gray/sometimes soft type of male love interest, and I loved his character and his interactions with the female lead. There’s a quest that the FMC has to go on, even though she’s unaware of what it is really, who her allies or enemies are, or even that she’s been chosen for this quest. Wren, the FMC, starts this complicated journey after the death of her father. As the book progresses, you realize that even though her father was just trying to keep her safe, he kept far too much from her, and now she’s alone with no clue what she should do next. She goes from one unfortunate event to another, until she finds herself being taken into an elite guild of warriors. Using them as a cover (her choices were limited), she hopes to have enough time to figure out all the missing details about herself and her father’s past. But like with any good plot, everything falls apart unexpectedly and completely. There’s a little PG romance/yearning trope winding through the book as well, and I am looking forward to finding out how that progresses in the next installment. The ending left me with one heck of a cliffhanger, which I LOVE from the first book in a series. The only thing that I struggled with from this book was the first few chapters. You literally begin the first page of the story dropped into a scene of peril, and start out wondering what the heck is going on. The start of the book also starts out with multiple points of view and seems, at first, to be chaotic. However, around the 10% mark of the book everything and everyone starts to come together, and then the pacing of the book is perfection. There were hardly any slow parts to the story, and the action and plotting just kept you moving and wanting to turn the pages. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that there was a prequel available, Crimson Coronation, which I intend to read next. I can’t wait for this book to release and to see what everyone else thinks about it too.

I was shocked at every page how absolutely rampant this book is with overt sexism. I simply don't enjoy worlds that look down on women so harshly.

Review published on Goodreads, 14th June 2025

A Bird Among Wolves initially appealed to me because of the title and the stunning cover. Was different to other fantasy books I have previously read.

The story line is intriguing and compels to keep reading as you learn new information throughout the book when the FMC does.

There are a good range of side characters and with the different POVs, allows the reader to get to know them as well as the FMC. This also shows the reader new parts of the world and background stories which often leads to more questions!

Initial pacing I felt was a bit slow and then towards the end it felt a bit too rushed as a lot happened in such a short time and as the reader I struggled to take it all in. Despite this, the ending left me wanting more and I can’t wait for the next book.

Thank you to Tracy Leonard Nakatani, Three Amigas Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

Wren’s story in A Bird Among Wolves by Tracy Leonard Nakatani begins with a desperate act: torching her past on her murdered elven father’s orders. Raised to fight and fade into shadows, she’s unprepared for the world she stumbles into. A realm stirred by the return of forest monsters, creatures woven from earth and spirit that haunt her dreams.

Wren's blood sings along with these old entities, making her a target for rulers, schemers, and enemies. Caught up in a web of magic and alliances, she must face a truth that could make or break her.

Nakatani imagines a world where roots throb with ancient magic and monsters creep through fog. Wren’s heart carries the tale with her quiet pain and courage, making her someone every reader roots for. The writing, plain but heartfelt, echoes Stephenie Meyer’s clear, emotional voice, with dialogue that feels like whispered confidences around a fire. It pulls us close, making the magic feel within reach.

The story dives into Wren’s heart, mixing the adventurous feel of high fantasy with the deep, personal questions we'd find in a YA novel. This debut is full of wild energy and will appeal to readers who enjoy tales about heroines finding their strength.

Yet the book trips over itself. The writing is warm but most times too plain, missing the depth needed to make big moments pop, and side characters' motives blur into one another. However, what bothered me most was the fact that the ending left too many strings untied, which was a letdown after such a vivid climb. I understand it was a setup for the next book in the series, but I was disappointed for simply being left with close to no answers.

I’d hand A Bird Among Wolves to fantasy fans who love heroines who grow through pain. If the Twilight saga stirred you, and you enjoy The Witcher's world, this book might spark something similar. It’s a great start for those who don’t mind waiting for a sequel to knot the loose threads and don’t expect all the answers now.

I would like to thank Tracy Leonard Nakatani, three amigas press, and netgalley for this ARC.

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!!