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Children of the Wolf: A Novel
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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 a new ways, she notices a strange and upsetting pattern in the area around men are disappearing. As she tallies up the missing men, her anxieties over Ulf's incarceration are renewed.
While she's thrown back into the uncertainty she felt after Ulf's arrest, Liv struggles to hold on to what she knows to be true, she must decide how to whether to involve her loved ones 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.
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 a new ways, she notices a strange and upsetting pattern in the area around men are disappearing. As she tallies up the missing men, her anxieties over Ulf's incarceration are renewed.
While she's thrown back into the uncertainty she felt after Ulf's arrest, Liv struggles to hold on to what she knows to be true, she must decide how to whether to involve her loved ones 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.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
Abby Geni
12 books289 followersAbby Geni is the author of The Lightkeepers, winner of the 2016 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award for Fiction and the inaugural Chicago Review of Books Awards for Best Fiction, and The Last Animal (2013), an Indies Introduce Debut Writers Selection and a finalist for the Orion Book Award. Her short stories have won first place in the Glimmer Train Fiction Open and the Chautauqua Contest and have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies. Geni is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a recipient of the Iowa Fellowship. Her website is www.abbygeni.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
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 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
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.
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
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Liv and Finn live with their father Ulf on a multi-acre, solitary and barricaded piece of land in the midwest. Their father is formidable, cold, detached and quite mysterious, raising the children to be Vikings, from which he says he is descended. Swedish is the primary spoken language in their home. Liv and Finn are homeschooled and their only contact with the outside world is when they go to their small town for groceries and the library. Ulf is a huge presence in stature and presence.
The children both worship and fear their father, observing his rules to the letter. He teaches Finn how to be a Viking by staging sword fights with him. Finn has only a wooden sword as a child but Ulf still manages to injure him repeatedly, sometimes quite seriously. This may sound romantic or even idyllic but it is not. There is a basement under their living quarters, a space that the children are forbidden to enter, with the entrance door always locked.
Ulf's profession is a mystery. All the children really know is that he disappears for days at a time and then returns just as mysteriously. He hates small animals and kills them with relish, burying their small carcasses all over their land.
Suddenly, when Liv is 14, the FBI attacks their home and takes Ulf away to prison. The children become aware of his horrendous crimes and history.
At this point, the novel moves forward twenty years. Liv and Finn have changed their last name and are peacefully raising bees in the midwest. What happens next is mind blowing. Liv reads about some crimes in her area that mirror those of her father's. Her father, however, is in jail so he cannot be the criminal. What is happening?
I love Abby Geni's work and have read her other novels. I found this one somewhat off-putting. The narrative is clear and unambiguous, and the psychological roots quite disturbing. The aspect of trauma bonding is well-researched and developed. What bothered me was the incessant historical data about Vikings and the minutiae of bee keeping. I understand the metaphorical aspects of both but felt it was just too much.
This novel is very disturbing and will be a difficult read for many. It is, like Geni's other works, beautifully crafted. It will stay with the reader quite disturbingly, and perhaps intrusively, for some time.
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this novel.
The children both worship and fear their father, observing his rules to the letter. He teaches Finn how to be a Viking by staging sword fights with him. Finn has only a wooden sword as a child but Ulf still manages to injure him repeatedly, sometimes quite seriously. This may sound romantic or even idyllic but it is not. There is a basement under their living quarters, a space that the children are forbidden to enter, with the entrance door always locked.
Ulf's profession is a mystery. All the children really know is that he disappears for days at a time and then returns just as mysteriously. He hates small animals and kills them with relish, burying their small carcasses all over their land.
Suddenly, when Liv is 14, the FBI attacks their home and takes Ulf away to prison. The children become aware of his horrendous crimes and history.
At this point, the novel moves forward twenty years. Liv and Finn have changed their last name and are peacefully raising bees in the midwest. What happens next is mind blowing. Liv reads about some crimes in her area that mirror those of her father's. Her father, however, is in jail so he cannot be the criminal. What is happening?
I love Abby Geni's work and have read her other novels. I found this one somewhat off-putting. The narrative is clear and unambiguous, and the psychological roots quite disturbing. The aspect of trauma bonding is well-researched and developed. What bothered me was the incessant historical data about Vikings and the minutiae of bee keeping. I understand the metaphorical aspects of both but felt it was just too much.
This novel is very disturbing and will be a difficult read for many. It is, like Geni's other works, beautifully crafted. It will stay with the reader quite disturbingly, and perhaps intrusively, for some time.
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this novel.
August 18, 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 books that is incredibly difficult to review without giving too much away, because so much of its power comes from the way the story unfolds. I went in knowing very little, and I’m so glad I did. This is a deeply unsettling, completely original, and surprisingly emotional story that stayed with me long after I finished reading.
Liv and Finn’s childhood is unlike anything I’ve encountered in fiction. Raised in near isolation by their imposing father, Ulf, they are taught survival skills, Viking mythology, and a very particular code of loyalty. Their relationship with their father is complicated in a way that I found fascinating—he is terrifying, deeply flawed, and capable of horrific things, yet he is also their father and someone they love. That emotional contradiction is at the heart of the novel and is handled so well.
I especially loved Liv and Finn and the bond between them. The lasting impact of their childhood and the ways they each try to build lives beyond it made the story so much more than a thriller. There is a fascinating exploration of trauma, family, loyalty, love, and the ways the environments we grow up in can shape us long after we leave them.
And then there are the bees. I never expected to become so interested in beekeeping, but Abby Geni's descriptions are absolutely fascinating and beautifully woven into the story. The Viking mythology and the natural world create such a distinctive atmosphere that the book feels completely unlike anything else I've read.
The story also takes some genuinely unexpected turns. Just when I thought I understood where things were going, the narrative shifted again, and I found myself questioning everything I thought I knew. It's creepy, disturbing, thought-provoking, and at times surprisingly tender.
Most importantly, this book made me feel. By the end, I had tears in my eyes, and any book that can make me cry earns a very high recommendation from me.
Children of the Wolf is a strange, haunting, beautifully crafted story that blends psychological suspense, family drama, mythology, nature, and romance into something completely its own. It won't be for everyone given some of the darker subject matter, but I absolutely loved how original it was and how much it gave me to think about.
Liv and Finn’s childhood is unlike anything I’ve encountered in fiction. Raised in near isolation by their imposing father, Ulf, they are taught survival skills, Viking mythology, and a very particular code of loyalty. Their relationship with their father is complicated in a way that I found fascinating—he is terrifying, deeply flawed, and capable of horrific things, yet he is also their father and someone they love. That emotional contradiction is at the heart of the novel and is handled so well.
I especially loved Liv and Finn and the bond between them. The lasting impact of their childhood and the ways they each try to build lives beyond it made the story so much more than a thriller. There is a fascinating exploration of trauma, family, loyalty, love, and the ways the environments we grow up in can shape us long after we leave them.
And then there are the bees. I never expected to become so interested in beekeeping, but Abby Geni's descriptions are absolutely fascinating and beautifully woven into the story. The Viking mythology and the natural world create such a distinctive atmosphere that the book feels completely unlike anything else I've read.
The story also takes some genuinely unexpected turns. Just when I thought I understood where things were going, the narrative shifted again, and I found myself questioning everything I thought I knew. It's creepy, disturbing, thought-provoking, and at times surprisingly tender.
Most importantly, this book made me feel. By the end, I had tears in my eyes, and any book that can make me cry earns a very high recommendation from me.
Children of the Wolf is a strange, haunting, beautifully crafted story that blends psychological suspense, family drama, mythology, nature, and romance into something completely its own. It won't be for everyone given some of the darker subject matter, but I absolutely loved how original it was and how much it gave me to think about.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Children of the Wolf by Abby Geni is a captivating, very original, and disturbing novel. The story combines survivalism, family trauma, Norse mythology and bees to create a strange and unsettling story.
Norse mythology is used throughout the novel and shapes the ideology of the characters, especially Ulf, the father. He is charismatic but deeply disturbing, and he builds an isolated world for his children based on survival, violence, and domination. Liv, his daughter, is conflicted between the reality around her and the beliefs she accepted from her father while growing up. Finn, her brother, is caring and protective and serves as an interesting contrast to Liv. My favorite character was Finn because, despite growing up in the same environment, he remained a surprisingly gentle and graceful person.
Bees and beehives are another recurring symbol in the book. They represent order, community, and continuity.
The book contains plenty of gore and disturbing descriptions of torture.
The novel is written in the first person, with Liv being the unreliable narrator. Her understanding of morality has been shaped by the environment in which she was raised. She does not always evaluate events according to the moral standards most readers would naturally apply. What makes the book especially interesting are the differences between what Liv tells us, based on her own memories and understanding, and how those same events appear to the reader. At times, Liv addresses the reader directly, which makes the narration feel especially personal.
The passages about Norse mythology were the hardest for me to follow. I found myself thinking of Marvel's Thor, Loki, and Ragnarök, but the mythology in this book is much more complex.
The pace of the novel varies. Most chapters flow well and are quick and engaging to read, while a few seem to slow down more than necessary, especially the passages focused on mythology and bees.
This book raises interesting questions about how children develop their understanding of morality and how difficult it can be to separate one's own identity from the beliefs taught by a parent or embraced by a specific environment.
Thank you Ballentine Books, Abby Geni and NetGalley for the ARC
Norse mythology is used throughout the novel and shapes the ideology of the characters, especially Ulf, the father. He is charismatic but deeply disturbing, and he builds an isolated world for his children based on survival, violence, and domination. Liv, his daughter, is conflicted between the reality around her and the beliefs she accepted from her father while growing up. Finn, her brother, is caring and protective and serves as an interesting contrast to Liv. My favorite character was Finn because, despite growing up in the same environment, he remained a surprisingly gentle and graceful person.
Bees and beehives are another recurring symbol in the book. They represent order, community, and continuity.
The book contains plenty of gore and disturbing descriptions of torture.
The novel is written in the first person, with Liv being the unreliable narrator. Her understanding of morality has been shaped by the environment in which she was raised. She does not always evaluate events according to the moral standards most readers would naturally apply. What makes the book especially interesting are the differences between what Liv tells us, based on her own memories and understanding, and how those same events appear to the reader. At times, Liv addresses the reader directly, which makes the narration feel especially personal.
The passages about Norse mythology were the hardest for me to follow. I found myself thinking of Marvel's Thor, Loki, and Ragnarök, but the mythology in this book is much more complex.
The pace of the novel varies. Most chapters flow well and are quick and engaging to read, while a few seem to slow down more than necessary, especially the passages focused on mythology and bees.
This book raises interesting questions about how children develop their understanding of morality and how difficult it can be to separate one's own identity from the beliefs taught by a parent or embraced by a specific environment.
Thank you Ballentine Books, Abby Geni and NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a digital review copy.
4.25 stars
This is the first book by this author I have read. I had not heard of this author before requesting this book on NetGalley.
Liv and Finn - the children of the wolf. The wolf: their father, Ulf. Despite growing up together in the same home, Liv and Finn lived different lives. Liv's first memory is helping her brother clean up red paint from the floor, so their father didn't get angry. Finn's first memory is of their mother burning. Their lives are lived in the middle of a forest, surrounded by an intimidating wall and a clearing where their apiary is.
Despite their different childhoods, Liv and Finn's lives both take a tragic turn when the FBI knocks down their door, and their father is arrested for multiple murders.
Years later, they have moved from that place to Michigan, where they have changed their last names, and Liv obsessively checks the prison website to ensure her father is still there and hasn't escaped. But when men start disappearing, her obsession is split, and then she is trying not to find familiar patterns but is certain they are there.
The story carried me along, and I thought the character work was impressive, each one with a clear and distinct voice of their own. There were some twists, nothing crazy that didn't make sense in the storyline, but surprising, nonetheless. I learned some things as well, which is always nice. I would absolutely read more of this author.
4.25 stars
This is the first book by this author I have read. I had not heard of this author before requesting this book on NetGalley.
Liv and Finn - the children of the wolf. The wolf: their father, Ulf. Despite growing up together in the same home, Liv and Finn lived different lives. Liv's first memory is helping her brother clean up red paint from the floor, so their father didn't get angry. Finn's first memory is of their mother burning. Their lives are lived in the middle of a forest, surrounded by an intimidating wall and a clearing where their apiary is.
Despite their different childhoods, Liv and Finn's lives both take a tragic turn when the FBI knocks down their door, and their father is arrested for multiple murders.
Years later, they have moved from that place to Michigan, where they have changed their last names, and Liv obsessively checks the prison website to ensure her father is still there and hasn't escaped. But when men start disappearing, her obsession is split, and then she is trying not to find familiar patterns but is certain they are there.
The story carried me along, and I thought the character work was impressive, each one with a clear and distinct voice of their own. There were some twists, nothing crazy that didn't make sense in the storyline, but surprising, nonetheless. I learned some things as well, which is always nice. I would absolutely read more of this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Absolute must-read! I've read a lot of books about serial killers, and a lot of books about isolated, cult-like groups/families, but this one combined those two ideas in such a unique and fascinating way. I don't when I've encountered a character like Ulf Thorvaldsson unless it was maybe Henry from The Secret History - someone so immersed in their idealization of an ancient world that it completely drives their worldview and actions to the point that they become a monster by modern-day standards. Ulf's daughter, Liv (the POV character) is fascinating and complex, and his son, Finn, is the most precious angel of a man who must be protected at all costs. There are several twists and spoilers along the way, including some beautiful nature writing. I'll be thinking about this one for a while and it's definitely going to be on a future re-read list. Also with its theme of children growing up basically alone in nature, its an antidote to Where the Crawdads Sing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book grabbed me from the very first page, but then it kind of let me go a bit.
Present-day Liv is tending her bees, living with her brother, and minding her own business when she notices a pattern of crime eerily similar to one she was involved in as a child. After the first teaser of a chapter, we're thrown straight into the middle of that childhood Incident. Liv recounts growing up with her recluse of a father who rarely let her off their little home patch of land and has some...interesting customs and habits that Liv only starts to understand after she's gone.
It's really hard to weave this all together without spoiling aspects of the plot, but Liv's growth through trauma and beyond leads to and ending that I genuinely did not expect. At once heartbreaking, creepy, and mysterious, Children of the Wolf was a genuinely fun read (even if I was flabbergasted at the end).
Another reviewer mentioned the Viking aspects were incorrect, so if that's something that will bother you, steer clear. I can't speak to the authenticity as I know absolutely nothing about Vikings whatsoever.
3.5 stars - thank you to author, publisher, and Net Galley for the offer to read.
Present-day Liv is tending her bees, living with her brother, and minding her own business when she notices a pattern of crime eerily similar to one she was involved in as a child. After the first teaser of a chapter, we're thrown straight into the middle of that childhood Incident. Liv recounts growing up with her recluse of a father who rarely let her off their little home patch of land and has some...interesting customs and habits that Liv only starts to understand after she's gone.
It's really hard to weave this all together without spoiling aspects of the plot, but Liv's growth through trauma and beyond leads to and ending that I genuinely did not expect. At once heartbreaking, creepy, and mysterious, Children of the Wolf was a genuinely fun read (even if I was flabbergasted at the end).
Another reviewer mentioned the Viking aspects were incorrect, so if that's something that will bother you, steer clear. I can't speak to the authenticity as I know absolutely nothing about Vikings whatsoever.
3.5 stars - thank you to author, publisher, and Net Galley for the offer to read.
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 Stars. I really liked this book, read it in one day because I couldn't put it down.
Liv and Finn are raised in almost total isolation with their father, Ulf, a man that is always on the edge of violence and living in a world of Viking lore. Their lives are strictly controlled by him, but the daily lives of the two siblings are content. Their father leaves them alone for days often and they are strictly forbidden to enter the basement which is secured with a padlock. When the house is raided by federal agents, their lives in isolation come crashing down. Liv and Finn change their last names and begin their lives over in a peaceful rural area in Michigan. While there Liv meets Penny, a secretive woman that also lives on a very isolated property nearby and the way she conducts herself seem to be familiar to Liv.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book for my honest opinion.
Liv and Finn are raised in almost total isolation with their father, Ulf, a man that is always on the edge of violence and living in a world of Viking lore. Their lives are strictly controlled by him, but the daily lives of the two siblings are content. Their father leaves them alone for days often and they are strictly forbidden to enter the basement which is secured with a padlock. When the house is raided by federal agents, their lives in isolation come crashing down. Liv and Finn change their last names and begin their lives over in a peaceful rural area in Michigan. While there Liv meets Penny, a secretive woman that also lives on a very isolated property nearby and the way she conducts herself seem to be familiar to Liv.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
NetGalley eARC — As a child, you grow up isolated and cut off from society: just you, your brother, and your father in rural Iowa with limited access to modern living. Your life, history, faith and philosophy consists only of Norse and Viking lore, passed down by your Swedish father’s traditions. Your childhood is filled with adventures in nature, beekeeping, checking the barbed wire boundaries of your home, and navigating Papa’s tempers.
This is Liv’s story in Children of the Wolf and it is incredibly fascinating. I was engrossed in the writing, in the dramatic unfolding of events, and in how adult Liv carries on as an adult— especially since we’re foretold that there’s a great love and a murder in her future.
Abby Geni writes with precision, and weaves Norse mythology and the incredible world of bees in tandem with the pacing of events. I felt like there could have been a little less storytelling in this aspect, but overall this was a captivating and nuanced crime thriller.
This is Liv’s story in Children of the Wolf and it is incredibly fascinating. I was engrossed in the writing, in the dramatic unfolding of events, and in how adult Liv carries on as an adult— especially since we’re foretold that there’s a great love and a murder in her future.
Abby Geni writes with precision, and weaves Norse mythology and the incredible world of bees in tandem with the pacing of events. I felt like there could have been a little less storytelling in this aspect, but overall this was a captivating and nuanced crime thriller.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
♫ An aging wolf who has *not* lost the taste for blood. Even anxious pups need the moon ♫
This book was absolutely wild. I read it in a few hours this evening because I couldn't put it down. I know this combination is going to sound unhinged, but somehow it all came together and was utterly gripping to me.. This story has serial killing, Viking mythology, a heartwarming brother and sister duo, shocking twists, a romance, cute dogs, and beekeeping. It's one of those stories too where you find yourself wanting to look up the characters as if they're real people with backstories to investigate further. Now I want this story made into a movie. The scenery, the characters, the flashbacks, etc. were all so vivid and unsettling, which would be interesting adapted on screen.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC!
This book was absolutely wild. I read it in a few hours this evening because I couldn't put it down. I know this combination is going to sound unhinged, but somehow it all came together and was utterly gripping to me.. This story has serial killing, Viking mythology, a heartwarming brother and sister duo, shocking twists, a romance, cute dogs, and beekeeping. It's one of those stories too where you find yourself wanting to look up the characters as if they're real people with backstories to investigate further. Now I want this story made into a movie. The scenery, the characters, the flashbacks, etc. were all so vivid and unsettling, which would be interesting adapted on screen.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC!
August 23, 2026
I actually really have no idea how to rate and review this one. There were parts of this that I absolutely loved, parts that were VERY boring to me, and parts that I literally could not read and had to look away. I don’t know how to write about it without spoiling the book. I do hope the final edit has a content warning in the beginning and you should not ignore that.
With that said, I did guess the “twist” in the second half of the novel (although I was fooled thinking it might go a different way for a second). The writing was lyrical and lovely— I love that about Abby Geni.
Again- so confused about how to rate and review this one. It won’t make my list of top Geni novels but I also can’t stop thinking about it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
With that said, I did guess the “twist” in the second half of the novel (although I was fooled thinking it might go a different way for a second). The writing was lyrical and lovely— I love that about Abby Geni.
Again- so confused about how to rate and review this one. It won’t make my list of top Geni novels but I also can’t stop thinking about it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 1/2 stars rounded down for this well written (and researched) novel. The first half of the book was a solid four star read for me, but unfortunately I felt it lost steam around that point. The backstory involving two children being raised by a father who rabidly embraces his Viking heritage (and who has dark secrets which come to light) was perfectly paced and rich with detail. The intrigue surrounding missing men in the present day kept my interest until a big reveal that just felt too coincidental to me. I found myself having to suspend disbelief a bit too much and it took me out of the story. I also felt like the finale seemed a bit too tidy for such a bold storyline. With that said, I really enjoyed this novel and would definitely read more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an unexpected delight. I knew nothing about the book or the author and was quite happy that I took the chance and read it. The story starts with a family of three: father, son and daughter. The father is from Sweden and believes himself to be a Viking (he can trace his linage back to early Vikings) and raises his children in the Viking way (lots of fight training, stoicism and blind obedience). Curiously, the father sometimes disappears for a few days but the kids are quite self-sufficient. And then the twists start, and keep coming and the story gets better and better and you can't put it down until you're finished and find out what happened! If you like mysteries, want to know a little more about Viking culture, and appreciate good writing and story-telling, this is a book for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This story really surprised me. Liv and Finn as kids living with their father, who teaches them about their Viking lifestyle and survival skills. Something happens to them as teenagers which changes them forever. I predicted something was going to happen because of what they were going through with their father and it would have to make a story.
The beginning of the story really kept me engaged with the story because I wanted to find out what was going to happen. When Liv and Finn grow up and become adults, I knew it would cause trauma and PTSD later in their lives. It was a very compelling story with mystery, suspense and I didn't want to put it down. I recommended it and I want to thank #NetGalley for sending me the ARC. Abby Geni is an excellent writer, and I plan on picking up another one of her books.
The beginning of the story really kept me engaged with the story because I wanted to find out what was going to happen. When Liv and Finn grow up and become adults, I knew it would cause trauma and PTSD later in their lives. It was a very compelling story with mystery, suspense and I didn't want to put it down. I recommended it and I want to thank #NetGalley for sending me the ARC. Abby Geni is an excellent writer, and I plan on picking up another one of her books.
August 15, 2026
Children of the Wolf was a unique and unsettling read. By the time I finished, I was honestly happy to leave the world the author created. At times, I felt more like an intruder in the story than a reader, especially when information was revealed that I almost didn’t want to know.
The premise is fascinating, and I became especially engrossed in the first part as we learned about Finn and Liv’s upbringing with their warrior, antisocial father. The story has a heavy atmosphere, and at times it felt bogged down by the details surrounding Vikings and bees, which slowed the pace for me.
Overall, an interesting and memorable read that definitely created a world I won’t soon forget.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.
The premise is fascinating, and I became especially engrossed in the first part as we learned about Finn and Liv’s upbringing with their warrior, antisocial father. The story has a heavy atmosphere, and at times it felt bogged down by the details surrounding Vikings and bees, which slowed the pace for me.
Overall, an interesting and memorable read that definitely created a world I won’t soon forget.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Children of the Wolf took me on a very unexpected journey. It begins with young Liv and Finn living deep in the remote woods with their father, who teaches them about their Viking ancestry and survival skills. A major event during their teen years changes their lives forever. Even though I sensed part of what was coming, I definitely did not see the twist that unfolded in their adult lives.
This story stayed with me long after I finished reading as it explores how childhood trauma and violence can shape the choices people make later in life. It was a strong, compelling story with emotional depth and suspense throughout. I rated it 4 stars and definitely recommend it!
This story stayed with me long after I finished reading as it explores how childhood trauma and violence can shape the choices people make later in life. It was a strong, compelling story with emotional depth and suspense throughout. I rated it 4 stars and definitely recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Ballantine and Netgallley for an eARC of Children of the Wolf by Abby Geni. I really enjoyed Children of the Wolf; it was an unsettling, thought-provoking thriller. I liked how the book took its time building up Liv and Finn's childhood and addressing how vastly different those early years were for each of them before going into the pair as adults. I loved the constant interweaving of Norse mythology into the plot, as I found it really interesting. The book does not shy away from the trauma that is imprinted on the pair and how that followed them into adulthood. If you enjoy dark thrillers, this is a good one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
I could have rounded up or down here. By the end of the story, I was kind of left shaking my head at the total lack of morality exhibited by the FMC. It shocked me, and the issue was not raised at all.
On the other hand, the whole Viking/Valhalla/Norse Gods theme was interesting, and pretty much carried the book.
I liked it; I didn't love it, but I think this will find an audience (and a Netflix miniseries).
Will I read more from the author? Maybe.
I received a complimentary e-copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.
I could have rounded up or down here. By the end of the story, I was kind of left shaking my head at the total lack of morality exhibited by the FMC. It shocked me, and the issue was not raised at all.
On the other hand, the whole Viking/Valhalla/Norse Gods theme was interesting, and pretty much carried the book.
I liked it; I didn't love it, but I think this will find an audience (and a Netflix miniseries).
Will I read more from the author? Maybe.
I received a complimentary e-copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a ARC from Netgalley.
Spoilers
This book had me hooked from the beginning with the backstory of Liv her brother and Dad living on a homestead in rural Iowa. They were Swedish and lived a Viking life ruled by lore and mythologies of yore.
Not far into the book it switched to present day and the struggles of Liv and her brother navigating adult life on their own.
I felt the story had a little too much about the Viking gods and stories. It was hard to follow for me.
I also didn’t care for the ending of how Liv ended up living her life.
The story minus all the in depth Viking lore was interesting and I did finish the book.
Spoilers
This book had me hooked from the beginning with the backstory of Liv her brother and Dad living on a homestead in rural Iowa. They were Swedish and lived a Viking life ruled by lore and mythologies of yore.
Not far into the book it switched to present day and the struggles of Liv and her brother navigating adult life on their own.
I felt the story had a little too much about the Viking gods and stories. It was hard to follow for me.
I also didn’t care for the ending of how Liv ended up living her life.
The story minus all the in depth Viking lore was interesting and I did finish the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
This book grabs hold of you at the first sentence. The narrator is Liv Thorvaldsson and she tells you about her life. The story starts to slow down as she talks about hee childhood but then gets faster as she grows older. The book is part thriller, part love story. The love of a daughter and sister and the love of a partner. Overall Children of Wolf is a unique tale that will continue to leave you guessing and surprise until the very end. 8/10 would recommend!
Thanks to Knights Nook for allowing me to read this ARC.
Thanks to Knights Nook for allowing me to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There’s no denying that this author is very talented. I enjoyed the way she wove together the story and the Norse mythology aspect of this was interesting, although did make the start a little slow. There were multiple sentences that I highlighted that were just beautifully said or well written. The plot was very interesting but I felt like the beekeeping aspect of it was a little tiresome and repetitive. I found myself skimming those parts.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I give this one extra stars for the sheerly original premise in a field so saturated with serial killer novels. Liv and her brother live a quiet life in Michigan, tending their bees and trying to forget about the tragic events that shaped their childhood - until men start disappearing in a very familiar way. This one was gripping and completely unforgettable.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you to Ballantine Books for the advanced copy.
Reading Children of Wolf is like a journey into the unknown choppy waters in a Viking ship. The author seamlessly wove Liv's Viking childhood in a modern world along with Liv's adjusted-adult POV into a beautiful narrative mixed with Viking lore and custom. Liv's story is beautiful and haunting, and is sure to live with me as the Wheels of Time keep turning.
Reading Children of Wolf is like a journey into the unknown choppy waters in a Viking ship. The author seamlessly wove Liv's Viking childhood in a modern world along with Liv's adjusted-adult POV into a beautiful narrative mixed with Viking lore and custom. Liv's story is beautiful and haunting, and is sure to live with me as the Wheels of Time keep turning.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 rounded up
As a die-hard Criminal Minds fan, I devoured this fascinating thriller about the daughter of a serial killer raised as a Viking. I thought I had figured out where this was going halfway through and then Geni managed to surprise me with a particularly satisfying twist. Definitely one of the best thrillers I've read this year!
Thank you to Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a die-hard Criminal Minds fan, I devoured this fascinating thriller about the daughter of a serial killer raised as a Viking. I thought I had figured out where this was going halfway through and then Geni managed to surprise me with a particularly satisfying twist. Definitely one of the best thrillers I've read this year!
Thank you to Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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