Fairest of Wolves

by Brooke Nelson

In a kingdom where shadows stir and magic lies dormant, Pearl’s world is torn apart when a mysterious attack destroys her cabin, leaving her and her sister with nowhere to go. Seeking refuge in the imposing castle of her stepmother, Queen Alba, they are thrust into a treacherous world of danger and secrets that threaten to unravel their very existence.

As Pearl navigates the dark halls of Maryndom castle, she begins to uncover a forgotten magic still exists, and it lies much closer at hand than she expects. But with it comes a dangerous power—one that could alter the fate of the kingdom forever.

Amid the growing tensions, Pearl encounters a mysterious stranger who promises her the power to overthrow Queen Alba and claim the throne for herself. Torn between loyalty to her sister and the promise of a dark and enticing future, Pearl must decide how far she is willing to go for power, and whether she can trust the very magic that beckons her.

In this gripping origin story, witness the birth of the evil queen—a ruler forged in shadows and ambition, destined to change the kingdom forever.

Genres: Fantasy

407 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2025

About the author

Brooke Nelson is a new adult fantasy and thriller author, living in Minnesota. When she is not weaving tales, she can be found reading Greek myths and cuddling with her cats and dog. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Winona State University, which has nothing to do with writing, but now you know her educational background, in case you were wondering. She has authored young adult thriller The Half Theft, as well as its sequel, Better Luck This Time. More recently, she published her dark fantasy take on the origin of Snow White's Evil Queen in Fairest of Wolves.

Reviews

[Brooke Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey there! I’m Brooke Nelson, and this is my take on how Snow White’s evil queen came to be the villain she is.

This story is for the girls who:
- grew up with Disney princess movies
- love a haunting dark fantasy (with a sweet romance)
- support women’s rights, but especially their wrongs
- quote the Pearl (2022) monologue religiously
- sympathize with the hot villains
- are animal lovers (bonus points if this includes wolves)
- eat up feminine rage stories

Release date: June 7, 2025
- Preorder Kindle edition here.
- Follow me for updates on print edition.

Remember to add Fairest of Wolves to your To Read shelf, and stay tuned for updates.

As an indie author, every bit of your support means the world to me. I cannot thank the book community enough for the support you have already shown.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Brooke 🍎🐺

P.S. Yes, I did give my own book five stars 🤭 but only because I would not share this book with you unless I truly believed it was my best work and I had put my whole heart into it. Adore you guys.

[Jack Hance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d read a book by Brooke Nelson before, so I knew she is a talented writer, but I expected this book to be simply fan fiction based on the Disney Snow White classic. I was wrong. Brooke has created an entirely new story with only the barest of bones of the original. The story flashes forward at least twenty years, and Snow and her prince are gone, presumed dead. Their children, Pearl and beautiful
Young Margot, are hiding in tge deep forest with a band of wolves, a happy existence. A mysterious attack brings them back to the Royal castle to face the evil Queen and her enchantment. A new cast of characters is immersed in a much darker tale of betrayal and violence, a modern fairly tale about what it means to be evil. Fairy tales aren’t required to have happy endings. I enjoyed this book so much - please read it.

[margot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best villain origin fantasy of the year!!

The rise of the evil queen, the nods to the original fairytale, the sinister tone of the story, the bond of sisterhood, the touch of romance. I'm so in love.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be honest. I have been in a bit of a reading slump lately. I've been having trouble finding any book that will pique my interest. In comes Fairest of Wolves. This book was not only fantastic on it's own, but it may also hav cured my book burnout.
Fairest of Wolves is the origin story of the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Pearl, the main character and queen-to-be, is an exciting and engaging protagonist. I could not stop turning the pages, wondering what could possibly shock me next. And trust me, this book will SHOCK you.
If you like slightly unhinged yet absolutely badass women, Pearl is up to the task. I could not recommend this book enough. It is a real gem in the genre of fairytale reimaginings.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always wonder what makes a good person turn evil, bad or villianous (think President Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.) To my delight, Brooke Nelson knocked it out of the park with her reimagined origin story of The Evil Queen. This story has it all - sisterly love, unwavering human/animal loyalty, mystery and deceit. You will be suprised why The Evil Queen becomes The Evil Queen. I hope Ms. Nelson keeps these coming...