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Children of the Wolf
“A riveting mystery entwined with the rich story of a woman coming into her own while battling the wildest of demons. Whip-smart, unique, and chilling—I loved it.”—GILLIAN FLYNN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl
A woman notices a pattern of men disappearing in her small town, reawakening memories of her childhood raised by a father obsessed with his violent Viking heritage.
As an adult, Liv leads a quiet life, tending to the beekeeping business that supports her and her brother. But when a dead body is discovered in her town, she is forced to grapple with a legacy of violence from when she was small.
As a child, she shared a home in rural Iowa with her brother Finn and their father Ulf. Swedish-born Ulf, a direct descendant of the infamous Erik the Red, raises his children as if they are Vikings. They are homeschooled, speak only Swedish, learn swordplay and archery, celebrate the Norse holidays, and worship the old gods with blood sacrifices.
But when Liv is fourteen, her family’s sanctum is broken apart by an FBI raid. Separated from their father, Liv and Finn must learn to adapt to normal life.
Now, twenty years later, Liv and Finn have changed their last names and moved to Haven, Michigan. Through her work as a beekeeper, Liv meets Penny, a secretive, unusual, beguiling woman. Just as her life is beginning to open up in new ways, Liv notices a strange and upsetting pattern in the area around men are disappearing. As she tallies up the missing, she senses disturbing similarities to her own father’s crimes.
While she's thrown back into the uncertainty she felt after Ulf's arrest, Liv, struggling to hold on to what she knows to be true, must decide how to whether to involve Finn and Penny in her suspicions, leave the whole matter alone, or take action to solve—and stop—the same kind of violence she always hoped to escape.
A woman notices a pattern of men disappearing in her small town, reawakening memories of her childhood raised by a father obsessed with his violent Viking heritage.
As an adult, Liv leads a quiet life, tending to the beekeeping business that supports her and her brother. But when a dead body is discovered in her town, she is forced to grapple with a legacy of violence from when she was small.
As a child, she shared a home in rural Iowa with her brother Finn and their father Ulf. Swedish-born Ulf, a direct descendant of the infamous Erik the Red, raises his children as if they are Vikings. They are homeschooled, speak only Swedish, learn swordplay and archery, celebrate the Norse holidays, and worship the old gods with blood sacrifices.
But when Liv is fourteen, her family’s sanctum is broken apart by an FBI raid. Separated from their father, Liv and Finn must learn to adapt to normal life.
Now, twenty years later, Liv and Finn have changed their last names and moved to Haven, Michigan. Through her work as a beekeeper, Liv meets Penny, a secretive, unusual, beguiling woman. Just as her life is beginning to open up in new ways, Liv notices a strange and upsetting pattern in the area around men are disappearing. As she tallies up the missing, she senses disturbing similarities to her own father’s crimes.
While she's thrown back into the uncertainty she felt after Ulf's arrest, Liv, struggling to hold on to what she knows to be true, must decide how to whether to involve Finn and Penny in her suspicions, leave the whole matter alone, or take action to solve—and stop—the same kind of violence she always hoped to escape.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Abby Geni
10 books297 followersAbby Geni is the author of The Body Farm, longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and the Story Prize; The Lightkeepers, winner of the inaugural Chicago Review of Books Award of Best Fiction; The Wildlands, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; and The Last Animal, a finalist for the Orion Book Award. Geni is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a recipient of the Iowa Fellowship.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
October 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Children of the Wolf started out really strong for me. I was immediately drawn into Finn and Liv’s childhood story and everything they experienced with their father. Those early chapters really pulled me in.
As the story progressed, I did find myself getting a little lost at times. There was quite a bit of Viking history and Norse mythology woven throughout, and it’s clear the author put a great deal of research into those elements. I appreciated the detail, but there were moments when it became harder for me to stay fully connected to what was happening.
The pacing was also a little slower than what I typically prefer, especially through the middle. That said, there was still a solid story here, and I thought the author did a great job showing the setting, the experiences Finn and Liv went through, and the lasting impact those experiences had on them later in life.
Overall, this was a thoughtful and well-researched story. While it wasn’t quite the pacing I usually gravitate toward, I think readers who enjoy dual timelines, rich historical detail, and character-driven stories may really enjoy this one.
Children of the Wolf started out really strong for me. I was immediately drawn into Finn and Liv’s childhood story and everything they experienced with their father. Those early chapters really pulled me in.
As the story progressed, I did find myself getting a little lost at times. There was quite a bit of Viking history and Norse mythology woven throughout, and it’s clear the author put a great deal of research into those elements. I appreciated the detail, but there were moments when it became harder for me to stay fully connected to what was happening.
The pacing was also a little slower than what I typically prefer, especially through the middle. That said, there was still a solid story here, and I thought the author did a great job showing the setting, the experiences Finn and Liv went through, and the lasting impact those experiences had on them later in life.
Overall, this was a thoughtful and well-researched story. While it wasn’t quite the pacing I usually gravitate toward, I think readers who enjoy dual timelines, rich historical detail, and character-driven stories may really enjoy this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm somewhere between 4 and 5 stars for this imaginative mystery novel with very interesting characters. Sometimes the first words of a novel just grab you and pull you right in, don't they? Like these that begin Children of the Wolf:
'I have always hated the word murder. It sounds like a heart beat, doesn't it? It sounds like the end of a human life. Listen to the thump of the rhyming syllables, then consider the pause that follows. One final pulse of the heart--then silence.'
In these pages, Liv is telling the story of her life. It begins with her rather feral childhood on an isolated, secure compound in rural Iowa. Liv and her brother Finn are homeschooled by their father, Ulf Thorvaldsson, a 7-foot tall, larger than life Viking who teaches them the fairy tales and folklore of his native Sweden. But Liv says it's important to know that these folk tales were real to her and were woven into the person she became.
It's also important to know that Vikings are known as predators, wolf-warriors, brave, honorable, with a savage nature, and it has been Ulf's desire to die in battle with his weapon in his hand so he can go to Valhalla. He teaches his son his fighting skills and is rather brutal about it while Liv is taught Viking women skills--cooking, darning, cleaning. The biggest rule though is loyalty, especially to one's family.
When the siblings are teens, something happens that destroys their family, and now, twenty years later, Liv and Finn have changed their last name to Ulfsson, which translates to 'children of the wolf.' They are bee keepers in rural Michigan, selling their jars of Swedish Honey at a local farmers market. Liv has come out as lesbian but it's been all one-night stands for her until she meets Penny. What draws these two women together? It's an interesting study in human nature.
There's also a lot in the story about bees and bee-keeping, if you are interested in that. But don't worry, as the first paragraph implies, there is murder to deal with here. That keeps the reader guessing until the very interesting conclusion and leaves us with much food for thought about the psychology behind actions and motives. As the author says in her notes at the end, she finds her characters through their passions and that really comes through in the story.
This author is new to me and I'm eager now to read more of her novels. Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this, her latest novel.
'I have always hated the word murder. It sounds like a heart beat, doesn't it? It sounds like the end of a human life. Listen to the thump of the rhyming syllables, then consider the pause that follows. One final pulse of the heart--then silence.'
In these pages, Liv is telling the story of her life. It begins with her rather feral childhood on an isolated, secure compound in rural Iowa. Liv and her brother Finn are homeschooled by their father, Ulf Thorvaldsson, a 7-foot tall, larger than life Viking who teaches them the fairy tales and folklore of his native Sweden. But Liv says it's important to know that these folk tales were real to her and were woven into the person she became.
It's also important to know that Vikings are known as predators, wolf-warriors, brave, honorable, with a savage nature, and it has been Ulf's desire to die in battle with his weapon in his hand so he can go to Valhalla. He teaches his son his fighting skills and is rather brutal about it while Liv is taught Viking women skills--cooking, darning, cleaning. The biggest rule though is loyalty, especially to one's family.
When the siblings are teens, something happens that destroys their family, and now, twenty years later, Liv and Finn have changed their last name to Ulfsson, which translates to 'children of the wolf.' They are bee keepers in rural Michigan, selling their jars of Swedish Honey at a local farmers market. Liv has come out as lesbian but it's been all one-night stands for her until she meets Penny. What draws these two women together? It's an interesting study in human nature.
There's also a lot in the story about bees and bee-keeping, if you are interested in that. But don't worry, as the first paragraph implies, there is murder to deal with here. That keeps the reader guessing until the very interesting conclusion and leaves us with much food for thought about the psychology behind actions and motives. As the author says in her notes at the end, she finds her characters through their passions and that really comes through in the story.
This author is new to me and I'm eager now to read more of her novels. Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this, her latest novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is somewhat of a coming of age novel with a fabulous mystery and some norse mythology added in. I was really engaged with this story the whole time and I loved getting to know more about Liv and Finn's lives before and after Ulf's arrest. I am always fascinated with books like this where kids grow up in a sheltered environment and then are thrust into the real world and have to learn a whole new way of living. I felt so bad for Finn and what had happened to him during the arrest but glad to see he found happiness. Liv is such an interesting character and I wasn't sure how her relationship would turn out, but I guess I can see why she made the choice she did.
Fans of true crime podcasts or books like "What Kind of Paradise" by Janelle Brown will likely find this one a hit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Ballantine Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 9/15/26
Fans of true crime podcasts or books like "What Kind of Paradise" by Janelle Brown will likely find this one a hit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Ballantine Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 9/15/26
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Children of the Wolf is a unique type of mystery, told by a fascinating storyteller just finding a way to start a new life after her traumatic childhood. It’s told by Liv who shares her story of how her and her brother Finn endured an unconventional childhood in rural Iowa living with their Swedish-born father, Ulf Thorvaldsson, a direct descendant of Erik the Red. Ulf is a menacing, larger-than-life presence who raised his children according to Viking traditions, and even swordplay. Liv recounts their childhood from what she remembers, including their dramatic rescue, the horrific punishment Finn suffered for turning their father in, and the bodies their father buried on the property. It was disturbing, gripping, and engrossing all at once.
The Viking history and Norse mythology were truly interesting, and I found myself going down a few rabbit holes researching on my own. Years later, Liv and Finn are living a quiet, private life in Michigan, beekeeping and trying to keep their past behind them. When men in their community begin mysteriously disappearing, the story really takes off. Is Liv’s past resurfacing, or is something else going on? I also enjoyed all the interesting facts about bees woven into the story.
I thought Geni did a good job portraying Liv’s PTSD and the ways her childhood continues to shape her thoughts and behavior. At the same time, I found myself questioning the irony of how Liv ends up in the situation she does as an adult.
Chilling, mysterious, and psychologically interesting, this book pulled me in. There’s also something compelling about Liv and Finn trying to reclaim their lives while keeping their identities and history hidden from the people around them. And there’s a sapphic love story thrown in to keep things interesting, although Penny is so secretive and sketchy that I wasn’t always sure what to make of her.
Overall, a strange and fascinating story that kept me invested and turning the pages.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advance copy for review.
The Viking history and Norse mythology were truly interesting, and I found myself going down a few rabbit holes researching on my own. Years later, Liv and Finn are living a quiet, private life in Michigan, beekeeping and trying to keep their past behind them. When men in their community begin mysteriously disappearing, the story really takes off. Is Liv’s past resurfacing, or is something else going on? I also enjoyed all the interesting facts about bees woven into the story.
I thought Geni did a good job portraying Liv’s PTSD and the ways her childhood continues to shape her thoughts and behavior. At the same time, I found myself questioning the irony of how Liv ends up in the situation she does as an adult.
Chilling, mysterious, and psychologically interesting, this book pulled me in. There’s also something compelling about Liv and Finn trying to reclaim their lives while keeping their identities and history hidden from the people around them. And there’s a sapphic love story thrown in to keep things interesting, although Penny is so secretive and sketchy that I wasn’t always sure what to make of her.
Overall, a strange and fascinating story that kept me invested and turning the pages.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advance copy for review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I found “Children of the Wolf” to be a unique and riveting reading experience—one I’ll not soon forget. Part general fiction, part psychological thriller, part serial murder mystery, and part love story, it features wonderful world-building in settings of rural isolation, deeply drawn characters, excellent research, a mystery behind every locked door, and more than a few surprises.
The novel begins by introducing us to children Liv and Finn Thorvaldsson, who live with their widower father, Ulf, in a small house on a large piece of Iowa land far from any town. Ulf is a huge, fierce Swede, directly descended from Eric the Red, whose work is a mystery, but who keeps bees and lives in accordance with Viking traditions. Loving his children intensely, but brutally, he raises them in accordance with those traditions. Home schooling themselves with library books and television, Liv and Finn rarely leave the property which is surrounded by barbed-wire and various traps designed to prevent anyone and everyone from intruding.
But then comes the day that Liv and Finn are separated from their father by the most violent circumstances. Regardless of whether they’ll ever see Ulf again, Liv and Finn have been permanently marked by his teachings and by the Viking ethos, traditions, and mythology.
After years in foster care, Finn and Liv together move to rural Michigan where they share a home outside a small town and keep bees for a living. Their life in Michigan is less isolated than in Iowa. They get along well with the people of the town. But still, they hold themselves fairly separately. At least until Liv—who’s experienced only purely sexual relationships with other women—meets and falls in love, for the very first time in her life, with Penny, a mysterious young woman living on a farm as separate and secluded as Liv’s childhood home.
And then comes the day that violent circumstances again turn Finn’s and Liv’s lives upside-down.
Author Abbi Geni’s novel grabbed me at its very beginning and kept my interest throughout. I found the characters unique and compelling. Who is Ulf? How has he managed to keep himself and his children so separate from society, and why? He seems terrifying, and yet his children love him so very much. How is that possible? And how will his children, raised amid his ferocity and stoicism, ever be able to survive once they’re compelled to leave his home?
Ms. Geni writes well and has produced a story of high literary quality. She allows us to see inside her characters and to watch them grow and change. The isolated worlds she builds are finely wrought and very absorbing. She delves deeply into whatever subject matter she chooses to cover and writes about it convincingly. Topics covered include Viking culture and mythology, bees and beekeeping, other animal husbandry, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsession, stoicism, physical and emotional abuse, violence against women, LGBTQ relationships, and non-traditional morality.
In terms of cautions regarding content, there are references to sexual relations as part of the romance between Liv and Penny, but there are no graphic sex scenes. There are a number of violent ideas and images, including serial murder, bodily dismemberment, and animal consumption of human remains.
“Children of the Wolf” is due to be published on September 15, 2026.
My thanks to NetGalley, author Abby Geni, and publisher Ballantine / Ballantine Books for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
The novel begins by introducing us to children Liv and Finn Thorvaldsson, who live with their widower father, Ulf, in a small house on a large piece of Iowa land far from any town. Ulf is a huge, fierce Swede, directly descended from Eric the Red, whose work is a mystery, but who keeps bees and lives in accordance with Viking traditions. Loving his children intensely, but brutally, he raises them in accordance with those traditions. Home schooling themselves with library books and television, Liv and Finn rarely leave the property which is surrounded by barbed-wire and various traps designed to prevent anyone and everyone from intruding.
But then comes the day that Liv and Finn are separated from their father by the most violent circumstances. Regardless of whether they’ll ever see Ulf again, Liv and Finn have been permanently marked by his teachings and by the Viking ethos, traditions, and mythology.
After years in foster care, Finn and Liv together move to rural Michigan where they share a home outside a small town and keep bees for a living. Their life in Michigan is less isolated than in Iowa. They get along well with the people of the town. But still, they hold themselves fairly separately. At least until Liv—who’s experienced only purely sexual relationships with other women—meets and falls in love, for the very first time in her life, with Penny, a mysterious young woman living on a farm as separate and secluded as Liv’s childhood home.
And then comes the day that violent circumstances again turn Finn’s and Liv’s lives upside-down.
Author Abbi Geni’s novel grabbed me at its very beginning and kept my interest throughout. I found the characters unique and compelling. Who is Ulf? How has he managed to keep himself and his children so separate from society, and why? He seems terrifying, and yet his children love him so very much. How is that possible? And how will his children, raised amid his ferocity and stoicism, ever be able to survive once they’re compelled to leave his home?
Ms. Geni writes well and has produced a story of high literary quality. She allows us to see inside her characters and to watch them grow and change. The isolated worlds she builds are finely wrought and very absorbing. She delves deeply into whatever subject matter she chooses to cover and writes about it convincingly. Topics covered include Viking culture and mythology, bees and beekeeping, other animal husbandry, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsession, stoicism, physical and emotional abuse, violence against women, LGBTQ relationships, and non-traditional morality.
In terms of cautions regarding content, there are references to sexual relations as part of the romance between Liv and Penny, but there are no graphic sex scenes. There are a number of violent ideas and images, including serial murder, bodily dismemberment, and animal consumption of human remains.
“Children of the Wolf” is due to be published on September 15, 2026.
My thanks to NetGalley, author Abby Geni, and publisher Ballantine / Ballantine Books for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
September 30, 2026
This is one of the most unusual and exquisite books I’ve read in a long time.
The book is essentially divided into two parts. First, we’re introduced to Liv as a child. She’s being raised by a Swedish immigrant like a Viking child, complete with blood sacrifices. The second part focuses on Liv’s adulthood, where her life takes an unusual path as dead bodies start appearing in the small town she adopts as home.
The first part of the book was gripping. It’s dark, but seeing it through the eyes of a child adds a unique lens to the darkness that only enhanced the feeling of dread and bewilderment I felt as a reader.
The second part of the book is what really surprised me. The first half of the book was interesting enough to be a standalone novel, so where do you go after that? What you get is part thriller, but it’s less focused on the action and much more on how the action impacts the characters. I really enjoyed this, as it’s quite rare to find this mix.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about this book was how Norse mythology was woven throughout the story. It wasn’t window dressing. The way it was utilized only further reinforced the story being told from the point of view of someone who was truly raised as a Viking and who made sense of the world through the old stories.
The only complaint I had about the second half was that part of it seemed very predictable. However, as the story unfolded, it became clear why it *had* to be predictable for character development. I found myself eating my words and, instead, admiring Geni’s craft.
Finally, the “twist” at the end (not so much plot-wise, but narratively) took this from a great book to a story that truly moved me.
I’ve truly never read a book like this, and it will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The first part of the book was gripping. It’s dark, but seeing it through the eyes of a child adds a unique lens to the darkness that only enhanced the feeling of dread and bewilderment I felt as a reader.
The second part of the book is what really surprised me. The first half of the book was interesting enough to be a standalone novel, so where do you go after that? What you get is part thriller, but it’s less focused on the action and much more on how the action impacts the characters. I really enjoyed this, as it’s quite rare to find this mix.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about this book was how Norse mythology was woven throughout the story. It wasn’t window dressing. The way it was utilized only further reinforced the story being told from the point of view of someone who was truly raised as a Viking and who made sense of the world through the old stories.
The only complaint I had about the second half was that part of it seemed very predictable. However, as the story unfolded, it became clear why it *had* to be predictable for character development. I found myself eating my words and, instead, admiring Geni’s craft.
Finally, the “twist” at the end (not so much plot-wise, but narratively) took this from a great book to a story that truly moved me.
I’ve truly never read a book like this, and it will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2026
A beautifully written, engrossing, dark literary mystery, perfect for fans of Charlotte McConaghy and Liz Moore.
COTW is a dark, lyrical tale of trauma, survival, fierce love, and familial bonds. Liv and Finn grow up isolated and feral, raised by their father, Ulf, a direct descendant of the Vikings. Ulf means wolf in Old Norse, and he embodies that persona with gusto. He teaches his children the old ways, determined to mold them into Vikings, strong and loyal to their tribe. Throughout their childhood, Liv and Finn love and fear their larger-than-life father in equal measure. Then, one day, they discover his deadly, predatory side, and their world shatters.
This book is meticulously researched. Viking lore and beekeeping are integral to the characters. I was schooled in both, but it never felt like school. I enjoyed how Norse mythology is woven throughout the narrative until it becomes a way of life, a code to live by. As Liv says, “What we believe affects who we become.” The stories of her childhood shape Liv’s understanding of the world, even as she tries to navigate her own moral compass as an adult.
And make no mistake, the morality here is complicated. What does it mean to love someone who is violent and does terrible things? Can you find happiness while loving a killer?
Liv and Finn can never truly escape their father’s shadow. They endure unimaginable trauma and somehow come out the other side. I loved them both so much, especially Finn. What an unforgettable character.
At the end of the novel, a narrative twist delighted and surprised me, tipping this into 5-star territory. Honestly, I’d give it more if I could.
If you’re anything like me, this is one of those novels you just can’t shake and will think about long after you finish.
COTW is a dark, lyrical tale of trauma, survival, fierce love, and familial bonds. Liv and Finn grow up isolated and feral, raised by their father, Ulf, a direct descendant of the Vikings. Ulf means wolf in Old Norse, and he embodies that persona with gusto. He teaches his children the old ways, determined to mold them into Vikings, strong and loyal to their tribe. Throughout their childhood, Liv and Finn love and fear their larger-than-life father in equal measure. Then, one day, they discover his deadly, predatory side, and their world shatters.
This book is meticulously researched. Viking lore and beekeeping are integral to the characters. I was schooled in both, but it never felt like school. I enjoyed how Norse mythology is woven throughout the narrative until it becomes a way of life, a code to live by. As Liv says, “What we believe affects who we become.” The stories of her childhood shape Liv’s understanding of the world, even as she tries to navigate her own moral compass as an adult.
And make no mistake, the morality here is complicated. What does it mean to love someone who is violent and does terrible things? Can you find happiness while loving a killer?
Liv and Finn can never truly escape their father’s shadow. They endure unimaginable trauma and somehow come out the other side. I loved them both so much, especially Finn. What an unforgettable character.
At the end of the novel, a narrative twist delighted and surprised me, tipping this into 5-star territory. Honestly, I’d give it more if I could.
If you’re anything like me, this is one of those novels you just can’t shake and will think about long after you finish.
September 10, 2026
could not look away! the wild crucible of youth!!!
August 30, 2026
Abby Geni delivers a stunning emotional narrative about trauma, survival, and family bonds in Children of the Wolf. Ulf is larger than life, a bold Swede determined to raise his children as Vikings. The relationship between Liv and her mute brother Finn is beautifully written, and the shadow of their father's past looms heavy over them as they try to live “normal” lives. Geni captures the complexity of human relationships. Children of the Wolf is a dark, lyrical, and deeply moving story that lingers with you long after you finish it.
My thanks to Abby Geni, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. Opinions are my own.
My thanks to Abby Geni, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Normally, I would classify this kind of book as not my thing. It seems as though there are tons of books (and movies) out there that I would call violence-porn - the predator often portrayed as freakish, insane or supernatural, which allows us to be titillated by the violence while excusing it as something outside of normal existence. After reading the blurb, I went into this book with some trepidation, moderated somewhat by the author’s resume and previous awards. I was surprised to find that I was riveted from the beginning and finished the book in two sessions.
What made the difference for me was the idea that there are many ways to look at the world, and once we understand this, it affects our own world view. Our protagonist, Liv, was raised in isolation with her brother and their father. The father claimed direct descendance from Erik the Red, and lived according to the Viking Warrior creed. Throughout the book, Liv, who has also adopted the Viking belief system, explains it to us as we watch her trying to make sense of the things happening around her. To me, this was absolutely fascinating, and a good reminder that the belief systems of others should not be dismissed as “folklore” or “mythology.” The gods are there to help us make sense of life and death, and for every culture and every person, the names and stories may be different but they have the same purpose.
The other thing that intrigued me in this book was the large role that bees played. In adulthood, Liv and her brother Finn are beekeepers, and the lives of the bees also informed us throughout that even non-humans have a sacred way of being. I was particularly fascinated to learn that bees do not create the hexagonal shapes that form the hive; the wax and honey do that on their own. In sacred geometry, the hexagon symbolizes balance, harmony and the union of opposing forces - the perfect metaphor for this book.
Many thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book. All opinions are my own.
What made the difference for me was the idea that there are many ways to look at the world, and once we understand this, it affects our own world view. Our protagonist, Liv, was raised in isolation with her brother and their father. The father claimed direct descendance from Erik the Red, and lived according to the Viking Warrior creed. Throughout the book, Liv, who has also adopted the Viking belief system, explains it to us as we watch her trying to make sense of the things happening around her. To me, this was absolutely fascinating, and a good reminder that the belief systems of others should not be dismissed as “folklore” or “mythology.” The gods are there to help us make sense of life and death, and for every culture and every person, the names and stories may be different but they have the same purpose.
The other thing that intrigued me in this book was the large role that bees played. In adulthood, Liv and her brother Finn are beekeepers, and the lives of the bees also informed us throughout that even non-humans have a sacred way of being. I was particularly fascinated to learn that bees do not create the hexagonal shapes that form the hive; the wax and honey do that on their own. In sacred geometry, the hexagon symbolizes balance, harmony and the union of opposing forces - the perfect metaphor for this book.
Many thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book. All opinions are my own.
October 8, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
I read a lot of mystery/thrillers, and this one felt really different from most books in the genre. There were so many interesting layers to the story.
I'm not usually interested in mythology or Viking history, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed those parts and how naturally they were woven into the story. I also really enjoyed the beekeeping and learning more about bees, especially as a gardener.
I liked slowly learning more about Liv and Finn, their unusual childhood, and how everything from their past connected to what was happening in the present. It was dark, strange, and kept me hooked.
Definitely worth the read!
I read a lot of mystery/thrillers, and this one felt really different from most books in the genre. There were so many interesting layers to the story.
I'm not usually interested in mythology or Viking history, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed those parts and how naturally they were woven into the story. I also really enjoyed the beekeeping and learning more about bees, especially as a gardener.
I liked slowly learning more about Liv and Finn, their unusual childhood, and how everything from their past connected to what was happening in the present. It was dark, strange, and kept me hooked.
Definitely worth the read!
September 17, 2026
People, DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS BOOK! I was absolutely captivated by this story. I wanted to badly to just devour it, but the nature and flow just did not allow it. It was savored and I have zero regrets.
Emersed in Viking lore and tradition, soaked in family trauma and a whole lot of emotional baggage. You will not forget this story.
Liv and Finn are the children of Ulf. They are feral and carefree, growing up under the watchful and sometimes vengeful eye of their father, who Liv fears and loves, but doesn't quite understand.
Then their whole world gets rocked and we fast forward 20 years to adulthood and the shadow of their trauma following them.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It's so dark and twisty, but also a little hopeful in its own way. I really don't want to give away a thing because this book is truly an experience!
Thank you Ballatine books for the E-ARC of Children of the Wolf, by Abby Geni via NetGalley. All opinions are mine.
Emersed in Viking lore and tradition, soaked in family trauma and a whole lot of emotional baggage. You will not forget this story.
Liv and Finn are the children of Ulf. They are feral and carefree, growing up under the watchful and sometimes vengeful eye of their father, who Liv fears and loves, but doesn't quite understand.
Then their whole world gets rocked and we fast forward 20 years to adulthood and the shadow of their trauma following them.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It's so dark and twisty, but also a little hopeful in its own way. I really don't want to give away a thing because this book is truly an experience!
Thank you Ballatine books for the E-ARC of Children of the Wolf, by Abby Geni via NetGalley. All opinions are mine.
September 7, 2026
Children of the Wolf by Abby Geni is an absolute five star read. With an extremely unique narrative voice, this is a story about humans and how we protect ourselves from trauma and rationalize the darker side of our nature.
Liv is a Viking. Well, she lives in Iowa but has been raised from birth by her seven foot tall father to be as fierce-minded as any warrior. She doesn’t recognize pain, she is able to give her brother 50+ stitches without batting an eye, and she would never lie to her father or brother. She lives an idyllic childhood, even if it is plagued with nightmares from Nordic lore.
As an adult, Liv has secrets. Lots of them. But she wouldn’t ever speak them. When she falls in love with someone who also has secrets, she has to decide which is more important. The secrets, or the love.
This novel is for anyone who loved Demon Copperhead because of how immersed you became in the story and another person’s head. This immaculately researched and crafted book has so many small details that make it feel like a story being told by Liv herself. Truly, this is not a novel to miss.
Liv is a Viking. Well, she lives in Iowa but has been raised from birth by her seven foot tall father to be as fierce-minded as any warrior. She doesn’t recognize pain, she is able to give her brother 50+ stitches without batting an eye, and she would never lie to her father or brother. She lives an idyllic childhood, even if it is plagued with nightmares from Nordic lore.
As an adult, Liv has secrets. Lots of them. But she wouldn’t ever speak them. When she falls in love with someone who also has secrets, she has to decide which is more important. The secrets, or the love.
This novel is for anyone who loved Demon Copperhead because of how immersed you became in the story and another person’s head. This immaculately researched and crafted book has so many small details that make it feel like a story being told by Liv herself. Truly, this is not a novel to miss.
August 14, 2026
Children of the Wolf by Abby Geni was a high 4-star read. It was interesting, and I loved the brother-sister relationship. It was well written and held all the intrigue of any true crime story. If you’re a true crime junky like me, you’ll like this one.
Thanks, Ballantine Books via NetGalley.
Thanks, Ballantine Books via NetGalley.
August 11, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Publishing for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!!
This one sounds so so good!!
Might be the 2nd or 3rd book I’ve read that features bees this year. More of a literary fiction than mystery. If I went in knowing this was going to be more of a literary fiction than mystery, then I think I would have enjoyed it more. I was under the impression it was going to take a different turn, but still a good read.
To think you're growing up in a household with your younger brother and father, only your father is a serial killer and you have no idea. Then fast forward, there are murders happening again replicating the past, only your father is locked up. So who is behind it?
I ended up listening to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator and pacing. I found it easy to follow along, but I will say the beginning I preferred on my kindle to keep up with the norse mythology and vikings back story (the words would have been a bit too complex for me to follow along).
“A life without love is a year without summer”
This one sounds so so good!!
Might be the 2nd or 3rd book I’ve read that features bees this year. More of a literary fiction than mystery. If I went in knowing this was going to be more of a literary fiction than mystery, then I think I would have enjoyed it more. I was under the impression it was going to take a different turn, but still a good read.
To think you're growing up in a household with your younger brother and father, only your father is a serial killer and you have no idea. Then fast forward, there are murders happening again replicating the past, only your father is locked up. So who is behind it?
I ended up listening to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator and pacing. I found it easy to follow along, but I will say the beginning I preferred on my kindle to keep up with the norse mythology and vikings back story (the words would have been a bit too complex for me to follow along).
“A life without love is a year without summer”
September 14, 2026
A story about life and death told through Norse traditions and mythology. Learning weapons and self defense against outsiders, protecting home and hearth and secrets-secrets must remain buried lest the breaker of those secrets does not fear having their tongue removed.
The Thorvaldsson’s a mighty trio led by Ulf, the father, a great beast of a man-towers over his children: Son, Finn and daughter, Liv. Every lesson learned in their Viking world is connected or attributed to their life, twenty years down the road, when Ulf’s ill begotten choices leads to his untimely incarceration.
Beekeeping: was one of the trios mainstays for income and that which is the bringer of life, also fulfills the lighter side of this tale.
Children of the Wolf is, in the beginning an enchanting tale of a tight knit family, raised on beliefs of heritage-yet there is darkness on the horizon with assaults and serial murder.
Followed by new hopes, new life, new bees, only to swing back when death and dying, re-enter the picture.
Will Finn die in “battle”? See Valhalla?
And will Liv, having to carry on the family traditions as a solo act?
Truly the most unique suspense thriller that I’ve read to date.
Thanks to Ballantine Books for this experience!
The Thorvaldsson’s a mighty trio led by Ulf, the father, a great beast of a man-towers over his children: Son, Finn and daughter, Liv. Every lesson learned in their Viking world is connected or attributed to their life, twenty years down the road, when Ulf’s ill begotten choices leads to his untimely incarceration.
Beekeeping: was one of the trios mainstays for income and that which is the bringer of life, also fulfills the lighter side of this tale.
Children of the Wolf is, in the beginning an enchanting tale of a tight knit family, raised on beliefs of heritage-yet there is darkness on the horizon with assaults and serial murder.
Followed by new hopes, new life, new bees, only to swing back when death and dying, re-enter the picture.
Will Finn die in “battle”? See Valhalla?
And will Liv, having to carry on the family traditions as a solo act?
Truly the most unique suspense thriller that I’ve read to date.
Thanks to Ballantine Books for this experience!
September 26, 2026
I was absolutely stunned by this. The plot reads thriller, and this is sort of a thriller and/or mystery, but it's also a gorgeous exploration of trauma and family and survival. No matter the genre, this was a deeply impactful read.
Liv grows up isolated from the rest of the world with only her brother Finn and mercurial Pappa as company. Pappa comes from a long line of Viking warriors, and he takes that ancestry very seriously: they mostly speak Swedish in the house, follow Viking customs to the letter, and practice swordsmanship and archery. Liv knows nothing else and doesn't find her life strange, until she is 14 years old and her father is taken away in an FBI raid. Years later, Liv and Finn live a quiet existence in a rural town. Liv thinks they’ve left their past behind, but then men start disappearing in their new town. Their father is in prison, but could it be him? Or is Liv losing her mind? Or something worse?
In some ways this book reminded me of Educated, which left a profound and lasting impression on me. Liv is isolated just like the protagonist in Educated, and she experiences events she can't make sense of while also feeling a bliss and comfort in her childhood that feels incongruous and fragile. This book is definitely salacious and at some points seems designed to stun, but I was most enraptured by the way Liv and Finn tried to move on after experiencing so much trauma. Liv realizes they had different childhoods, and the older she gets, the more she remembers, which is devastating and a really powerful exploration of how our brains try to protect us. She really wrestles with the father she knew versus the father she didn't, and that divide in her brain is magnified when things start happening that bring up everything she's tried to forget. Her inner voice is really strong and captivating, and the plot didn't go anywhere I thought I would even when it seemed like we had gotten all the reveals. This book will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Liv grows up isolated from the rest of the world with only her brother Finn and mercurial Pappa as company. Pappa comes from a long line of Viking warriors, and he takes that ancestry very seriously: they mostly speak Swedish in the house, follow Viking customs to the letter, and practice swordsmanship and archery. Liv knows nothing else and doesn't find her life strange, until she is 14 years old and her father is taken away in an FBI raid. Years later, Liv and Finn live a quiet existence in a rural town. Liv thinks they’ve left their past behind, but then men start disappearing in their new town. Their father is in prison, but could it be him? Or is Liv losing her mind? Or something worse?
In some ways this book reminded me of Educated, which left a profound and lasting impression on me. Liv is isolated just like the protagonist in Educated, and she experiences events she can't make sense of while also feeling a bliss and comfort in her childhood that feels incongruous and fragile. This book is definitely salacious and at some points seems designed to stun, but I was most enraptured by the way Liv and Finn tried to move on after experiencing so much trauma. Liv realizes they had different childhoods, and the older she gets, the more she remembers, which is devastating and a really powerful exploration of how our brains try to protect us. She really wrestles with the father she knew versus the father she didn't, and that divide in her brain is magnified when things start happening that bring up everything she's tried to forget. Her inner voice is really strong and captivating, and the plot didn't go anywhere I thought I would even when it seemed like we had gotten all the reveals. This book will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
September 17, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I did not think I was going to like it when it started but I found the characters interesting. I also loved learning more about Viking culture and Norse mythology as well as beekeeping. This was a great mix of character development, plot and informative and entertaining text. It was also well written and paced so that it was a quick and entertaining read!
October 3, 2026
I…hmm.
I liked about the first 2/3-3/4 of this book. I thought I knew which way it was going to go, but then it got further and further away from that place, and I thought “oh boy if we don’t start getting where I think this is going soon, this is really going to suck.” But it went to a completely different place than I expected. And yet…I’m not sure I liked where it actually went.
Hmmm, I say. HMMMM.
I liked about the first 2/3-3/4 of this book. I thought I knew which way it was going to go, but then it got further and further away from that place, and I thought “oh boy if we don’t start getting where I think this is going soon, this is really going to suck.” But it went to a completely different place than I expected. And yet…I’m not sure I liked where it actually went.
Hmmm, I say. HMMMM.
October 14, 2026
Pros and cons for this one for me. It was written in a style that made me want to keep reading. It moved right along and had a premise and setting that were unique. I just couldn't get past the ending though. I'm sure many people will like it, but it just left me feeling unsettled and unsatisfied.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.
October 7, 2026
I appreciate what the author was trying to achieve by adding in the Viking mythology/history. And as a bee keeper, I also appreciate what she was trying to achieve by adding in all the bee facts. Unfortunately, I think wayyy too much of both were added, to a point where it took away from the plot and just felt like fillers. It left something to desire for the pace of the story. I just felt myself getting bored.
August 17, 2026
Children of the Wolf was such a unique read, and one that I appreciated more the longer I sat with it after finishing.
I was immediately drawn into the opening, which explores the main character’s isolated childhood being raised by a serial killer. Some of my favorite parts of the book were actually the relationships and quieter details surrounding that story—especially the bond between Finn and Liv and the life they build together afterward. The recurring imagery of beekeeping and “telling the bees” was beautiful, and I loved the way it connected different parts of the story and eventually brought it full circle.
I also really enjoyed the Nordic references and Viking lore woven throughout. Beyond adding atmosphere, they create some interesting parallels between characters and ideas about warriors, violence, loyalty, and love.
The mystery itself was a little less successful for me. I figured out one of the major reveals pretty early, so I never really experienced the shock I think that part of the story was capable of delivering. And I’ll admit—I was angry about a choice made by Liv toward the end. After watching these characters survive violence and build something peaceful in its aftermath, I desperately wanted something different for them.
But the more I thought about it, the more I had to give the book credit for that reaction. I may not have liked the choice, but I understood it. The story had carefully laid the groundwork for it through the main character’s childhood, her understanding of love and loyalty, and the relationships she watched growing up. Once she visits her father in prison, you do begin to understand the complexity of her feelings and how she arrives at her decision.
Ultimately, this was less about being surprised by a twist for me and more about the uncomfortable questions it asks about what we inherit from the people who raise us—especially our ideas about love, violence, loyalty, and what we’re willing to accept from the people we love. I really enjoyed the wrap up tying in the bees, which were a constant thread throughout the book.
Dark, strange, thoughtful, and unlike anything I’ve read recently. And any book that can make me this mad at a character while still making me appreciate exactly how we got there deserves a lot of credit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Children of the Wolf is one of those novels that feels like an elaborate tapestry—thousands of dazzling threads woven together so expertly that the final piece is far more impressive than any individual element would suggest. I loved how many different ideas Geni manages to bring together here without making the novel feel overloaded.
The Norse mythology was probably my favorite element. Geni doesn't treat it as an exotic bit of window dressing or simply as the family's religion. Instead, it becomes a way of understanding the world and the passage of time. The stories from the Norse Eddas that Ulf tells his children become part of the way Liv understands her own history, and the mythology is woven so naturally into the novel that it never feels like an interruption.
I also loved the novel's structure, which draws on the three Norns: Urd, representing the past; Verdandi, representing the present; and Skuld, representing the future. The novel follows that same progression, and it works beautifully. The structure reinforces the book's larger questions about fate, inheritance, and whether we can ever really escape what has already happened.
The story of Ragnarök particularly stuck with me. It's presented almost like a fairy tale about the end of the world, but I found myself wondering whether ancient stories like this might contain distorted memories of actual catastrophes. That's an idea I've been fascinated by since reading Lily Brooks-Dalton's Ruins, so naturally this part of the novel sent me down exactly the kind of rabbit hole I love.
As a fellow beekeeper-wannabe who has written a novel with a beekeeper protagonist, I also loved the bees. They are important to the story without taking it over, and I had one particularly satisfying "Ha! I knew it!" moment near the end because of all the ridiculous amounts of beekeeping research I've done for my own writing.
But what really makes the novel work is its treatment of Ulf. Geni creates a character who is genuinely monstrous while also making it possible to understand why his children loved him. I found myself experiencing that uncomfortable sense of relief when I learned that, despite everything he had done, he still had certain lines he wouldn't cross. It's disturbing how quickly that can turn into a kind of forgiveness—or at least something uncomfortably close to it. Geni uses that moral complexity extremely well.
And this is also one of those rare novels that proves the point I am always making about literary fiction: literary doesn't have to mean difficult to read. There is a tremendous amount here for a reader who wants to dig into the mythology, structure, fate, generational trauma, and questions about inherited identity, but someone who simply wants to be entertained can enjoy the mystery without having to fight through unnecessarily opaque prose. Geni manages to provide both experiences, and she brings all those complicated threads together in an ending that felt almost inevitable without being predictable.
I really enjoyed this one!
You can read my full literary analysis on my website at: https://writeontheworld.com/2026/08/2...
An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Norse mythology was probably my favorite element. Geni doesn't treat it as an exotic bit of window dressing or simply as the family's religion. Instead, it becomes a way of understanding the world and the passage of time. The stories from the Norse Eddas that Ulf tells his children become part of the way Liv understands her own history, and the mythology is woven so naturally into the novel that it never feels like an interruption.
I also loved the novel's structure, which draws on the three Norns: Urd, representing the past; Verdandi, representing the present; and Skuld, representing the future. The novel follows that same progression, and it works beautifully. The structure reinforces the book's larger questions about fate, inheritance, and whether we can ever really escape what has already happened.
The story of Ragnarök particularly stuck with me. It's presented almost like a fairy tale about the end of the world, but I found myself wondering whether ancient stories like this might contain distorted memories of actual catastrophes. That's an idea I've been fascinated by since reading Lily Brooks-Dalton's Ruins, so naturally this part of the novel sent me down exactly the kind of rabbit hole I love.
As a fellow beekeeper-wannabe who has written a novel with a beekeeper protagonist, I also loved the bees. They are important to the story without taking it over, and I had one particularly satisfying "Ha! I knew it!" moment near the end because of all the ridiculous amounts of beekeeping research I've done for my own writing.
But what really makes the novel work is its treatment of Ulf. Geni creates a character who is genuinely monstrous while also making it possible to understand why his children loved him. I found myself experiencing that uncomfortable sense of relief when I learned that, despite everything he had done, he still had certain lines he wouldn't cross. It's disturbing how quickly that can turn into a kind of forgiveness—or at least something uncomfortably close to it. Geni uses that moral complexity extremely well.
And this is also one of those rare novels that proves the point I am always making about literary fiction: literary doesn't have to mean difficult to read. There is a tremendous amount here for a reader who wants to dig into the mythology, structure, fate, generational trauma, and questions about inherited identity, but someone who simply wants to be entertained can enjoy the mystery without having to fight through unnecessarily opaque prose. Geni manages to provide both experiences, and she brings all those complicated threads together in an ending that felt almost inevitable without being predictable.
I really enjoyed this one!
You can read my full literary analysis on my website at: https://writeontheworld.com/2026/08/2...
An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2026
Children of the Wolf was an interesting blend of mystery, family history, Vikings, and beekeeping, and I definitely learned a lot while reading it. The details about Viking culture and mythology were fascinating, but I was equally surprised by how much I enjoyed the beekeeping elements. Those parts added something unique to the story and gave me a lot of information I didn’t expect to take away from the book.
I did struggle a bit with the structure, though. The way the story unfolded sometimes made it difficult for me to stay fully invested, and I found myself frustrated with the pacing and organization of the narrative. There were definitely moments that pulled me in, but the overall structure kept this from being a higher rating for me.
Still, I appreciated the unusual premise and the combination of subjects I don’t often encounter together in a mystery. If you’re interested in Viking history, Norse traditions, or beekeeping, there’s plenty here to discover.
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did struggle a bit with the structure, though. The way the story unfolded sometimes made it difficult for me to stay fully invested, and I found myself frustrated with the pacing and organization of the narrative. There were definitely moments that pulled me in, but the overall structure kept this from being a higher rating for me.
Still, I appreciated the unusual premise and the combination of subjects I don’t often encounter together in a mystery. If you’re interested in Viking history, Norse traditions, or beekeeping, there’s plenty here to discover.
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for accepting my request to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While Children of the Wolf didn't necessarily have me completely enthralled or sitting on the edge of my seat, it did something that I don't see nearly often enough when it comes to the way female characters are written, especially when they are written as the non-traditional female. This novel actually took the time to explore who they are as people. As in to know who they are deep down to their core, to delve into their beliefs and write them so that they don't do something that seems completely out of character (pun intended). Abby Geni does just that, and that depth holds throughout the entire book. They feel like real people with complicated emotions, motivations, and relationships rather than simply existing to move the plot forward. That character work was one of my favorite parts of the story. There were moments where some of the story felt a little obvious, but I also think the book is very much self-aware about that. As readers, we're going to pick up on hints that the character living through the story don't necessarily notice. And honestly, that made me think a little beyond the story itself.
Yes, we're going to sit there and wonder how the characters didn't see the obvious clue right in front of them. But then you have to ask yourself: how many hints have you missed in your own life because you were simply too close to the situation to recognize them?
One of the things that stood out to me most was the portrayal of the serial killer father. Geni manages to humanize him without turning him into the typical fictional "sympathetic serial killer." There isn't some virtuous code of killing (or at least what most people would call virtuous anyways) or "Dexter-esque" justification that makes him easier to digest. He's still a bloodthirsty serial killer at his core, but he is also a person with a wealth of history that exists beyond the serial killer label. The book allows him to be more than JUST a serial killer, and I found that really interesting. It's something you don't see explored quite this way very often. That also ties into what I found to be one of the most interesting aspects of the book: It's exploration of love and why certain people might find themselves drawn to a particular type of person… yes… even a serial killer.
Anyone interested in true crime has probably heard, or even asked, the question, "How could someone love a serial killer?" Children of the Wolf offers one potential answer to that question. I appreciated that it doesn't treat attraction to a serial killer as something that can simply be explained away by psychopathy or some other convenient label.
The book also explores the different motivations behind serial killing, rather than treating it as a behavior that can ONLY come from one specific type of person. Here we get to see those views, Albeit they are the standard serial killer who has justification (aka the Dexter style) and a serial killer who is simply your bog standard "doin it for the love of the game" type of serial killer. As someone with a degree in criminology, I particularly appreciated that aspect… although I'm sure that might just be a bit of my own personal bias rearing its head here lol. I also found how religion played such a massive part in how some of these characters developed as people. That the paths that we all walk are different even if we are all following the same belief system or even life style, etc. That there is no one size fits all when it comes to people.
Ultimately, this wasn't a book that had me desperately turning pages to find out what happened next. But I don't think that was necessarily its greatest strength. The character work and psychological exploration were what kept me interested. The characters are incredibly well written (Literally, can't say this enough), and Geni takes some fascinating perspectives on love, identity, and the ways people can become attached to individuals who are objectively dangerous.
So, would I recommend it? Honestly? Yeah, I would. Children of the Wolf is a thoughtful psychological thriller with some really interesting ideas at its core, and I think fans of the genre will find plenty to appreciate here.
While Children of the Wolf didn't necessarily have me completely enthralled or sitting on the edge of my seat, it did something that I don't see nearly often enough when it comes to the way female characters are written, especially when they are written as the non-traditional female. This novel actually took the time to explore who they are as people. As in to know who they are deep down to their core, to delve into their beliefs and write them so that they don't do something that seems completely out of character (pun intended). Abby Geni does just that, and that depth holds throughout the entire book. They feel like real people with complicated emotions, motivations, and relationships rather than simply existing to move the plot forward. That character work was one of my favorite parts of the story. There were moments where some of the story felt a little obvious, but I also think the book is very much self-aware about that. As readers, we're going to pick up on hints that the character living through the story don't necessarily notice. And honestly, that made me think a little beyond the story itself.
Yes, we're going to sit there and wonder how the characters didn't see the obvious clue right in front of them. But then you have to ask yourself: how many hints have you missed in your own life because you were simply too close to the situation to recognize them?
One of the things that stood out to me most was the portrayal of the serial killer father. Geni manages to humanize him without turning him into the typical fictional "sympathetic serial killer." There isn't some virtuous code of killing (or at least what most people would call virtuous anyways) or "Dexter-esque" justification that makes him easier to digest. He's still a bloodthirsty serial killer at his core, but he is also a person with a wealth of history that exists beyond the serial killer label. The book allows him to be more than JUST a serial killer, and I found that really interesting. It's something you don't see explored quite this way very often. That also ties into what I found to be one of the most interesting aspects of the book: It's exploration of love and why certain people might find themselves drawn to a particular type of person… yes… even a serial killer.
Anyone interested in true crime has probably heard, or even asked, the question, "How could someone love a serial killer?" Children of the Wolf offers one potential answer to that question. I appreciated that it doesn't treat attraction to a serial killer as something that can simply be explained away by psychopathy or some other convenient label.
The book also explores the different motivations behind serial killing, rather than treating it as a behavior that can ONLY come from one specific type of person. Here we get to see those views, Albeit they are the standard serial killer who has justification (aka the Dexter style) and a serial killer who is simply your bog standard "doin it for the love of the game" type of serial killer. As someone with a degree in criminology, I particularly appreciated that aspect… although I'm sure that might just be a bit of my own personal bias rearing its head here lol. I also found how religion played such a massive part in how some of these characters developed as people. That the paths that we all walk are different even if we are all following the same belief system or even life style, etc. That there is no one size fits all when it comes to people.
Ultimately, this wasn't a book that had me desperately turning pages to find out what happened next. But I don't think that was necessarily its greatest strength. The character work and psychological exploration were what kept me interested. The characters are incredibly well written (Literally, can't say this enough), and Geni takes some fascinating perspectives on love, identity, and the ways people can become attached to individuals who are objectively dangerous.
So, would I recommend it? Honestly? Yeah, I would. Children of the Wolf is a thoughtful psychological thriller with some really interesting ideas at its core, and I think fans of the genre will find plenty to appreciate here.
September 16, 2026
I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I started reading Children of the Wolf by author Abby Geni, but I was immediately captivated. The pace was sometimes fast and at other times excruciatingly slow when building suspense, but whatever the pace the story was immersive; I could not turn away.
Children of the Wolf begins with the narrator telling her story: “Seven months ago, I watched the sky darken with bees . . . six months ago, I fell in love for the first time in my life . . . five months ago, the local farmers’ market began its spring season . . . four months ago, the river rose beyond its banks . . . three months ago, I celebrated my birthday for the first time in more than thirty years of life . . . two months ago, I placed a phone call to an agent of the FBI . . . and one month ago, there was a murder.” Intriguing, whetting your appetite for details? Yes, definitely yes, but no matter how you try to parse these sentences, these events, this timeline, you have no idea what is coming. None whatsoever.
From those enticing little blurbs, Liv tells us what once was. Liv and older brother Finn are motherless; their mother died because “she was weak.” They are being raised by their father Ulf Thorvaldsson, Swedish-born and a direct descendant of the infamous Erik the Red. This section of the book is compelling, like a combined history and science lesson as well as a story of finely drawn, nuanced people living a life most of us could not imagine. Ulf may as well actually be Erik the Red because he is raising his children as if they are Vikings: they are homeschooled, speak only Swedish, learn swordplay and archery, celebrate the Norse holidays, and worship the old gods with blood sacrifices. Through Liv’s informative, detailed description of her early life we learn about Viking customs, traditions and culture. It’s unreal – they are in a small town in Iowa but very much removed from everyday contemporary life. Author Geni also provides a look into bees and beekeeping and provides so many interesting facts about the life of the bees and what it means to this family. It’s a harsh life. It’s as if their father is two people, always aggressive and abrupt, brutal, never cuddly or affectionate but he is teaching them the ways of old as a father who wants to protect them and who wants them to be prepared for life and some days is just their Papa. Sometimes, though, he’s terrifying, goes away for a day or two and when he returns and goes to the basement they know better than to pry or interrupt. But then they always know what behavior is acceptable and what isn’t. When their lives are forever changed when Liv is thirteen you’ve maybe had a little clue about some of what was coming, but I guarantee more than one scene will have you gulping with amazement.
Liv then transitions to what is coming into being: present day, twenty years after their father left and never returned. She and Finn making a home together in rural Michigan, still living the Viking way, raising bees, going to the local farmers’ market, having very little contact with the outside world.
And then again life changes and Liv tells us what shall be. There has been a murder which gets Liv to thinking about the past and current events and how she feels about them. How she feels about the few people in her life. Again, so much will happen that you will never see coming. But the past never fully remains in the past, we are shaped by everything that touches us, maybe the most by our early lives and those things our parents teach us. Her father may have seemed like two different people, but aren’t we all like that to an extent, with the face we present to the world and what we keep hidden?
I received an advance copy of Children of the Wolf from Ballantine Books Penguin Random House via NetGalley. It’s intense, the emotion raw, the danger and drama real. The writing is strong, and while the plot goes in many directions it’s clear and to the point. The setting - both in Iowa and Michigan – is captivating and frightening at the same time, and author Geni has the extraordinary ability to put you in a scene so the real world falls away and you are just in the story. It was interesting, satisfying and disturbing. I recommend it without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.
Children of the Wolf begins with the narrator telling her story: “Seven months ago, I watched the sky darken with bees . . . six months ago, I fell in love for the first time in my life . . . five months ago, the local farmers’ market began its spring season . . . four months ago, the river rose beyond its banks . . . three months ago, I celebrated my birthday for the first time in more than thirty years of life . . . two months ago, I placed a phone call to an agent of the FBI . . . and one month ago, there was a murder.” Intriguing, whetting your appetite for details? Yes, definitely yes, but no matter how you try to parse these sentences, these events, this timeline, you have no idea what is coming. None whatsoever.
From those enticing little blurbs, Liv tells us what once was. Liv and older brother Finn are motherless; their mother died because “she was weak.” They are being raised by their father Ulf Thorvaldsson, Swedish-born and a direct descendant of the infamous Erik the Red. This section of the book is compelling, like a combined history and science lesson as well as a story of finely drawn, nuanced people living a life most of us could not imagine. Ulf may as well actually be Erik the Red because he is raising his children as if they are Vikings: they are homeschooled, speak only Swedish, learn swordplay and archery, celebrate the Norse holidays, and worship the old gods with blood sacrifices. Through Liv’s informative, detailed description of her early life we learn about Viking customs, traditions and culture. It’s unreal – they are in a small town in Iowa but very much removed from everyday contemporary life. Author Geni also provides a look into bees and beekeeping and provides so many interesting facts about the life of the bees and what it means to this family. It’s a harsh life. It’s as if their father is two people, always aggressive and abrupt, brutal, never cuddly or affectionate but he is teaching them the ways of old as a father who wants to protect them and who wants them to be prepared for life and some days is just their Papa. Sometimes, though, he’s terrifying, goes away for a day or two and when he returns and goes to the basement they know better than to pry or interrupt. But then they always know what behavior is acceptable and what isn’t. When their lives are forever changed when Liv is thirteen you’ve maybe had a little clue about some of what was coming, but I guarantee more than one scene will have you gulping with amazement.
Liv then transitions to what is coming into being: present day, twenty years after their father left and never returned. She and Finn making a home together in rural Michigan, still living the Viking way, raising bees, going to the local farmers’ market, having very little contact with the outside world.
And then again life changes and Liv tells us what shall be. There has been a murder which gets Liv to thinking about the past and current events and how she feels about them. How she feels about the few people in her life. Again, so much will happen that you will never see coming. But the past never fully remains in the past, we are shaped by everything that touches us, maybe the most by our early lives and those things our parents teach us. Her father may have seemed like two different people, but aren’t we all like that to an extent, with the face we present to the world and what we keep hidden?
I received an advance copy of Children of the Wolf from Ballantine Books Penguin Random House via NetGalley. It’s intense, the emotion raw, the danger and drama real. The writing is strong, and while the plot goes in many directions it’s clear and to the point. The setting - both in Iowa and Michigan – is captivating and frightening at the same time, and author Geni has the extraordinary ability to put you in a scene so the real world falls away and you are just in the story. It was interesting, satisfying and disturbing. I recommend it without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I enjoyed Ms Geni's other novels immensely and recommended them to friends. “Children of the Wolf” disappointed me. Not enough to keep me from finishing it, but less than satisfied.
The first chapters of the book set a noteworthy scene. A father and his two children living in rural Iowa. Mom apparently passed away some time ago. The land they inhabit is not a Fram but a compound protected by razor-sharp barbed-wire, bear traps, and broken glass. They are not off-grid or prepper types; no, they are Vikings. In fact, theyre descendants of Erik the Red. Dad’s name is Ulf Thorvaldsson. The children are Finn, a boy, and a girl named Liv, who is the book’s narrator. They eat as Vikings did, pray as they did, had Viking values, especially loyalty to the tribe ("only other Vikings could be trusted"). They worship as the Vikings did, marking their holidays “with blood, as the gods demanded." Finn began learning how to use Viking weapons at a very young age. Liv, a mere girl-chid, was given "a slender six-inch knife named Vargbett: Wolf's Bite." A lesser weapon, but Pappa did teach her how to use it in self-defense.
The story Liv tells is filled with Viking mythology: Odin the Allfather, Thor, Loki, Jörmungandr the World Serpent, the Nine Realms, Yggdrasil the tree that connects them all, Ragnörok, the Norse apocalypse. It's all much, much darker in every conceivable way than what Marvel movies or Neil Gaiman would have us think.
Little House on the Prairie this ain’t.
This was the only life the children knew (although, oddly, they had a TV set and a VCR). They occasionally went into town for groceries and, for the kids, visits to the library, but Pappa always finds these excursions infuriating: “he did not want to be noticed, yet he could not help but stand out among the small, soft locals.”
Well, yeah: Dad is seven feet tall, we are told — though that might not be quite accurate — "wore his hair and beard long, usually in intricate braids" and had a fierce and cruel temper. He has “a strange passion for burying dead animals around [the] property." Large graves, bigger than one would expect given the size of the animal in question. He often works in the basement that the children are absolutely barred from entering.
You see where this is heading. Pappa’s work, whatever it is, follows a pattern: a phone call, an absence, and then the cellar.
“America was so different from our Viking enclave, Liv tells us, “that each world seemed to render the other impossible. Was reality made of swaying grasses and rocky ills, or was it made of buildings and vehicles?… Was Pappa our own familiar father, or was he a glowering behemoth who made every other adult look small?”
This entire alternative world comes violently crashing down, of course, and we pick up the story years later. The children, adults now, are living in the real world. They interact with other people, mostly by selling the honey they collect from their bees, but in a reserved and secretive way. No one knows anything about their past. As for 7 foot tall father, he's elsewhere.
As for the plot -- there's a lot of it. I'm reluctant to say much about it -- spoilers, you know -- but here's a subtle hint from the very first words in the book: "I have always hated the word murder. It sounds like the end of a human life. Listen to the temp of rhyming syllables, then consider the pause that follows. One final use of the heart -- then silence." (Well, yes, "murder" sounds like the end of life because that's exactly what it is. But maybe Geni is suggesting something about the narrator with this language.)
The bulk of the novel focuses on the relationship Liv and Finn have formed and how they fit into the community. Liv falls in love, Finn bonds with dogs, men go missing. And in time, Pappa comes back into their lives.
As I said, I found "Children of the Wolf" engaging enough to finish, but it felt flawed, contrived. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention well enough or I simply missed the point. But it left me cold and kind of glad when it was done. The many long, into-the-weeds set pieces about bee behavior and biology, and how bee societies mirror human societies in some ways but are vastly superior in others (a pretty low bar, it seems to me) were interesting for a while but became wearisome.
I found "Children of the Wolf" satisfactory enough to earn three stars. Abby Geni is too good a writer to produce anything less. But that's just me. Other GR reviews are more favorable.
Thanks too Ballantine Books/Random House and Edelweis+ for providing a digital ARC in return for an honest review.
The first chapters of the book set a noteworthy scene. A father and his two children living in rural Iowa. Mom apparently passed away some time ago. The land they inhabit is not a Fram but a compound protected by razor-sharp barbed-wire, bear traps, and broken glass. They are not off-grid or prepper types; no, they are Vikings. In fact, theyre descendants of Erik the Red. Dad’s name is Ulf Thorvaldsson. The children are Finn, a boy, and a girl named Liv, who is the book’s narrator. They eat as Vikings did, pray as they did, had Viking values, especially loyalty to the tribe ("only other Vikings could be trusted"). They worship as the Vikings did, marking their holidays “with blood, as the gods demanded." Finn began learning how to use Viking weapons at a very young age. Liv, a mere girl-chid, was given "a slender six-inch knife named Vargbett: Wolf's Bite." A lesser weapon, but Pappa did teach her how to use it in self-defense.
The story Liv tells is filled with Viking mythology: Odin the Allfather, Thor, Loki, Jörmungandr the World Serpent, the Nine Realms, Yggdrasil the tree that connects them all, Ragnörok, the Norse apocalypse. It's all much, much darker in every conceivable way than what Marvel movies or Neil Gaiman would have us think.
Little House on the Prairie this ain’t.
This was the only life the children knew (although, oddly, they had a TV set and a VCR). They occasionally went into town for groceries and, for the kids, visits to the library, but Pappa always finds these excursions infuriating: “he did not want to be noticed, yet he could not help but stand out among the small, soft locals.”
Well, yeah: Dad is seven feet tall, we are told — though that might not be quite accurate — "wore his hair and beard long, usually in intricate braids" and had a fierce and cruel temper. He has “a strange passion for burying dead animals around [the] property." Large graves, bigger than one would expect given the size of the animal in question. He often works in the basement that the children are absolutely barred from entering.
You see where this is heading. Pappa’s work, whatever it is, follows a pattern: a phone call, an absence, and then the cellar.
“America was so different from our Viking enclave, Liv tells us, “that each world seemed to render the other impossible. Was reality made of swaying grasses and rocky ills, or was it made of buildings and vehicles?… Was Pappa our own familiar father, or was he a glowering behemoth who made every other adult look small?”
This entire alternative world comes violently crashing down, of course, and we pick up the story years later. The children, adults now, are living in the real world. They interact with other people, mostly by selling the honey they collect from their bees, but in a reserved and secretive way. No one knows anything about their past. As for 7 foot tall father, he's elsewhere.
As for the plot -- there's a lot of it. I'm reluctant to say much about it -- spoilers, you know -- but here's a subtle hint from the very first words in the book: "I have always hated the word murder. It sounds like the end of a human life. Listen to the temp of rhyming syllables, then consider the pause that follows. One final use of the heart -- then silence." (Well, yes, "murder" sounds like the end of life because that's exactly what it is. But maybe Geni is suggesting something about the narrator with this language.)
The bulk of the novel focuses on the relationship Liv and Finn have formed and how they fit into the community. Liv falls in love, Finn bonds with dogs, men go missing. And in time, Pappa comes back into their lives.
As I said, I found "Children of the Wolf" engaging enough to finish, but it felt flawed, contrived. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention well enough or I simply missed the point. But it left me cold and kind of glad when it was done. The many long, into-the-weeds set pieces about bee behavior and biology, and how bee societies mirror human societies in some ways but are vastly superior in others (a pretty low bar, it seems to me) were interesting for a while but became wearisome.
I found "Children of the Wolf" satisfactory enough to earn three stars. Abby Geni is too good a writer to produce anything less. But that's just me. Other GR reviews are more favorable.
Thanks too Ballantine Books/Random House and Edelweis+ for providing a digital ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Ballantine Books (Taylor) and NetGalley for an ARC of the novel.
When I read the short description of Abby Geni's Children of the Wolf in the email from Ballantine Books, in my mind I imagined a novel concerned with familial violence and its aftermath on those who survived. And the description in Goodreads where the main character has to make a choice to "solve--and stop--the same kind of violence she always hoped to escape" also added to my mental image of the novel as a story where a regular person has to solve some mystery the police or others have been unable to crack. It all sounded somewhat familiar, but the elements of Viking heritage and the prospect of a mystery novel (which I haven't read in a long while) were enough to make me give Children of the Wolf a read.
My preconceptions as I read had me waiting for those familiar moments in a mystery novel: the crime happens, the slow reveal of clues, the list of possible perpetrators. And there are definite moments when the narrator, Liv, tells the story in such a way as to meet those expectations. Murder is the seventh word in the novel! Yet as I kept reading I realized that Children of the Wolf was not conforming to what I was expecting of a mystery novel. Yes, there is a murder and we follow Liv as she tries to figure out who the murderer is. But the novel evolved into something else, something beyond the mystery at its heart. For me, it turns out the novel is a love story, or, more correctly, a story about love and its capabilities.
Children of the Wolf is definitely "unsettling" as the email from the publisher stated, and a story that "lingers" for sure. But it isn't for the violence that occurs in the novel; it's for the idea that love has a place, and maybe even a purpose, within a world of violence. Even now, as I write this review, I'm torn between whether I agree with Liv and her actions or whether I think she is completely mad. In the novel, I find her actions completely justifiable. Abby Geni does a great job at allowing us to see the world through the eyes of someone whose perspective and perceptions come from a world completely foreign to ours. But once I put the novel down and I look out the window at the real world, I'm not so sure I would want to live in the same town as Liv. It's that unease that I think makes Children of the Wolf a much deeper novel than the description suggests. This would be a great book club novel because its fundamental premise would be a fantastic topic for debate.
Fundamentally, Children of the Wolf is a meditation on family and inheritance, on the power of stories to enlighten and even protect us, and on love and its power to bind us together despite our natures. It is an intriguing novel about violence and justice, and one that will make you pause and think about how much you can love another person.
When I read the short description of Abby Geni's Children of the Wolf in the email from Ballantine Books, in my mind I imagined a novel concerned with familial violence and its aftermath on those who survived. And the description in Goodreads where the main character has to make a choice to "solve--and stop--the same kind of violence she always hoped to escape" also added to my mental image of the novel as a story where a regular person has to solve some mystery the police or others have been unable to crack. It all sounded somewhat familiar, but the elements of Viking heritage and the prospect of a mystery novel (which I haven't read in a long while) were enough to make me give Children of the Wolf a read.
My preconceptions as I read had me waiting for those familiar moments in a mystery novel: the crime happens, the slow reveal of clues, the list of possible perpetrators. And there are definite moments when the narrator, Liv, tells the story in such a way as to meet those expectations. Murder is the seventh word in the novel! Yet as I kept reading I realized that Children of the Wolf was not conforming to what I was expecting of a mystery novel. Yes, there is a murder and we follow Liv as she tries to figure out who the murderer is. But the novel evolved into something else, something beyond the mystery at its heart. For me, it turns out the novel is a love story, or, more correctly, a story about love and its capabilities.
Children of the Wolf is definitely "unsettling" as the email from the publisher stated, and a story that "lingers" for sure. But it isn't for the violence that occurs in the novel; it's for the idea that love has a place, and maybe even a purpose, within a world of violence. Even now, as I write this review, I'm torn between whether I agree with Liv and her actions or whether I think she is completely mad. In the novel, I find her actions completely justifiable. Abby Geni does a great job at allowing us to see the world through the eyes of someone whose perspective and perceptions come from a world completely foreign to ours. But once I put the novel down and I look out the window at the real world, I'm not so sure I would want to live in the same town as Liv. It's that unease that I think makes Children of the Wolf a much deeper novel than the description suggests. This would be a great book club novel because its fundamental premise would be a fantastic topic for debate.
Fundamentally, Children of the Wolf is a meditation on family and inheritance, on the power of stories to enlighten and even protect us, and on love and its power to bind us together despite our natures. It is an intriguing novel about violence and justice, and one that will make you pause and think about how much you can love another person.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Children of the Wolf by Abby Geni from Ballantine Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 2 ⭐
This wasn’t by any means a bad book, and the stuff about Viking/Norse history and mythology was interesting.
But overall it just felt like a combo of meh and unbelievable.
Based on some stuff I’ve read, I think I might like this author’s book The Lightkeepers more than I did this one, so this is a note to Future Kristi to give Abby Geni another chance.
DESCRIPTION
“A riveting mystery entwined with the rich story of a woman coming into her own while battling the wildest of demons. Whip-smart, unique, and chilling—I loved it.”—GILLIAN FLYNN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl
A woman notices a pattern of men disappearing in her small town, reawakening memories of her childhood raised by a father obsessed with his violent Viking heritage.
As an adult, Liv leads a quiet life, tending to the beekeeping business that supports her and her brother. But when a dead body is discovered in her town, she is forced to grapple with a legacy of violence from when she was small.
As a child, she shared a home in rural Iowa with her brother Finn and their father Ulf. Swedish-born Ulf, a direct descendant of the infamous Erik the Red, raises his children as if they are Vikings. They are homeschooled, speak only Swedish, learn swordplay and archery, celebrate the Norse holidays, and worship the old gods with blood sacrifices.
But when Liv is fourteen, her family’s sanctum is broken apart by an FBI raid. Separated from their father, Liv and Finn must learn to adapt to normal life.
Now, twenty years later, Liv and Finn have changed their last names and moved to Haven, Michigan. Through her work as a beekeeper, Liv meets Penny, a secretive, unusual, beguiling woman. Just as her life is beginning to open up in new ways, Liv notices a strange and upsetting pattern in the area around Haven: men are disappearing. As she tallies up the missing, she senses disturbing similarities to her own father’s crimes.
While she's thrown back into the uncertainty she felt after Ulf's arrest, Liv, struggling to hold on to what she knows to be true, must decide how to proceed: whether to involve Finn and Penny in her suspicions, leave the whole matter alone, or take action to solve—and stop—the same kind of violence she always hoped to escape.
Received a complimentary copy of Children of the Wolf by Abby Geni from Ballantine Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 2 ⭐
This wasn’t by any means a bad book, and the stuff about Viking/Norse history and mythology was interesting.
But overall it just felt like a combo of meh and unbelievable.
Based on some stuff I’ve read, I think I might like this author’s book The Lightkeepers more than I did this one, so this is a note to Future Kristi to give Abby Geni another chance.
DESCRIPTION
“A riveting mystery entwined with the rich story of a woman coming into her own while battling the wildest of demons. Whip-smart, unique, and chilling—I loved it.”—GILLIAN FLYNN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl
A woman notices a pattern of men disappearing in her small town, reawakening memories of her childhood raised by a father obsessed with his violent Viking heritage.
As an adult, Liv leads a quiet life, tending to the beekeeping business that supports her and her brother. But when a dead body is discovered in her town, she is forced to grapple with a legacy of violence from when she was small.
As a child, she shared a home in rural Iowa with her brother Finn and their father Ulf. Swedish-born Ulf, a direct descendant of the infamous Erik the Red, raises his children as if they are Vikings. They are homeschooled, speak only Swedish, learn swordplay and archery, celebrate the Norse holidays, and worship the old gods with blood sacrifices.
But when Liv is fourteen, her family’s sanctum is broken apart by an FBI raid. Separated from their father, Liv and Finn must learn to adapt to normal life.
Now, twenty years later, Liv and Finn have changed their last names and moved to Haven, Michigan. Through her work as a beekeeper, Liv meets Penny, a secretive, unusual, beguiling woman. Just as her life is beginning to open up in new ways, Liv notices a strange and upsetting pattern in the area around Haven: men are disappearing. As she tallies up the missing, she senses disturbing similarities to her own father’s crimes.
While she's thrown back into the uncertainty she felt after Ulf's arrest, Liv, struggling to hold on to what she knows to be true, must decide how to proceed: whether to involve Finn and Penny in her suspicions, leave the whole matter alone, or take action to solve—and stop—the same kind of violence she always hoped to escape.
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