Book Review | For the Wolf | By Hannah Whitten

My thoughts 

Narrative and Plot 

For the Wolf is unarguably quite an imaginative dark fantasy retelling of the Red Riding Hood. The story felt like the Red Riding Hood meets the Beauty and the Beast. Needless to say, the premise and the world of the Wilderwood makes a compelling background for setting up the characters and the events.

The narrative shifts between the sisters Red and Neve, both of them deeply passionate and determined in their own way. The spirit of the characters reflected the tone and made you feel and care for the characters. The pacing was almost perfect in the beginning and the end, however it seemed to linger a bit too longer in the middle.

Characters and Conflicts

Red, the protagonist is the chosen one – the Second Daughter – who is supposed to sacrifice herself by going into the Wilderwood in order to appease the Wolf. The journey of Red into this unknown world transcends to the reader as we learn about the world and it’s tale through her uncovering one mystery after another.

The Wolf, forlorn and aching, does his part as the intriguing mythical monster. A beast that haunts your tales. Only the fairy tales spun a version of the truth, when the reality is quite different and perhaps even worse.

The relationship between Red and the Wolf kind of felt abrupt in the beginning but it took its sweet time to develop which gave the reader enough time to settle with the idea.

The conflict of the story was fitting and layered. One that could come with various interpretations. Power can be a weapon and wielded in whichever way you want. While some might argue that you’re inherently good or evil, or rather darkness and light, the story seems to emphasis on the power of choice. You have a choice in what you become despite your circumstances.  

Conclusion 

For the Wolf is your winning formula for a dark fantasy. It has passion, love and courage fueled in its characters, both the protagonists and the sidekicks. Topping it off with a very appealing epilogue, the story ends with the perfect set up for the next book. The choices are easier when the lines are defined. How would you choose when they’re blurred? That’s what I am looking forward to reading in the next book.  

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