For the Wolf (Volume 1) (The Wilderwood, 1)

The first quarter was gripping then it deteriorated into repeating, and repeating and quite frankly was boring in the end. I finished it because I always make my self do this in case there is light at the end of the tunnel - none in this book. I absolutely have no interest in reading another book about yet more broken trees, twisting vines and green veins and black holes. The original Little Red Riding Hood is a better read!

As Second Daughter of the Kingdom of Valledya, Red's fate has been sealed since birth, she is for the Wolf of the Wilderwood! It is a sacrifice that has been carried out for centuries, necessary for the safety of the Kingdom. Strangely Red is almost relieved to go, even though she cannot bear to leave her sister Neve; yet deep down she knows the forest is the only place where her dangerous power will cause no harm. However, the Wolf turns out to be nothing like Red expected, and it seems there is much more that is not quite as has been told in the stories of old. I was intrigued to read this book as soon as I saw comparisons being made to the Winternight Trilogy, which I absolutely loved. Unfortunately, at least for me, this book did not live up to that comparison; though it did remind me of Uprooted by Naomi Novik. That book too has its heroine sacrificed early on in the story so as to keep her village safe, and the Wilderwood here rather reminded me of the Wood in Uprooted too. For me this book started off well. I was intrigued by the premise of the Second Daughter being for the Wolf, whilst the First is for the Throne, and by the history and lore behind this which was teased from the very beginning, yet at the same time kept shrouded in mystery. I thought there was some decent world building and I liked the bond set up very early on between Red and Neve. Once Red enters the Wilderwood the majority of the book focuses on her, though we get occasional chapters following Neve and events in Valledya, which are more politically based. The book is probably more reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast rather than Red Riding Hood per say, not that I minded, though certainly the Wilderwood is very much a prominent character almost in its own right. It is a slow-paced book, which again I don't generally tend to mind, however, I did find here that the story became rather repetitive for long stretches in terms of what was going on in the Wilderwood and Shadowlands, with the same threats presenting themselves repeatedly. I liked Red as a character, she was brave and loyal without having that irritating quality that I quite often find in YA fantasy heroines, though she could be somewhat too stubborn at times. I enjoyed Eammon's (the Wolf's) character too for the most part, my only criticism being that he could be rather too self-sacrificing. Whilst it was apparent fairly on that he was not the villain he was painted to be, I liked that he was actually a gentle and introverted character and not the arrogant hero with a bad-boy persona that seems to have become somewhat overdone in YA fantasy e.g. Rhysand and Casteel (I'm not saying I don't like those particular characters, just that I was glad of something different here). Whilst I liked their characters individually, and whilst the romance was sweet, I can't say I was completely sol...

So I struggled a bit with this one. It is very slow paced and Red’s inner monologue was repetitive. I was bored in the beginning and forced myself to continue reading. I did almost DNF but pulled through. It did get a bit better halfway through though. I did like Red. I felt for her because since she was born, her fate was decided. She was brave and clever. I did question some of her actions and decisions, especially towards the end. The Wolf was broody and distant and I grew to really like him. He just wanted to protect everyone though I did want to shout at him sometimes. The romance wasn’t bad.. it slowly progressed. This aspect of the story I did enjoy. I really liked the side characters especially those in the Wilderwood. The Villians.. were okay. I knew one of them was a villain from the jump and I was hoping this person would die a slow and painful death. The other... seems to possibly be morally Grey? I’m not sure. We shall see. There’s way more to him, I think. Looking at the cover, which is beautiful btw, you think this story may be inspired by Red Riding Hood. It’s definitely not. It’s more like.. Beauty and the Beast. The magic system and the concept of the 5 Kings was confusing. And it’s still confusing. I’m hoping it’ll be cleared up in the next book which I will read because I want to see how certain situations are resolved. Overall, okay read. I did enjoy the atmosphere and creepiness of the forest.