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Geomancer #2.5
The Wolf Trials: World Book Day 2025
Discover the magic of losing yourself in a book with this snappy fantasy adventure story, written for World Book Day by bestselling, award-winning author Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
Eira's always wanted to compete in the Wolf Trials. The winners become part of the Ryders, an elite group of warriors who ride gigantic sea wolves.
There's only one problem: Eira can't take part, because her mother is the fearsome Wolf Queen.
She won't let that stop her, though. Eira decides to disguise herself and compete . . . but will she succeed? Will she be recognised? And if she isn't, will she survive the Wolf Trials?
Praise for the Geomancer
'Destined to be a classic' Garth Nix
'A stunning adventure' Cressida Cowell
'Pure joy to read' Jasbinder Bilan
'This tale of adventure and magic is as brave as it is exciting' Independent
Eira's always wanted to compete in the Wolf Trials. The winners become part of the Ryders, an elite group of warriors who ride gigantic sea wolves.
There's only one problem: Eira can't take part, because her mother is the fearsome Wolf Queen.
She won't let that stop her, though. Eira decides to disguise herself and compete . . . but will she succeed? Will she be recognised? And if she isn't, will she survive the Wolf Trials?
Praise for the Geomancer
'Destined to be a classic' Garth Nix
'A stunning adventure' Cressida Cowell
'Pure joy to read' Jasbinder Bilan
'This tale of adventure and magic is as brave as it is exciting' Independent
Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2025
7 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
34 books2,598 followersKiran Millwood Hargrave is an award-winning writer whose work has been translated into over 30 languages and optioned for stage and screen. Almost Life, her third novel for adults, will be published by Picador (UK) and Summit (US) in March 2026.
Her debut adult novel The Mercies debuted at number one of the The Times bestseller list, was a top-ten Sunday Times bestseller, and was selected for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club and the Richard and Judy Summer Reads. It was a finalist for the prestigious Prix Femina in France, won a Betty Trask Award, and was called 'unquestionably the book of the 2018 London Book Fair' by The Bookseller. The Dance Tree was shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award and picked for the BBC Two Between Two Covers Book Club, as well as Florence + the Machine's Between Two Books Book Club.
Between them, her children's books have won numerous awards including the Wainwright Prize, Children's Book of the Year at the British Book Awards, the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, the Historical Association Young Quills Award, and the Blackwell's Children's Book of the Year. They have been shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize, the Barnes and Noble Award, Jhalak Prize, the Little Rebels Prize, the Branford Boase Award, the Blue Peter Best Story Award, Costa Children's Book Prize, Foyles' Children's Book of the Year, and thrice-longlisted for the Carnegie Award.
Kiran lives in Oxford with her husband, the artist Tom de Freston, their daughter, cats, and usually a litter of foster kittens.
Her debut adult novel The Mercies debuted at number one of the The Times bestseller list, was a top-ten Sunday Times bestseller, and was selected for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club and the Richard and Judy Summer Reads. It was a finalist for the prestigious Prix Femina in France, won a Betty Trask Award, and was called 'unquestionably the book of the 2018 London Book Fair' by The Bookseller. The Dance Tree was shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award and picked for the BBC Two Between Two Covers Book Club, as well as Florence + the Machine's Between Two Books Book Club.
Between them, her children's books have won numerous awards including the Wainwright Prize, Children's Book of the Year at the British Book Awards, the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, the Historical Association Young Quills Award, and the Blackwell's Children's Book of the Year. They have been shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize, the Barnes and Noble Award, Jhalak Prize, the Little Rebels Prize, the Branford Boase Award, the Blue Peter Best Story Award, Costa Children's Book Prize, Foyles' Children's Book of the Year, and thrice-longlisted for the Carnegie Award.
Kiran lives in Oxford with her husband, the artist Tom de Freston, their daughter, cats, and usually a litter of foster kittens.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 16, 2025
Amazing read! I have not read book two of the geomancer trilogy but this was quite good and can probably be read at any time in the series! Great book for world book day I mean you definitely don’t usually get that for world book day! I do wonder when the third geomancer book will be out!
June 20, 2025
This was a fun story of rebellion and adventure with great world-building and a great protagonist, and then it punched me in the gut. Fantastic.
Read
August 9, 2025Not rating this book seeing how short it is, however this has tempted me to read the actual series XD I felt so bad for the main character and this book was very easy to read at 4am (dont ask lol i was having an all nighter and didnt go to sleep until 10am but oh well) but yea really enjoyed this!
August 16, 2025
Erm for a kids WBD free book this was so good!! Only 3stars though as it felt a bit rushed but I understand that it is a kids book though. I’m so sad though about a certain someone (trying to avoid spoilers for others)😭
February 20, 2025
For 2025’s World Book Day, Kiran Millwood Hargrave has released this short story, The Wolf Trails. World Book Day is a fantastic movement, encouraging children to read more and access multiple texts, introducing them to different authors and genres. I am lucky enough to work in a library and see children reading every day, but sadly children are reading less than ever so this charity is so important to change that.
Hargrave sets her world in a fantasy kingdom, where princess Eira, is confined to the Castle of Broken Boats by her mother, the Wolf Queen for her safety. In an attempt to demonstrate her independence, Eira competes in the Wolf Trials to prove herself worthy of becoming a Ryder – the sea warriors who fight alongside the Queen – determined this will show her mother she doesn’t need protecting. The Wolf Trails kind of have a Hunger Games feel to them, the kids competing risk death and injury to capture a wolf and gain their trust. Eira must survive the three challenges, and win before her mother returns from war. Theres some real tear jerking scenes which I think will surprise readers, Laddu deserved the world!
Although some WBD books I have read have featured snippets of larger novels, this one concluded at a good end point, so I wasn’t left feeling cheated of an ending which has previously been a disappointment. This extract is part of Hargrave’s world explored in her Geomancer trilogy, so anyone who enjoys this short story I would encourage to pick up this series!
Hargrave sets her world in a fantasy kingdom, where princess Eira, is confined to the Castle of Broken Boats by her mother, the Wolf Queen for her safety. In an attempt to demonstrate her independence, Eira competes in the Wolf Trials to prove herself worthy of becoming a Ryder – the sea warriors who fight alongside the Queen – determined this will show her mother she doesn’t need protecting. The Wolf Trails kind of have a Hunger Games feel to them, the kids competing risk death and injury to capture a wolf and gain their trust. Eira must survive the three challenges, and win before her mother returns from war. Theres some real tear jerking scenes which I think will surprise readers, Laddu deserved the world!
Although some WBD books I have read have featured snippets of larger novels, this one concluded at a good end point, so I wasn’t left feeling cheated of an ending which has previously been a disappointment. This extract is part of Hargrave’s world explored in her Geomancer trilogy, so anyone who enjoys this short story I would encourage to pick up this series!
March 2, 2025
THE WOLF TRIALS is an intriguing prequel designed to interest readers into trying the main series.
This is a world book day book, a short story set in the world of the Geomancer trilogy, and a prequel. One of the more commercial functions of such books (alongside the more charitable ones!) is to get new readers interested in existing series. I have been meaning to read this series for ages, so this seemed like a sensible place to start.
It is designed to function like a standalone and to be read by someone without any knowledge of the main series, and does this by focusing on a different main character to the series. it works very well as a story on its own, with a series of challenges to face, but ends with enough of a hook to get you interested in the rest of the books. What is earth magic?
The challenges themselves are very interesting - and fitting three trials, plus character work and world building, into such a short tale is very impressive. Part of this is done by ensuring everything pulls double or triple duty - for example, Eira's actions show who she is in sharp contrast to those around her, while also guiding us through the events.
The glimpses of world offered by such a small book are also intriguing. It sounds like our world but not, drawing on cultures from around the world - Greece, India, Celtic, and more. I'm interested to see how this works out in the main series.
In all, this was an effective way of interesting me in this series!
This is a world book day book, a short story set in the world of the Geomancer trilogy, and a prequel. One of the more commercial functions of such books (alongside the more charitable ones!) is to get new readers interested in existing series. I have been meaning to read this series for ages, so this seemed like a sensible place to start.
It is designed to function like a standalone and to be read by someone without any knowledge of the main series, and does this by focusing on a different main character to the series. it works very well as a story on its own, with a series of challenges to face, but ends with enough of a hook to get you interested in the rest of the books. What is earth magic?
The challenges themselves are very interesting - and fitting three trials, plus character work and world building, into such a short tale is very impressive. Part of this is done by ensuring everything pulls double or triple duty - for example, Eira's actions show who she is in sharp contrast to those around her, while also guiding us through the events.
The glimpses of world offered by such a small book are also intriguing. It sounds like our world but not, drawing on cultures from around the world - Greece, India, Celtic, and more. I'm interested to see how this works out in the main series.
In all, this was an effective way of interesting me in this series!
April 28, 2025
Love it!
Really like KMH trilogy of The Wolf Queen (I have the hardbacks and am waiting the last part!)
Eira is teh daughter of the Wolf Queen Seren. She is also a oprisoner in her own rooms in teh palace as her mother wants to protect her. Amma is the servant woman charged with looking after her.
But there is a grate in her room, it takes her out into the caves of Kore, the Forgiver. She persuades Kore that while her mother is away, she is going to take place in teh Ryder trials and Kore helps her to cover her tracks.
But almost at the end they hear that Seren is on the way back. Why? Luckily for Eira she is already in the last trial with her Wolf, when Seren gets back. But all doesn't go as planned.
A very determined girl faces celebration and heartbreak. Seren says she is not so unlike her. Eira won't accept this.
Really like KMH trilogy of The Wolf Queen (I have the hardbacks and am waiting the last part!)
Eira is teh daughter of the Wolf Queen Seren. She is also a oprisoner in her own rooms in teh palace as her mother wants to protect her. Amma is the servant woman charged with looking after her.
But there is a grate in her room, it takes her out into the caves of Kore, the Forgiver. She persuades Kore that while her mother is away, she is going to take place in teh Ryder trials and Kore helps her to cover her tracks.
But almost at the end they hear that Seren is on the way back. Why? Luckily for Eira she is already in the last trial with her Wolf, when Seren gets back. But all doesn't go as planned.
A very determined girl faces celebration and heartbreak. Seren says she is not so unlike her. Eira won't accept this.
June 8, 2025
A wonderful short story giving those already invested in the geomancer series a look into Eira's backstory.
The story builds on the snippets that Eira has given in the previous books and how she came to start her adventure.
I loved it and it's been a great little filler whilst we all wait for the next book to be released.
Eira wants to show her capability to her mother the Wolf Queen by competing in that Wolf Trials. Knowing her mother would forbid it she's forced to do it in disguise. The story highlights her tenacity and kindness of spirit. I definitely felt more connected to her after this book.
The story builds on the snippets that Eira has given in the previous books and how she came to start her adventure.
I loved it and it's been a great little filler whilst we all wait for the next book to be released.
Eira wants to show her capability to her mother the Wolf Queen by competing in that Wolf Trials. Knowing her mother would forbid it she's forced to do it in disguise. The story highlights her tenacity and kindness of spirit. I definitely felt more connected to her after this book.
March 23, 2025
Eira is the daughter of the Wolf Queen, hidden away in caves beneath the castle, desperate to have her freedom and be acknowledged by her mother. She secretly joins the Wolf Trials and tries to prove her worth as a successor to the Queen, while struggling with the other competitors and, of course, taming a wolf.
This is a cute little book, brought out for World Book Day 2025. It's part of the Geomancer series, (2.5 to be precise) but I didn't feel like I needed to read the previous books to be able to enjoy the story.
This is a cute little book, brought out for World Book Day 2025. It's part of the Geomancer series, (2.5 to be precise) but I didn't feel like I needed to read the previous books to be able to enjoy the story.
April 23, 2025
My youngest son got this for World Book Day and enjoyed it, then encouraged me to read it. What a fantastic little book! The author has created a vivid world and an appealing beast, if although a threatening one. There are strong echoes of the film version of How to Train Your Dragon and it made me want to rush out and find the rest of the Geomancer Trilogy, plus more by the author. I’m off to the library shortly but liked it enough that I’ll even buy In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen if it’s not in the library.
February 21, 2025
I'd seen a couple of other books from the author but didn't know if I'd enjoy them.
I enjoyed the story however I did have a small amount of trouble getting into it. I'm not sure if it was because I didn't already have a relationship with the world it's set in or if it was something else. Once I'd pushed past that I did find myself wanting to continue reading. I even wanted more when the book needed. I grew attached to the characters, especially Laddu.
I enjoyed the story however I did have a small amount of trouble getting into it. I'm not sure if it was because I didn't already have a relationship with the world it's set in or if it was something else. Once I'd pushed past that I did find myself wanting to continue reading. I even wanted more when the book needed. I grew attached to the characters, especially Laddu.
March 24, 2025
An intriguing introduction to the Geomancer series.
There is a lot to pack into this short book. On the whole it's managed well but I did find myself having to flick back a few pages to sort out the characters. I liked the distinctiveness of the fantasy setting and would be interested to discover more. I was surprised by the events at the end of the book: it was quite bold, especially for a WBD book, to .
There is a lot to pack into this short book. On the whole it's managed well but I did find myself having to flick back a few pages to sort out the characters. I liked the distinctiveness of the fantasy setting and would be interested to discover more. I was surprised by the events at the end of the book: it was quite bold, especially for a WBD book, to .
July 28, 2025
Damn you tiny kids book for making me feel things. I’m so sad now. This was incredible. I want to get the other books set in this world. It had such an interesting mix of mythologies and religious practices. The world building was so interesting. I’m not used to handling such a lightweight book. With this being a world book day special it’s tiny and as an adult reader my books are usually significantly heavier (one of the other books I’m currently reading is 645 pages long and weighs a tonne).
March 11, 2025
An average fantasy story.
Now, I am someone who has not read the main series, but after reading this I am definetly interested to read the rest of geomancer.
At the end of the day, it gets in there, gets you excited to learn more about this world and then gets out. Though it was average, it does what it was designed for and you must show it at least some respect for that.
Now, I am someone who has not read the main series, but after reading this I am definetly interested to read the rest of geomancer.
At the end of the day, it gets in there, gets you excited to learn more about this world and then gets out. Though it was average, it does what it was designed for and you must show it at least some respect for that.
April 8, 2025
I don't know if it helped having read the first two books of the Geomancer series, as this is a prequel to them both, but I really enjoyed this. It manages to have emotional impact despite its short length.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next full book of this series.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next full book of this series.
April 30, 2025
I haven't read the first books, just dipping a toe in. Made it a bit slow to get going as these weren't familiar characters and took a while to get to the adventure. Had I known we were in for that sad ending I don't think I would have encouraged my son to read it.
May 25, 2025
Definitely had a bit of a slow start but as the actual wolf trials started and the MC starts finding a wolf and building friendships, the book gets really good. As the three trials take place, you can feel the tensions rising and by the end you get a tragic end but it left me wanting more.
June 14, 2025
An excellent primer for the Geomancer series of novels.
It's short but pithy, introduces readers to the world and it's principle characters.
Different enough to rise it above the many many teen fantasy book currently available.
It's short but pithy, introduces readers to the world and it's principle characters.
Different enough to rise it above the many many teen fantasy book currently available.
February 20, 2025
Adorable! Loved it
April 3, 2025
Released as part of World Book Day, this taster of the author’s writing should appeal to fantasy lovers. I plan to read more from this series!
April 6, 2025
this is really childish for me because im a more mature 12 year old reader, but i think that young 10 year olds would absolutely love this book. this just wasnt for me
September 24, 2025
Not gonna lie I had no idea this was part of a series and I only read it to get it off my physical tbr 🤷♀️
November 7, 2025
I adored this short story, I found it really emotional. It gave a different understanding to Eira, it was also really interesting to learn about how Wolves are trained.
March 15, 2025
You can’t end it like that, I was in shock. I really want to read the rest of the series now though, so good job x
February 26, 2025
This is one of the best WBD books I've read. For such a short book, it creates a vivid world and believable characters. Parts were emotive, and others were action-packed. I'd recommend this to both kids and adults.
June 8, 2025
Very good book and also a very good book for a short world book day book. Absolutely loved every single page of this book!!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews