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The Wolf and His King
Madeline Miller meets Angela Carter in this spellbinding queer retelling of the 12th-century tale of Bisclavret the werewolf—unmissable for fans of Uprooted by Naomi Novik, Swordcrossed by Freya Marske, and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden.
Bisclavret is cursed: to live his life in exile; to take a wolf’s shape involuntarily; to lie to everybody he meets. And yet he has always dreamed of knighthood, of brotherhood and belonging. When the old king dies unexpectedly, Bisclavret travels to the royal court to seek his rightful inheritance and swear fealty to the new king. It’s here that he discovers the mysterious young warrior now wearing the crown is willing to offer him far more than just his father’s lands, and suddenly the life that seemed like an impossible fantasy is catapulted within his grasp. But can someone who is hardly a man ever truly be a knight?
The king is lonely: recently returned to court from an exile of his own to inherit a crown he never wanted. And yet he’s fascinated by his newest knight, a man who carries secrets along with his sword, and fascination quickly turns to longing. When Bisclavret is seemingly killed by a wolf, the weight of the king’s grief almost destroys him. He swears to have his vengeance, but at the height of the hunt he encounters an animal that seems too intelligent to be the violent beast he seeks. One might even say it has the mind of a man…
Bisclavret is cursed: to live his life in exile; to take a wolf’s shape involuntarily; to lie to everybody he meets. And yet he has always dreamed of knighthood, of brotherhood and belonging. When the old king dies unexpectedly, Bisclavret travels to the royal court to seek his rightful inheritance and swear fealty to the new king. It’s here that he discovers the mysterious young warrior now wearing the crown is willing to offer him far more than just his father’s lands, and suddenly the life that seemed like an impossible fantasy is catapulted within his grasp. But can someone who is hardly a man ever truly be a knight?
The king is lonely: recently returned to court from an exile of his own to inherit a crown he never wanted. And yet he’s fascinated by his newest knight, a man who carries secrets along with his sword, and fascination quickly turns to longing. When Bisclavret is seemingly killed by a wolf, the weight of the king’s grief almost destroys him. He swears to have his vengeance, but at the height of the hunt he encounters an animal that seems too intelligent to be the violent beast he seeks. One might even say it has the mind of a man…
346 pages, Hardcover
First published November 27, 2025
73 people are currently reading
27364 people want to read
About the author
Finn Longman
4 books182 followersFinn Longman is an author and medievalist, originally from London. They write young adult and adult fiction, with a particular interest in genre-bending stories about identity, friendship, and monstrosity – of the metaphorical or the literal sort. They've spent most of their adult life either working as a library assistant or studying for increasingly niche degrees in medieval literature, but when they don't have their head in a book they can usually be found playing folk music in a local pub.
Finn is currently a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, researching friendship and affection in the later Ulster Cycle.
Finn is currently a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, researching friendship and affection in the later Ulster Cycle.
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December 12, 2025In today's episode of Notice Me, Senpai: I hope my friend Richard Derus is proud of me now, I've read a M/M retelling in his honour at long last. 🤣
And oh. . .! I have so many Thoughts and Opinions about this book. I'll definitely try to interview the author somehow (if he happens to see this: Hi!).
Review to come on publication day for this limited edition.
And oh. . .! I have so many Thoughts and Opinions about this book. I'll definitely try to interview the author somehow (if he happens to see this: Hi!).
Review to come on publication day for this limited edition.
November 11, 2025
Well, I can't say that I was familiar with the 12th century tale of Bisclavret the werewolf, but this book had my undivided attention anyway. There is a short introduction that helps to place the story in a medieval Brittany that's not historical accurate but close enough to reality, and I think it's fine if readers don't have any more knowledge than that. However, it is important that readers understand that this book is a retelling of a medieval tale and not the usual fantasy or romance novel. I personally think that the title suggests more romance than there actually is and the cover looks very fantastical to me, so I wanted to mention in my review that this book could easily fail to meet certain expectations.
The story follows Bisclavret, the son of a baron, hiding away in exile due to his uncontrollable wolf transformations. One day his cousin convinces him to pledge fealty to the new king and at least try to regain his lost inheritance and so Bisclavret makes the journey to the court even though he fears that the wolf might harm people. But said king also was an exile until recently and now he feels very isolated in his own court and he immediately develops a strange fascination with Bisclavret. It's the story of Bisclavret being favored by the king and him gaining knighthood and a place in society while the wolf marks a constant problem. I see a lot of parallels between the wolf transformation and disability and / or closeted homosexuality and I don't think that they are too far-fetched, because there even are queer readings of the original tale. When I saw that this is a retelling of a medieval lay, I immediately thought that this is something one would encounter in a medieval literature college class and true enough, the author said so in the acknowledgments. I just love it when authors write what they want and about what fascinates them and this must have happened here too, because The Wolf and His King is so very different from the YA trilogy that Finn Longman published before.
The medieval setting felt well researched and it went far beyond simply placing the story in a castle or talking about a knight or two. The original tale is very clearly visible underneath this retelling and the plot is mostly the same. I, of course, had to read a summary of the tale to know that. But Finn Longmann shifts the focus onto the characters and explores them; imagines their thoughts and feelings. Especially the king takes up a lot of room, and he delivers some impeccable yearning, even if his feelings develop rather quickly and stay one-sided for most of the book. I do wish that the author had added more framework for certain plot elements, because some things just didn't feel natural and were clearly only part of the story because they were part of the original. I don't want to spoil anything, but certain character decisions seemingly came out of nowhere when the novel format would have provided all the room to set them up properly.
This book clearly stands out from all of my other read books and not only because a retelling of a 12th century tale is rather unusual. The author also made multiple narrative choices that make this a unique read. Bisclavret is the only named character, the king's chapters are written in second person and the wolf chapters are written in verse even. At first I wasn't overly excited to read such a mix, but it didn't happen to be a problem at all, even if I still fail to see the purpose of some of these choices. Overall, it was an interesting reading experience that introduced me to a tale that I had never heard of before and managed to retell it in a modern and queer way while staying true to the original.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Bisclavret, the son of a baron, hiding away in exile due to his uncontrollable wolf transformations. One day his cousin convinces him to pledge fealty to the new king and at least try to regain his lost inheritance and so Bisclavret makes the journey to the court even though he fears that the wolf might harm people. But said king also was an exile until recently and now he feels very isolated in his own court and he immediately develops a strange fascination with Bisclavret. It's the story of Bisclavret being favored by the king and him gaining knighthood and a place in society while the wolf marks a constant problem. I see a lot of parallels between the wolf transformation and disability and / or closeted homosexuality and I don't think that they are too far-fetched, because there even are queer readings of the original tale. When I saw that this is a retelling of a medieval lay, I immediately thought that this is something one would encounter in a medieval literature college class and true enough, the author said so in the acknowledgments. I just love it when authors write what they want and about what fascinates them and this must have happened here too, because The Wolf and His King is so very different from the YA trilogy that Finn Longman published before.
The medieval setting felt well researched and it went far beyond simply placing the story in a castle or talking about a knight or two. The original tale is very clearly visible underneath this retelling and the plot is mostly the same. I, of course, had to read a summary of the tale to know that. But Finn Longmann shifts the focus onto the characters and explores them; imagines their thoughts and feelings. Especially the king takes up a lot of room, and he delivers some impeccable yearning, even if his feelings develop rather quickly and stay one-sided for most of the book. I do wish that the author had added more framework for certain plot elements, because some things just didn't feel natural and were clearly only part of the story because they were part of the original. I don't want to spoil anything, but certain character decisions seemingly came out of nowhere when the novel format would have provided all the room to set them up properly.
This book clearly stands out from all of my other read books and not only because a retelling of a 12th century tale is rather unusual. The author also made multiple narrative choices that make this a unique read. Bisclavret is the only named character, the king's chapters are written in second person and the wolf chapters are written in verse even. At first I wasn't overly excited to read such a mix, but it didn't happen to be a problem at all, even if I still fail to see the purpose of some of these choices. Overall, it was an interesting reading experience that introduced me to a tale that I had never heard of before and managed to retell it in a modern and queer way while staying true to the original.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2025
This was such a curious book and I find myself a little unsure how to approach this review.
Like many readers who read predominantly queer literature, I was first introduced to the classic 12th century French werewolf story of Bisclavret through K. L Noones novella and fell in love with this sweet little love story of devotion between a King and his Knight. While The Wolf and his King features this same story of love, loyalty and belonging, I found that the romance in this adaption in many ways a quieter thing in the background and more often than not a source of yearning pain and grief.
This book does some fascinating things with how it approaches its construction and playing with second and third person writing styles while switching between POVs, with one POV written entirely in verse. Additionally, it made the curious choice of making Bisclavret the only named character in the story; which made its themes of loss of identity, exile and isolation all the more prevalent.
I suspect that readers picking this book up for the romance may find themselves disappointed as a vast majority of the story focuses on the impossibilities of a romance between a King and his Knight, the grief and loss of separation and not be able to have the object of your desires. Also, with how critical the role of Bisclavret’s wife is to the story, you know that she has to exist, but watching Bisclavret fall in love with her through the Kings eyes is an especially painful form of torture, made all the worst because you can understand his loneliness.
This story is low spice but there are on page and off page intimacies alluded to between Bisclavret and his wife, as well as the King and two separate casual lovers.
3.5 stars rounded up. This is still a lovely medieval tale of loyalty, devotion, identity with a satisfying HEA that took a gamble on some interesting writing stylistic choices. I just wish that we could have spent less time on the ‘before’ of the betrayal and more time on the HEA.
(ALSO this cover is GORGEOUS, I wish I didn't judge a book by its cover, but sometimes a cover is just too lovely not to be smitten with it)
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC and provide a review of my thoughts.
expected release date 27 November 2025
Like many readers who read predominantly queer literature, I was first introduced to the classic 12th century French werewolf story of Bisclavret through K. L Noones novella and fell in love with this sweet little love story of devotion between a King and his Knight. While The Wolf and his King features this same story of love, loyalty and belonging, I found that the romance in this adaption in many ways a quieter thing in the background and more often than not a source of yearning pain and grief.
This book does some fascinating things with how it approaches its construction and playing with second and third person writing styles while switching between POVs, with one POV written entirely in verse. Additionally, it made the curious choice of making Bisclavret the only named character in the story; which made its themes of loss of identity, exile and isolation all the more prevalent.
I suspect that readers picking this book up for the romance may find themselves disappointed as a vast majority of the story focuses on the impossibilities of a romance between a King and his Knight, the grief and loss of separation and not be able to have the object of your desires. Also, with how critical the role of Bisclavret’s wife is to the story, you know that she has to exist, but watching Bisclavret fall in love with her through the Kings eyes is an especially painful form of torture, made all the worst because you can understand his loneliness.
This story is low spice but there are on page and off page intimacies alluded to between Bisclavret and his wife, as well as the King and two separate casual lovers.
3.5 stars rounded up. This is still a lovely medieval tale of loyalty, devotion, identity with a satisfying HEA that took a gamble on some interesting writing stylistic choices. I just wish that we could have spent less time on the ‘before’ of the betrayal and more time on the HEA.
(ALSO this cover is GORGEOUS, I wish I didn't judge a book by its cover, but sometimes a cover is just too lovely not to be smitten with it)
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC and provide a review of my thoughts.
expected release date 27 November 2025
Want to read
December 5, 2025E-ARC generously provided by Erewhon Books in exchange for an honest review! Thank you so much.
This cover? And queer fantasy in the vein of The Bear and the Nightingale?? HELLO?
This cover? And queer fantasy in the vein of The Bear and the Nightingale?? HELLO?
November 21, 2025
This was an absolutely gorgeous, heartbreaking (before the HEA) retelling of the Bisclavret myth. I was first introduced to this tale by KL Noone's novella of the same name, and honestly, knowing the outlines of the story helped a lot; I loved both versions, and happily recommend the Noone novella as a primer for this more involved, dislocating narrative.
"Dislocating" because the author makes the striking choice to tell the story in three POVs and three tenses: Bisclavret's narrative, in 3rd person present (the "Him" chapters); the king's narrative, in 2nd person present (the "You" chapters); and the wolf's narrative ("Other"), which jumps between tenses and forms -- often more verse than prose -- but is mostly 1st person present. Bisclavret is also the only named character. So the king is addressed throughout as "sire" or "the king"; and then there is the cousin, the ward, the wife, the scribe, the knight in green, the flame-haired knight, and oh yes, the wolf. Cumulatively, these choices -- especially the unusual use of 2PP and descriptors rather than names -- seem like they should alienate and distance the reader emotionally from the narrative. And indeed, they are alienating, but in the best, most intentional way. We are thrown into a strange world in a strange time, somewhat familiar but also deeply foreign; and yet, the insistent present tense keeps us firmly rooted in the story, its interiority and embodiment.
Bisclavret's narrative is intensely physical -- the constant struggle against the wolf inside him, over which he has no conscious control; the way he uses and understands his human and wolf forms -- and cerebral: his clinging to reason, to soul, and to what makes a man, a man even as rationality, spirituality, and humanity slip away from him. The king's narrative, by contrast, is that of an intelligent man, but also a passionate one; it is marked by sensitivity and sensuality. The king feels deeply and fully (and suffers from periods of depression); he desires, pines, and worships with every bit of him there is; and he does not shun or diminish the comforts of the flesh, while knowing they can only sooth, but not heal, the grief that almost incapacitates him.
Conversely, Bisclavret's sexuality is little understood, not least by him. He does not, it seems, actively desire -- though he does happily partake in sex when the opportunity presents itself -- and it's ambivalent whether this is the result of him always shutting down the part of him that craves intimacy and touch, owing to his fear of the wolf, or whether this is just how he is. (In our terms: ace, repressed, or both?) While the king's desire for Bisclavret is rooted as firmly in physical wanting as an intellectual, spiritual, and platonic connection, Bisclavret's is less straightforward; he doesn't seem to understand it himself, but nor does he question his own (instinctive, then earned) loyalty, devotion, and fealty. The king and Bisclavret know each other, down to the bone. And this is an excellent, moving depiction of how that knowing looks and feels differently from person to person -- not even taking into account Bisclavret's transformation into wolf, where the king's trust and companionship is the one thing tethering him, if lightly, to his human side.
The writing is gorgeous: spare and deeply moving. Given the heaviness of the story -- and there is a lot of grief, not just in the king for Bisclavret, but for other losses, estrangements, and betrayals -- it is written with a surprisingly light touch, underpinned but not weighed down by the author's obvious expertise on the subject and period. It's a real feat that such a technically advanced piece of writing feels so emotionally true and urgent, and I'm just awash in admiration for the author's guts in the choices they made.
On the grief: as mentioned above, the king describes depressive episodes, as well as acute mourning in the aftermath of Bisclavret's presumed death. It's beautifully done, but not easy; readers looking for lighter fare may wish to keep this on the TBR a while longer.
I tried valiantly to take my time with this brilliant book, but alas, gulped it down in two evenings all the same. This seems to be the year for strange, daring, captivating retellings, and I couldn't be more delighted. Going straight on my "best of 2025" shelf.
I got an ARC from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Dislocating" because the author makes the striking choice to tell the story in three POVs and three tenses: Bisclavret's narrative, in 3rd person present (the "Him" chapters); the king's narrative, in 2nd person present (the "You" chapters); and the wolf's narrative ("Other"), which jumps between tenses and forms -- often more verse than prose -- but is mostly 1st person present. Bisclavret is also the only named character. So the king is addressed throughout as "sire" or "the king"; and then there is the cousin, the ward, the wife, the scribe, the knight in green, the flame-haired knight, and oh yes, the wolf. Cumulatively, these choices -- especially the unusual use of 2PP and descriptors rather than names -- seem like they should alienate and distance the reader emotionally from the narrative. And indeed, they are alienating, but in the best, most intentional way. We are thrown into a strange world in a strange time, somewhat familiar but also deeply foreign; and yet, the insistent present tense keeps us firmly rooted in the story, its interiority and embodiment.
Bisclavret's narrative is intensely physical -- the constant struggle against the wolf inside him, over which he has no conscious control; the way he uses and understands his human and wolf forms -- and cerebral: his clinging to reason, to soul, and to what makes a man, a man even as rationality, spirituality, and humanity slip away from him. The king's narrative, by contrast, is that of an intelligent man, but also a passionate one; it is marked by sensitivity and sensuality. The king feels deeply and fully (and suffers from periods of depression); he desires, pines, and worships with every bit of him there is; and he does not shun or diminish the comforts of the flesh, while knowing they can only sooth, but not heal, the grief that almost incapacitates him.
Conversely, Bisclavret's sexuality is little understood, not least by him. He does not, it seems, actively desire -- though he does happily partake in sex when the opportunity presents itself -- and it's ambivalent whether this is the result of him always shutting down the part of him that craves intimacy and touch, owing to his fear of the wolf, or whether this is just how he is. (In our terms: ace, repressed, or both?) While the king's desire for Bisclavret is rooted as firmly in physical wanting as an intellectual, spiritual, and platonic connection, Bisclavret's is less straightforward; he doesn't seem to understand it himself, but nor does he question his own (instinctive, then earned) loyalty, devotion, and fealty. The king and Bisclavret know each other, down to the bone. And this is an excellent, moving depiction of how that knowing looks and feels differently from person to person -- not even taking into account Bisclavret's transformation into wolf, where the king's trust and companionship is the one thing tethering him, if lightly, to his human side.
The writing is gorgeous: spare and deeply moving. Given the heaviness of the story -- and there is a lot of grief, not just in the king for Bisclavret, but for other losses, estrangements, and betrayals -- it is written with a surprisingly light touch, underpinned but not weighed down by the author's obvious expertise on the subject and period. It's a real feat that such a technically advanced piece of writing feels so emotionally true and urgent, and I'm just awash in admiration for the author's guts in the choices they made.
On the grief: as mentioned above, the king describes depressive episodes, as well as acute mourning in the aftermath of Bisclavret's presumed death. It's beautifully done, but not easy; readers looking for lighter fare may wish to keep this on the TBR a while longer.
I tried valiantly to take my time with this brilliant book, but alas, gulped it down in two evenings all the same. This seems to be the year for strange, daring, captivating retellings, and I couldn't be more delighted. Going straight on my "best of 2025" shelf.
I got an ARC from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2026
Automatic reread. I have to process this one a bit, get more familiar with the original tale, and then reread it. Because I know these five stars are going to turn into a million.
I’ll try my best to pick it apart.
We have multiple POVs, from “Him” and “You”, but also “Other”. The Other POVs are written in verse — and what GORGEOUS verse. Words cannot express how much I loved the second person point of view chapters. I don’t know what it is about it, 2nd person never misses for me.
The prose. This book might have one of the best writing I’ve ever read in a book. Maybe it was the medieval setting, the fantasy aspect making it magical but I just couldn’t get enough of it. I need to mention the writing in the “Other” chapters again, I can’t help it. Expertly crafted.
I’m being serious when I say probably half of this book was highlighted. You can’t go one page without highlighting something. Be it the writing, the romance, whatever. It’s just such a wonderful story.
The romance I also loved beyond measure. I really regret not knowing more about the original tale before reading this because I was absolutely ENTHRALLED and I know for a fact it would’ve hit even more should I have known more about the subject.
I very nearly cried multiple times and I rarely ever do that. It got me choking up!! Especially the scenes towards the end of the book.
Brilliant read. A million percent would recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll try my best to pick it apart.
We have multiple POVs, from “Him” and “You”, but also “Other”. The Other POVs are written in verse — and what GORGEOUS verse. Words cannot express how much I loved the second person point of view chapters. I don’t know what it is about it, 2nd person never misses for me.
The prose. This book might have one of the best writing I’ve ever read in a book. Maybe it was the medieval setting, the fantasy aspect making it magical but I just couldn’t get enough of it. I need to mention the writing in the “Other” chapters again, I can’t help it. Expertly crafted.
I’m being serious when I say probably half of this book was highlighted. You can’t go one page without highlighting something. Be it the writing, the romance, whatever. It’s just such a wonderful story.
The romance I also loved beyond measure. I really regret not knowing more about the original tale before reading this because I was absolutely ENTHRALLED and I know for a fact it would’ve hit even more should I have known more about the subject.
I very nearly cried multiple times and I rarely ever do that. It got me choking up!! Especially the scenes towards the end of the book.
Brilliant read. A million percent would recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2025
I'm on a wolfy kick at the moment it seems, THIS BOOOOOK, dudes, a queer medieval retelling of the myth of Bisclavret? NEED I SAY MORE. Gorgeous, lyrical and heartbreaking I devoured this in one sitting, exquisite and evocative this had me all in my feels, I'm obsessed with the writing style, I can't praise this enough it's definitely another favourite book of this year for me!
August 17, 2025
I do not think I have ever read a book so beautifully composed as this one.
The wolf chapters are in evocative, heart-twisting verse, and the (human) prose chapters are equally luscious. This book's ability to incorporate medieval stylistic choices while remaining riveting to a modern reader was astounding.
Every chapter we spent in the king's perspective, I was nigh on drowning in yearning and loving every second of it. Bisclavret's human perspective was complementary and heart-rending in a distinct, equally effective way.
It is clear from every line how much knowledge and passion for medievalism the author brings to this book. It is just as clear that that passion turned this book into a masterwork of form.
If I could peel open my chest and nestle this book in my ribcage, I think I would find it to be the same size and shape as my heart.
If you're looking for an angsty, innovative, historically-inspired queer slow burn about yearning, devotion, and hidden selves, this is may just be the book for you. I certainly cannot stop thinking about it.
The wolf chapters are in evocative, heart-twisting verse, and the (human) prose chapters are equally luscious. This book's ability to incorporate medieval stylistic choices while remaining riveting to a modern reader was astounding.
Every chapter we spent in the king's perspective, I was nigh on drowning in yearning and loving every second of it. Bisclavret's human perspective was complementary and heart-rending in a distinct, equally effective way.
It is clear from every line how much knowledge and passion for medievalism the author brings to this book. It is just as clear that that passion turned this book into a masterwork of form.
If I could peel open my chest and nestle this book in my ribcage, I think I would find it to be the same size and shape as my heart.
If you're looking for an angsty, innovative, historically-inspired queer slow burn about yearning, devotion, and hidden selves, this is may just be the book for you. I certainly cannot stop thinking about it.
Want to read
June 1, 2024Can I have this, like, yesterday?
November 25, 2025
I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a read on this.
Now, I am not quite familiar when it comes to the story that this is based off of, which is probably why I rated this story so highly. Others, depending what they're looking for and if they're familiar with the story may give this a middle / fair rating. Yet, I asked for something with yearning M / M vibes and I certainly got it.
The detail and attention our author gives to the time frame and to make this sound like a true middle ages tale is very welcome. It made me feel like I'm reading a story. I even liked that she framed the narrative of the King in a narrative that you are the King, you are witnessing what he is witnessing and feeling what he is feeling.
The tale is that he was a son of a lord who died, leaving his inheritance in a stand-still on account that he turns into a wolf and can't seem to control that. His cousin beseeches him to go to court so that he can be knighted, which is something he has always wanted. Once he gets his knighthood he will have access to his lands and can continue to live his life out as a recluse but coming to court only when the King wishes it.
The King though sees him, and the story is basically the way that their lives somewhat intersect and that feelings begin to consume the two of them. Though more so from the King.
As I indicated before, I really liked the story is framed like a fairy-tale and is told like one too. Some might find the storyline and the context basic and may give it a middle review. Or some might not really enjoy the M/M vibes. I, however, enjoyed what it had to offer and I look forward to reading more by the author.
Now, I am not quite familiar when it comes to the story that this is based off of, which is probably why I rated this story so highly. Others, depending what they're looking for and if they're familiar with the story may give this a middle / fair rating. Yet, I asked for something with yearning M / M vibes and I certainly got it.
The detail and attention our author gives to the time frame and to make this sound like a true middle ages tale is very welcome. It made me feel like I'm reading a story. I even liked that she framed the narrative of the King in a narrative that you are the King, you are witnessing what he is witnessing and feeling what he is feeling.
The tale is that he was a son of a lord who died, leaving his inheritance in a stand-still on account that he turns into a wolf and can't seem to control that. His cousin beseeches him to go to court so that he can be knighted, which is something he has always wanted. Once he gets his knighthood he will have access to his lands and can continue to live his life out as a recluse but coming to court only when the King wishes it.
The King though sees him, and the story is basically the way that their lives somewhat intersect and that feelings begin to consume the two of them. Though more so from the King.
As I indicated before, I really liked the story is framed like a fairy-tale and is told like one too. Some might find the storyline and the context basic and may give it a middle review. Or some might not really enjoy the M/M vibes. I, however, enjoyed what it had to offer and I look forward to reading more by the author.
August 7, 2025
I devoured this book in one sitting as if the wolf had overtaken me.
An absolutely stunning reimagining of a medieval werewolf poem, weaving third person, second person, and poetry / stream of consciousness to tell a fairytale of sickness, exile, and monstrous yearning.
An absolutely stunning reimagining of a medieval werewolf poem, weaving third person, second person, and poetry / stream of consciousness to tell a fairytale of sickness, exile, and monstrous yearning.
December 7, 2025
i adored this book. this was written in such a beautiful and interesting way and enhanced the reading experience so much i got completely lost in the world. the different POV’s and decision to only name one character really had me thinking more about the story and the meanings behind it. yearning and grief play a huge part in this story and it felt so real. as someone who isn’t familiar with the story of Bisclavret i still really enjoyed this. the only reason i didn’t rate this a 5 which im still contemplating over, is simply some pacing issues. in the middle i lost some interested and it felt quite slow, but the final half really gripped me and tied the story up perfectly.
thank you to netgalley for sending me and e-arc.
thank you to netgalley for sending me and e-arc.
October 31, 2025
Many thanks to Kensington Pub and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own.
I AM IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTIONS 😭😭😭
OMFG I loved this book. The wolf had me by the throat from the first page and never let me go. The agony, the angst, the longing, the pain, the small joys—all just heart wrenching perfection.
The narrative structure is unique, but I loved it. It reminded me of The Everlasting. The King’s chapters are in second person, the wolf’s are in verse, and Bisclavret’s are in third person. The prose is exquisite. The stories are obviously different, but I do think if you liked The Everlasting, you’ll like this (and I say that as someone for whom that is their book of the year).
Gah, the emotions I felt while reading this—I cried SO MUCH. I’m still crying. I may never stop. I just loved this book, and I’m telling you that you need to read it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
I AM IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTIONS 😭😭😭
OMFG I loved this book. The wolf had me by the throat from the first page and never let me go. The agony, the angst, the longing, the pain, the small joys—all just heart wrenching perfection.
The narrative structure is unique, but I loved it. It reminded me of The Everlasting. The King’s chapters are in second person, the wolf’s are in verse, and Bisclavret’s are in third person. The prose is exquisite. The stories are obviously different, but I do think if you liked The Everlasting, you’ll like this (and I say that as someone for whom that is their book of the year).
Gah, the emotions I felt while reading this—I cried SO MUCH. I’m still crying. I may never stop. I just loved this book, and I’m telling you that you need to read it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
October 21, 2025
**ARC REVIEW***
First off, I want to thank Kensington Publishing for letting me read this book prior to release. This was a much anticipated read for 2026 and to receive the email stating I was approved an arc copy? I practically squealed with delight!
While it took a few chapters to get used to the dual POVS ( 2nd person narrative when it was the king compared to the third person narrative when it switched to Bisclavret). The more I read, I more I was able to process and enjoy the book until I was so absorbed into it's pages, I was unaware I was already halfway through.
The author did a wonderful job of bringing this retelling to a modern audience; the romance slow, but not too slow to cause annoyance. I was not expecting the end until it came to light and even then, it was very well done and makes me want to actually read the 12th century tale it was based on.
I already preordered the Deluxe Edition of this wonderful tale and it will be shown on the shelves with other works I have loved.
First off, I want to thank Kensington Publishing for letting me read this book prior to release. This was a much anticipated read for 2026 and to receive the email stating I was approved an arc copy? I practically squealed with delight!
While it took a few chapters to get used to the dual POVS ( 2nd person narrative when it was the king compared to the third person narrative when it switched to Bisclavret). The more I read, I more I was able to process and enjoy the book until I was so absorbed into it's pages, I was unaware I was already halfway through.
The author did a wonderful job of bringing this retelling to a modern audience; the romance slow, but not too slow to cause annoyance. I was not expecting the end until it came to light and even then, it was very well done and makes me want to actually read the 12th century tale it was based on.
I already preordered the Deluxe Edition of this wonderful tale and it will be shown on the shelves with other works I have loved.
December 19, 2025
Longing to belong.
Guarded by betrayed desire.
Dressed in love's robes.
4.5 rounded down, but I reserve the right to change my mind. Fantastic and seamless and sensible use of person, tense, prose, poetry.
Guarded by betrayed desire.
Dressed in love's robes.
4.5 rounded down, but I reserve the right to change my mind. Fantastic and seamless and sensible use of person, tense, prose, poetry.
Want to read
September 8, 2025excited about this one!
October 31, 2025
I loved this - the atmosphere was beautiful and I loved the approach to romance. This more capital-R-romance than a modern romance story.
And because of this, I think knowledge of Bisclavret is useful for reader expectations, but not at all necessary. You can tell Longman is an expert in medieval history - they get the setting and society so right. This is a bold story and a very unique one and because it is so rooted in the historical narrative, I don't think it will be for everyone. The pacing is slow, as you are immersed into the story, but it never drags. I really enjoyed the choice to alternate the POVs and keep to the original material (the king is such a prominent character and is never named).
I wish there was a tad more character development/a bit more focus on them so I could have bought into the characters a bit more. As it stands, they felt distant and left me wanting more.
But! This was such a refreshing book to read and felt very unique in so many ways.
4.25 stars & preordered!
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
And because of this, I think knowledge of Bisclavret is useful for reader expectations, but not at all necessary. You can tell Longman is an expert in medieval history - they get the setting and society so right. This is a bold story and a very unique one and because it is so rooted in the historical narrative, I don't think it will be for everyone. The pacing is slow, as you are immersed into the story, but it never drags. I really enjoyed the choice to alternate the POVs and keep to the original material (the king is such a prominent character and is never named).
I wish there was a tad more character development/a bit more focus on them so I could have bought into the characters a bit more. As it stands, they felt distant and left me wanting more.
But! This was such a refreshing book to read and felt very unique in so many ways.
4.25 stars & preordered!
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
December 13, 2025
The Wolf and His King is a surprisingly impactful book about identity and loneliness.
We follow two main characters in this story: Bisclavret and the king.
Bisclavret is based on the 12th-century tale of a werewolf, cursed to a life in exile because he has no control over his shapeshifting. When the old king dies, he travels to the royal court to seek knighthood and reclaim his inheritance.
Here he meets the new king, who becomes fascinated by this exiled figure and the secrets he carries.
The book is very slow-paced, which can be off putting in certain parts, but it holds your attention with its beautiful writing. Finn Longman creates an intense, captivating and intimate atmosphere that pulls you in chapter by chapter.
The overall plot is not groundbreaking, but the themes it explores are powerful. The struggle for wanting control over your body and mind really resonated with me.
And the yearning. All of the yearning!
A big thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
We follow two main characters in this story: Bisclavret and the king.
Bisclavret is based on the 12th-century tale of a werewolf, cursed to a life in exile because he has no control over his shapeshifting. When the old king dies, he travels to the royal court to seek knighthood and reclaim his inheritance.
Here he meets the new king, who becomes fascinated by this exiled figure and the secrets he carries.
The book is very slow-paced, which can be off putting in certain parts, but it holds your attention with its beautiful writing. Finn Longman creates an intense, captivating and intimate atmosphere that pulls you in chapter by chapter.
The overall plot is not groundbreaking, but the themes it explores are powerful. The struggle for wanting control over your body and mind really resonated with me.
And the yearning. All of the yearning!
A big thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
December 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This was hard to rate because I genuinely think this was so beautifully written, but the plot was so painfully slow. Even the romance was one of the slowest burns I’ve ever read.
I really thought the second pov was so cool. It was used very well. I liked how no one had any names but Bisclavret.
I kind of disliked Bisclavret to be honest for a little bit. Not at first, but I completely agreed with his cousin when they had their disagreement. Bisclavret was being very selfish especially with the ward. I don’t blame him for wanting happiness, but he should be smart about it.
I know it was based off of a story about a wife betraying her husband, but I kind of hated that they put Bisclavret in a marriage with her. If it was more of a marriage of convenience or for protection that would be one thing, but he seemed to genuinely love her, and no feelings for the king whatsoever. I wanted the king and him together, but because Bisclavret showed no inclination he had feelings for the king, it was jarring to me for them to get together so quickly by the end. Sure maybe Bisclavret grew to love the king overtime, but it still threw me off.
I really loved the king. My heart broke for him so much during this book. His loneliness was so evident in the pages! I really liked his trusted knight too. He was a great addition to the cast of characters, even though he wasn’t in it as much.
I didn’t get what I expected to get with this book. I was hoping for more romance between the two characters but instead we got total angst and pining from one side, with no character build up. We were told so often that they were close but never saw them actually doing things together except for a handful of time.
If you want to read a book with beautiful flowery writing, with lines that can give you a gut punch of emotions, I think this is worth the read. If you are prepared for a slow moving story, you may get more enjoyment out of this. If you are just looking for a romantic story, it is best to skip this one since you will not be getting that from this.
I feel like if this was a lot shorter and it jumped into the story quicker, I would have enjoyed it more!
This was hard to rate because I genuinely think this was so beautifully written, but the plot was so painfully slow. Even the romance was one of the slowest burns I’ve ever read.
I really thought the second pov was so cool. It was used very well. I liked how no one had any names but Bisclavret.
I kind of disliked Bisclavret to be honest for a little bit. Not at first, but I completely agreed with his cousin when they had their disagreement. Bisclavret was being very selfish especially with the ward. I don’t blame him for wanting happiness, but he should be smart about it.
I know it was based off of a story about a wife betraying her husband, but I kind of hated that they put Bisclavret in a marriage with her. If it was more of a marriage of convenience or for protection that would be one thing, but he seemed to genuinely love her, and no feelings for the king whatsoever. I wanted the king and him together, but because Bisclavret showed no inclination he had feelings for the king, it was jarring to me for them to get together so quickly by the end. Sure maybe Bisclavret grew to love the king overtime, but it still threw me off.
I really loved the king. My heart broke for him so much during this book. His loneliness was so evident in the pages! I really liked his trusted knight too. He was a great addition to the cast of characters, even though he wasn’t in it as much.
I didn’t get what I expected to get with this book. I was hoping for more romance between the two characters but instead we got total angst and pining from one side, with no character build up. We were told so often that they were close but never saw them actually doing things together except for a handful of time.
If you want to read a book with beautiful flowery writing, with lines that can give you a gut punch of emotions, I think this is worth the read. If you are prepared for a slow moving story, you may get more enjoyment out of this. If you are just looking for a romantic story, it is best to skip this one since you will not be getting that from this.
I feel like if this was a lot shorter and it jumped into the story quicker, I would have enjoyed it more!
November 9, 2025
Rating: 5/5
A wolf-sick nobleman in exile, Bisclavret hasn’t dared to leave his childhood estate for fear of what his affliction might do to himself or to others. When the king dies and his young heir takes the throne, Bisclavret must break his seclusion to swear his fealty, or pay for the transgression. Once an exile in his own right, the newly crowned king feels lost in a world that has never welcomed him, and finds his allies few and far between. When Bisclavret arrives at court with his bestial grace and unpolished manners, the king becomes fascinated by this fellow outsider and instead offers him a life of glory and knighthood. Over the years, their stories intertwine and diverge, testing the strength of loyalty, secrecy, and destiny.
I was in love with this from chapter one, hell, from page one. Within just the first few paragraphs, I was head over heels for the prose and poetry of the writing. That incredible style carries through the entire novel; every sentence feels like a work of art. I kept pausing to soak in how beautiful the writing was, in awe of the imagery it evoked. Every detail and word choice feels deliberate and immaculate, and I was honestly floored by the author’s talent. I don’t say this lightly: this may be one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read, rivaling works like Circe and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.
The writing alone could have carried this book a long way, but the character work is just as extraordinary. Bisclavret’s aching loneliness and desperate cries for connection are rendered so vividly that I shared his heartbreak and deeply felt every emotional high and low that followed. I felt similarly for the king, whose alienation contrasts so well with Bisclavret’s isolation, since he is surrounded by nobles and petitioners yet still feels profoundly alone. Both main characters have such depth that I never preferred one over the other; they were equally compelling to follow. Even the side characters, whether ally or antagonist, were captivating in their brief moments on the page.
The story itself is every bit as enthralling as its prose and characters. It begins in a grounded, intimate space, introducing the mirrored loneliness of Bisclavret and the king, and gradually expands in scope. Over time, the narration takes on a sweeping, almost omniscient quality, where months pass in a few sentences and you get the sense of watching the world evolve in real time. Since I hadn’t read the poem this is based on beforehand, the plot felt completely fresh and unpredictable; I was along for the ride and loved every moment. After finishing, I read the original lais, and I imagine anyone looking for a faithful adaptation will be pleased as well.
It’s hard to narrow down who to recommend this to because honestly, it’s one of the best books I’ve read all year and I think everyone should experience it. But broadly, I’d say it’s perfect for readers who enjoy retellings, historical fantasy, werewolves, literary prose, and/or queer fantasy romance. Circling back to the Circe comparison, if you loved that book, please, please read this. It’s the best comparison I can give, and there are so many beautiful parallels between the two. This book was a complete surprise and utterly blew me away. When it releases, I’ll be scouring bookstores to get my own copy to annotate and dissect like it deserves. Read this!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A wolf-sick nobleman in exile, Bisclavret hasn’t dared to leave his childhood estate for fear of what his affliction might do to himself or to others. When the king dies and his young heir takes the throne, Bisclavret must break his seclusion to swear his fealty, or pay for the transgression. Once an exile in his own right, the newly crowned king feels lost in a world that has never welcomed him, and finds his allies few and far between. When Bisclavret arrives at court with his bestial grace and unpolished manners, the king becomes fascinated by this fellow outsider and instead offers him a life of glory and knighthood. Over the years, their stories intertwine and diverge, testing the strength of loyalty, secrecy, and destiny.
I was in love with this from chapter one, hell, from page one. Within just the first few paragraphs, I was head over heels for the prose and poetry of the writing. That incredible style carries through the entire novel; every sentence feels like a work of art. I kept pausing to soak in how beautiful the writing was, in awe of the imagery it evoked. Every detail and word choice feels deliberate and immaculate, and I was honestly floored by the author’s talent. I don’t say this lightly: this may be one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read, rivaling works like Circe and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.
The writing alone could have carried this book a long way, but the character work is just as extraordinary. Bisclavret’s aching loneliness and desperate cries for connection are rendered so vividly that I shared his heartbreak and deeply felt every emotional high and low that followed. I felt similarly for the king, whose alienation contrasts so well with Bisclavret’s isolation, since he is surrounded by nobles and petitioners yet still feels profoundly alone. Both main characters have such depth that I never preferred one over the other; they were equally compelling to follow. Even the side characters, whether ally or antagonist, were captivating in their brief moments on the page.
The story itself is every bit as enthralling as its prose and characters. It begins in a grounded, intimate space, introducing the mirrored loneliness of Bisclavret and the king, and gradually expands in scope. Over time, the narration takes on a sweeping, almost omniscient quality, where months pass in a few sentences and you get the sense of watching the world evolve in real time. Since I hadn’t read the poem this is based on beforehand, the plot felt completely fresh and unpredictable; I was along for the ride and loved every moment. After finishing, I read the original lais, and I imagine anyone looking for a faithful adaptation will be pleased as well.
It’s hard to narrow down who to recommend this to because honestly, it’s one of the best books I’ve read all year and I think everyone should experience it. But broadly, I’d say it’s perfect for readers who enjoy retellings, historical fantasy, werewolves, literary prose, and/or queer fantasy romance. Circling back to the Circe comparison, if you loved that book, please, please read this. It’s the best comparison I can give, and there are so many beautiful parallels between the two. This book was a complete surprise and utterly blew me away. When it releases, I’ll be scouring bookstores to get my own copy to annotate and dissect like it deserves. Read this!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2025
The extent of the plot in here is about appropriate for a short story and this is somehow a book with multiple hundreds of pages. A lot of space to add flavor and include interesting historical detail about life in the medieval period you think? No, think again. You just get every character's thoughts and intentions in excruciating detail. It's not like we can understand characters by interpreting their actions, we don't do that here. Nevermind that many of those thoughts are barely backed up by observable events. About a quarter into the book you have the protagonist pondering "He feels known, in a way he's not sure he's comfortable being known"; brother. You have had all of one conversation. You have to justify this at least a little bit...
The narration is split into 3rd person and 2nd person povs, which you'd think would be just the thing for me since i love gimmicky stuff, but there is simply no compelling reason for doing this? It's the same omniscient pov regardless, it adds absolutely nothing.
I will not even get into how this kingdom is governed in the way a toddler thinks kingdoms work. Heir to the King just returned from exile, intuitively knows how everything works and then runs the place with no issues? Sure. Unfortunately we are now also short of interesting things that could happen at court, for, you know, the plot of a book? This place has less conflict than my garden snails.
The writing, as in the actual words of the writing, is fine, it's purely the content that's the issue. There are short parts in here that are written in verse, and these are actually good (it's a bit awkward when removing most of a book would improve it). If i could've gotten just that as a more limited format, presumably that would have ended up being good.
The narration is split into 3rd person and 2nd person povs, which you'd think would be just the thing for me since i love gimmicky stuff, but there is simply no compelling reason for doing this? It's the same omniscient pov regardless, it adds absolutely nothing.
I will not even get into how this kingdom is governed in the way a toddler thinks kingdoms work. Heir to the King just returned from exile, intuitively knows how everything works and then runs the place with no issues? Sure. Unfortunately we are now also short of interesting things that could happen at court, for, you know, the plot of a book? This place has less conflict than my garden snails.
The writing, as in the actual words of the writing, is fine, it's purely the content that's the issue. There are short parts in here that are written in verse, and these are actually good (it's a bit awkward when removing most of a book would improve it). If i could've gotten just that as a more limited format, presumably that would have ended up being good.
November 25, 2025
The Wolf and His King is a beautifully written, fairy-tale-esque story that sometimes becomes tangled in its own melodrama. The setting and prose create an intentionally claustrophobic atmosphere—most of the narrative unfolds only between the forest and the castle—and the only character given a name beyond titles like “the king” or “the green knight” is Bisclavret, one of the central figures.
The author makes many intriguing stylistic choices, and I appreciate the experimental quality of the book. The shifts in tense and perspective—from third person to first, and even into verse for one character—create a distinctive reading experience that, on its own, could have been quite impactful.
However, the sense of isolation becomes inescapable. With the story confined to two primary locations and almost no named characters, the narrative began to feel too narrow. Moving back and forth between Bisclavret and the king didn’t give me enough variety or emotional anchor points. Unfortunately, the king—one of the two main characters—never fully drew me in. His melodramatic tone and repetitive chapters often left me skimming through his sorrowful reflections on unrequited love.
In the end, I enjoyed the book’s style and concept, but its narrow focus ultimately left me wanting more.
The author makes many intriguing stylistic choices, and I appreciate the experimental quality of the book. The shifts in tense and perspective—from third person to first, and even into verse for one character—create a distinctive reading experience that, on its own, could have been quite impactful.
However, the sense of isolation becomes inescapable. With the story confined to two primary locations and almost no named characters, the narrative began to feel too narrow. Moving back and forth between Bisclavret and the king didn’t give me enough variety or emotional anchor points. Unfortunately, the king—one of the two main characters—never fully drew me in. His melodramatic tone and repetitive chapters often left me skimming through his sorrowful reflections on unrequited love.
In the end, I enjoyed the book’s style and concept, but its narrow focus ultimately left me wanting more.
November 9, 2025
This is one of those magical books where I wish there was a limited 6 star rating you could use occasionally . I'm a fan of retellings and love a medieval setting anyway, but I was just totally enthralled by the story and the depth of feeling of the characters. The romance is beautiful and fraught but I enjoyed the entire tale - the exiled King learning to rule and feeling uncertain and insecure, the talented and mysterious Bisclavret drowning in loneliness, shame and fear, the fealty, the friendship, the yearning of it all. The yearning is really on another level in this book, and not just of the romantic kind but yearning for belonging, acceptance, control and safety. If I had to quibble about something, the ending felt slightly abrupt, but I think that's because I wanted to spend more time with the characters. Also, what I'd give to read the Scribe's story!
Thanks to Kensington Publishing for the ARC.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing for the ARC.
January 5, 2026
my rating ➸ 4
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
i had no prior knowledge of bisclavret's tale before reading this and thought this was a good introduction to the fairy tale. the prose definitely did a good job at making this book feel like a fairy tale retelling. i'll say that my biggest criticism is that it did feel like things were resolved rather quickly and smoothly towards the end. but overall, i thought it was a great read!
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
i had no prior knowledge of bisclavret's tale before reading this and thought this was a good introduction to the fairy tale. the prose definitely did a good job at making this book feel like a fairy tale retelling. i'll say that my biggest criticism is that it did feel like things were resolved rather quickly and smoothly towards the end. but overall, i thought it was a great read!
November 18, 2025
Holy shit.
I'm not sure I'm going to be very articulate about this one. It was simply amazing.
I will say - anyone who doesn't like lyrical language should stay away. This was beautiful language, also experimental. There is only one named character in the entire book. I personally thought this was incredibly well done but I think that is going to go over a lot of readers heads. This is academics. It's also fucking beautiful.
At the end of the book, Finn did a 'thank you for letting me write this when it wasn't what we agreed on' and I had to nod my head. I'm also thanking their agent for allowing Finn the freedom of ~waves erratically at the book that isn't even published yet. It's so obviously a love letter to their medieval literature education but the tones of identity, friendship, and monstrosity were a punch to my gut. This is what I mean when I say I love stories about monsters. It's this. And it's a wolf story! It was made for me!
The only minor gripe I have about the entire book
It's not even released yet so I can't buy it yet to put on my bookshelf as a trophy. But also... I could just reread it when it's officially released. I might have to.
I want to tear out some of the verse pages and display them as artwork.
I'm not sure I'm going to be very articulate about this one. It was simply amazing.
I will say - anyone who doesn't like lyrical language should stay away. This was beautiful language, also experimental. There is only one named character in the entire book. I personally thought this was incredibly well done but I think that is going to go over a lot of readers heads. This is academics. It's also fucking beautiful.
At the end of the book, Finn did a 'thank you for letting me write this when it wasn't what we agreed on' and I had to nod my head. I'm also thanking their agent for allowing Finn the freedom of ~waves erratically at the book that isn't even published yet. It's so obviously a love letter to their medieval literature education but the tones of identity, friendship, and monstrosity were a punch to my gut. This is what I mean when I say I love stories about monsters. It's this. And it's a wolf story! It was made for me!
The only minor gripe I have about the entire book
It's not even released yet so I can't buy it yet to put on my bookshelf as a trophy. But also... I could just reread it when it's officially released. I might have to.
I want to tear out some of the verse pages and display them as artwork.
November 9, 2025
All Bisclavret has ever wanted is to become a knight but due to his curse he lives in exile. When he’s encouraged to swear fealty to the new king and seek his rightful inheritance he ends up embroiled in the court. Meanwhile the king, recently returned from exile himself, is fascinated with Bisclavret encouraging him to stay around. This fascination turns to yearning and then despair when Bisclavret is seeming killed by a wolf.
I loved this a lot, I’d never heard of the tale of Bisclavret the werewolf but it was so much fun to research it more after reading this to see if or where it differed. It’s really got me wanting to immediately research some more medieval tales and read some more queer retellings.
The switching between second and third person really worked for me. Especially the king’s POV being in second person makes all of his emotions seem that much more intimate, particularly the intensity of his grief. I found myself falling more and more in love with the prose as I continued to read, with the wolf’s POV being written in verse as well added to the lyricism of it all and felt like it was paying tribute to the original tale.
It’s really one of those books that I wish I could keep reading solely to just stay with these characters for as long as they’ll let me. Alas I will just have to reread it when I can get my hands on a finished copy.
Thank you Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC
I loved this a lot, I’d never heard of the tale of Bisclavret the werewolf but it was so much fun to research it more after reading this to see if or where it differed. It’s really got me wanting to immediately research some more medieval tales and read some more queer retellings.
The switching between second and third person really worked for me. Especially the king’s POV being in second person makes all of his emotions seem that much more intimate, particularly the intensity of his grief. I found myself falling more and more in love with the prose as I continued to read, with the wolf’s POV being written in verse as well added to the lyricism of it all and felt like it was paying tribute to the original tale.
It’s really one of those books that I wish I could keep reading solely to just stay with these characters for as long as they’ll let me. Alas I will just have to reread it when I can get my hands on a finished copy.
Thank you Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC
October 27, 2025
The Wolf and His King
I was really interested in this fantasy novel, I love everything that has to do with medieval fantasy and knights, but unfortunately, it didn’t meet my expectations.
I actually liked the characters and the storyline; that’s not the issue. What didn’t work for me was the structure. The book alternates between two different POVs: one in third person and one in second person. The jump between the two was quite dizzying, especially since this kind of radical stylistic choice usually has a purpose… but here, I couldn’t find one. I never quite understood who was speaking in the second-person chapters, or why the author chose that narration.
What bothered me even more were the constant time jumps between chapters. For example, one chapter ends with the character preparing for a long journey home from the royal court, and the next begins with him already back, nothing in between. This happens all the time: from morning to night, from one day to the next, with nothing in between.
It left me feeling dizzy and disoriented. And I also didn’t enjoy the lustful sentiments the king has for Basklavret from the very first moment he sees him, it felt off to me.
All in all, it was just too confusing for my taste.
2.5 rounded down
I was really interested in this fantasy novel, I love everything that has to do with medieval fantasy and knights, but unfortunately, it didn’t meet my expectations.
I actually liked the characters and the storyline; that’s not the issue. What didn’t work for me was the structure. The book alternates between two different POVs: one in third person and one in second person. The jump between the two was quite dizzying, especially since this kind of radical stylistic choice usually has a purpose… but here, I couldn’t find one. I never quite understood who was speaking in the second-person chapters, or why the author chose that narration.
What bothered me even more were the constant time jumps between chapters. For example, one chapter ends with the character preparing for a long journey home from the royal court, and the next begins with him already back, nothing in between. This happens all the time: from morning to night, from one day to the next, with nothing in between.
It left me feeling dizzy and disoriented. And I also didn’t enjoy the lustful sentiments the king has for Basklavret from the very first moment he sees him, it felt off to me.
All in all, it was just too confusing for my taste.
2.5 rounded down
November 9, 2025
This one was a real disappointment to me because I felt primed to enjoy it but I really could not get on board with the writing style. It felt like the author was trying to avoid giving anyone a name as much as possible which I could not understand. I’m very against second person POV in general but I can admit it’s for a purpose sometimes. Here…?? Why. The story felt very claustrophobic and tight in on a few facts and motivations we learn very early on and those just keep repeating. I really needed more character development from everyone. That being said there was some fun dialogue and some good lines? So it could’ve been worse.
January 1, 2026
“If they know what you are, they will never let you be anything else.”
What a joy this was to read!! 🥹
An exiled werewolf is brought to court to meet a similarly isolated, newly coronated king to reclaim his inheritance and pledge fealty. Bisclavret battles to keep his wolf transformations hidden from all at court and follows his childhood dreams of being knighted, whilst the king battles his desire for his new knight and juggles the responsibilities of a young ruler. I’d never even heard of the tale of Bisclavret before reading this retelling, but now I’m super intrigued about the potential queer-coding of the original story.
Firstly, the writing in this was just beautiful, and so unique. The switch between second and third person, the lack of names for anyone but Bisclavret, and the unusual prose for the wolf’s POV - it all managed to be poetic and engrossing without coming across at all pretentious. I was so easily able to visualise every part of the story and feel the characters’ feelings with them.
Secondly, my god, the yearning is off the charts. No one does yearning quite like the gays, let me tell you. Almost an entire book full of yearning actually, so somewhat light on the actual on-page romance, but not to the books detriment IMO.
The author does a really good job of expressing Bisclavret’s fears and self-doubts, his disdain for his wolf form and desperation to remain hidden and not hurt anyone. Equally I felt the young king’s unsurety about his rule and his need to meet expectations whilst charting his own path and striving to be a different ruler than his father. Most keenly felt was the king’s grief at their separation, and Bisclavret’s unwavering loyalty throughout. Whew, the devotion - on both sides! 😭
My only disappointments were:
- The rather fast-paced ending with not much time to bask in the HEA
- Some of the events and dialogue towards the end took me out of the story a little bit, in reminding me that this was a retelling of a medieval poem, rather than a world-built lush fantasy story
Those gripes are minor though and overall I really enjoyed reading this!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What a joy this was to read!! 🥹
An exiled werewolf is brought to court to meet a similarly isolated, newly coronated king to reclaim his inheritance and pledge fealty. Bisclavret battles to keep his wolf transformations hidden from all at court and follows his childhood dreams of being knighted, whilst the king battles his desire for his new knight and juggles the responsibilities of a young ruler. I’d never even heard of the tale of Bisclavret before reading this retelling, but now I’m super intrigued about the potential queer-coding of the original story.
Firstly, the writing in this was just beautiful, and so unique. The switch between second and third person, the lack of names for anyone but Bisclavret, and the unusual prose for the wolf’s POV - it all managed to be poetic and engrossing without coming across at all pretentious. I was so easily able to visualise every part of the story and feel the characters’ feelings with them.
Secondly, my god, the yearning is off the charts. No one does yearning quite like the gays, let me tell you. Almost an entire book full of yearning actually, so somewhat light on the actual on-page romance, but not to the books detriment IMO.
The author does a really good job of expressing Bisclavret’s fears and self-doubts, his disdain for his wolf form and desperation to remain hidden and not hurt anyone. Equally I felt the young king’s unsurety about his rule and his need to meet expectations whilst charting his own path and striving to be a different ruler than his father. Most keenly felt was the king’s grief at their separation, and Bisclavret’s unwavering loyalty throughout. Whew, the devotion - on both sides! 😭
My only disappointments were:
- The rather fast-paced ending with not much time to bask in the HEA
- Some of the events and dialogue towards the end took me out of the story a little bit, in reminding me that this was a retelling of a medieval poem, rather than a world-built lush fantasy story
Those gripes are minor though and overall I really enjoyed reading this!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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