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Wolfwood
A teenage girl begins secretly forging paintings, plunging her into a dark and dangerous imaginary world
Indigo and her mother, once-famous artist Zoe Serra, have barely been scraping by since her mom's breakdown. When a gallery offers Zoe a revival show for her unfinished blockbuster series, Wolfwood, Indigo knows it's a crucial chance to finally regain stability. Zoe, however, mysteriously refuses. Desperate not to lose the opportunity, Indigo secretly takes up the brush herself.
It turns out, there might be a very good reason her mother wants nothing to do with Wolfwood.
Painting submerges Indigo into Wolfwood itself—a dangerous jungle where an army of grotesque, monstrous flora are in a violent battle with a band of girls. As Indigo enters Wolfwood again and again, the line between fantasy and reality blurs. It's a tenuous balancing act: keeping her forgery secret and her mind lucid, all while fighting her attraction to Kai, the son of the gallery owner.
And by the time Indigo realizes the true nature of the monsters she's up against, it might be too late—and the monsters might just win.
Indigo and her mother, once-famous artist Zoe Serra, have barely been scraping by since her mom's breakdown. When a gallery offers Zoe a revival show for her unfinished blockbuster series, Wolfwood, Indigo knows it's a crucial chance to finally regain stability. Zoe, however, mysteriously refuses. Desperate not to lose the opportunity, Indigo secretly takes up the brush herself.
It turns out, there might be a very good reason her mother wants nothing to do with Wolfwood.
Painting submerges Indigo into Wolfwood itself—a dangerous jungle where an army of grotesque, monstrous flora are in a violent battle with a band of girls. As Indigo enters Wolfwood again and again, the line between fantasy and reality blurs. It's a tenuous balancing act: keeping her forgery secret and her mind lucid, all while fighting her attraction to Kai, the son of the gallery owner.
And by the time Indigo realizes the true nature of the monsters she's up against, it might be too late—and the monsters might just win.
Hardcover
First published March 28, 2023
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1156 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
April 13, 2023
Actual Rating 3.5
Indigo and her mother Zoe are barely getting by, even though her mother was a famous artist. They’re living in the basement of an apartment building and cleaning to supplement their rent. When a gallery offers to revisit Zoe’s final series of paintings titled Wolfwood, Indigo jumps at the chance. But her mother refuses with no explanation, leaving Indigo desperate. Trying to help her mother jumpstart the process, Indigo decides to secretly try her hand at painting and discovers that there was a very good reason her mother refused to revisit Wolfwood.
I enjoyed the author’s writing style. It flowed well and was engaging. The author explored some difficult themes, such as the consequences of not asking for help, the pressure that secrets cause, undiagnosed depression, and poverty. I really enjoyed the incorporation of these themes, but they were only present in the real world. It left Wolfwood and the events that occurred there feeling a little melodramatic and absurd, and made the tension and stakes of those portions of the work feel low.
I felt that the magical realism aspect of the work should have been explained or incorporated a bit better. No one questioned the magic that was such a big part of the plot, and it was the only magic that was present in this world. No explanations were included, and the characters just rolled with the magic world, which made it unfulfilling and a little frustrating. Despite that, I did enjoy the characters overall. They were diverse, including in relation to their financial situations and backgrounds. And while the secondary characters didn’t have as much depth and development as the protagonist, they were still engaging.
This was an interesting magical realism read that I enjoyed despite a few qualms with it. My thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Indigo and her mother Zoe are barely getting by, even though her mother was a famous artist. They’re living in the basement of an apartment building and cleaning to supplement their rent. When a gallery offers to revisit Zoe’s final series of paintings titled Wolfwood, Indigo jumps at the chance. But her mother refuses with no explanation, leaving Indigo desperate. Trying to help her mother jumpstart the process, Indigo decides to secretly try her hand at painting and discovers that there was a very good reason her mother refused to revisit Wolfwood.
I enjoyed the author’s writing style. It flowed well and was engaging. The author explored some difficult themes, such as the consequences of not asking for help, the pressure that secrets cause, undiagnosed depression, and poverty. I really enjoyed the incorporation of these themes, but they were only present in the real world. It left Wolfwood and the events that occurred there feeling a little melodramatic and absurd, and made the tension and stakes of those portions of the work feel low.
I felt that the magical realism aspect of the work should have been explained or incorporated a bit better. No one questioned the magic that was such a big part of the plot, and it was the only magic that was present in this world. No explanations were included, and the characters just rolled with the magic world, which made it unfulfilling and a little frustrating. Despite that, I did enjoy the characters overall. They were diverse, including in relation to their financial situations and backgrounds. And while the secondary characters didn’t have as much depth and development as the protagonist, they were still engaging.
This was an interesting magical realism read that I enjoyed despite a few qualms with it. My thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
August 1, 2022
This book is wonderful. Rich and lucid and gripping, with just enough magic and secondary timeline woven in to make it extra pageturning. I read it in just over a day and found myself so immersed I kept thinking, "Why do I feel so worried?" then realizing I was worried about the heroine of this book. So good.
May 4, 2023
5/5 stars
“What does it mean that I think it’s completely messed up that some people have so much money, but that I’m also happy I was able to pass for part of the group.”
That’s a question Indigo Serra has asked herself many times over the years. The daughter of the once famous artist Zoe Serra, featured as the star of gallery-expositions for the ultra-rich, she has experienced the glamour of the art-world from the side-line ever since she was a child. Nowadays, Zoe and Indigo are barely scraping by, ever since Zoe’s mental breakdown forced her to quit painting for good. When a high-end collector offers Zoe a revival show for her unfinished blockbuster series, Wolfwood, Indigo knows it's a crucial chance to regain financial stability. Zoe, however, mysteriously refuses. Desperate not to lose the opportunity, Indigo secretly takes up the brush herself, and begins to forge her mother’s unfinished paintings herself. Submerging herself completely in the fiction world of the paintings, Indigo finds the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur when she paints. Soon she finds out there may have been a reason behind her mothers desperate refusal to ever take up the brush again, that goes back through the colourfully painted jungles of Wolfwood, all the way to her mothers past.
Despite its Goodreads-tag as “fantasy”, I feel like Wolfwood is more fittingly described as a Young Adult contemporary novel with some slight magical realism elements thrown in. I’m admittedly already a sucker for this genre, yet still, Wolfwood was a standout for me, and exceeded all expectations I had. At its core is a meaningful and relatable story about themes of family, art, privilege and class- and financial inequality, that could’ve easily stood on its own, but was only enhanced in colour by the magical realism of the artwork coming to life in Indigo’s mind.
I personally loved the perspective of Indigo, a girl from a middle-class single-parent family, navigating her way through the elitist art-world and struggling with her feelings regarding it. Indigo admires and envies the beauty of such a slavish life-style, but also feels disgusted by the ultra-rich. She wants to simultaneously fit into them, but also stay true to her roots and ends up feeling like a (literal) imposter in both worlds. Dealing with this type of imposter syndrome myself (although in a very different context than art) I think Baer nailed that representation, in a way that I’ve only seen before in the likes of Tripping Arcadia. The magical realism element matches this theme perfectly: a girl displaced in an environment both filled with beauty and monsters, uncovering the history her mother had within it, and finding a place for herself.
Another great aspect of the novel is in the character-interactions. Most notably; the mother-daughter dynamic between Indigo and Zoe were great. No diagnosis is mentioned, but it’s clear from context that Zoe suffers from mental health problems that lead Indigo to take up the role of caretaker and “parent of the family” in many ways. Again, without spoiling anything: I thought this representation was spot on. Sensitive, without judgement, and respecting both the negative effects that come from such a dynamic, as well as the love of both parties for each-other.
Another great dynamic is between Indigo and her love-interest. I liked their banter, but mostly appreciated them going slow; a rare sight within a YA-contemporary.
Overall, I highly recommend this novel if you’re looking for something that balances important contemporary conversations with a lush and vivid world painted in bright colours that almost literally leap of the pages. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but in this case I’m glad I did, as its beauty completely matches the inside.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for allowing my access to an audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
“What does it mean that I think it’s completely messed up that some people have so much money, but that I’m also happy I was able to pass for part of the group.”
That’s a question Indigo Serra has asked herself many times over the years. The daughter of the once famous artist Zoe Serra, featured as the star of gallery-expositions for the ultra-rich, she has experienced the glamour of the art-world from the side-line ever since she was a child. Nowadays, Zoe and Indigo are barely scraping by, ever since Zoe’s mental breakdown forced her to quit painting for good. When a high-end collector offers Zoe a revival show for her unfinished blockbuster series, Wolfwood, Indigo knows it's a crucial chance to regain financial stability. Zoe, however, mysteriously refuses. Desperate not to lose the opportunity, Indigo secretly takes up the brush herself, and begins to forge her mother’s unfinished paintings herself. Submerging herself completely in the fiction world of the paintings, Indigo finds the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur when she paints. Soon she finds out there may have been a reason behind her mothers desperate refusal to ever take up the brush again, that goes back through the colourfully painted jungles of Wolfwood, all the way to her mothers past.
Despite its Goodreads-tag as “fantasy”, I feel like Wolfwood is more fittingly described as a Young Adult contemporary novel with some slight magical realism elements thrown in. I’m admittedly already a sucker for this genre, yet still, Wolfwood was a standout for me, and exceeded all expectations I had. At its core is a meaningful and relatable story about themes of family, art, privilege and class- and financial inequality, that could’ve easily stood on its own, but was only enhanced in colour by the magical realism of the artwork coming to life in Indigo’s mind.
I personally loved the perspective of Indigo, a girl from a middle-class single-parent family, navigating her way through the elitist art-world and struggling with her feelings regarding it. Indigo admires and envies the beauty of such a slavish life-style, but also feels disgusted by the ultra-rich. She wants to simultaneously fit into them, but also stay true to her roots and ends up feeling like a (literal) imposter in both worlds. Dealing with this type of imposter syndrome myself (although in a very different context than art) I think Baer nailed that representation, in a way that I’ve only seen before in the likes of Tripping Arcadia. The magical realism element matches this theme perfectly: a girl displaced in an environment both filled with beauty and monsters, uncovering the history her mother had within it, and finding a place for herself.
Another great aspect of the novel is in the character-interactions. Most notably; the mother-daughter dynamic between Indigo and Zoe were great. No diagnosis is mentioned, but it’s clear from context that Zoe suffers from mental health problems that lead Indigo to take up the role of caretaker and “parent of the family” in many ways. Again, without spoiling anything: I thought this representation was spot on. Sensitive, without judgement, and respecting both the negative effects that come from such a dynamic, as well as the love of both parties for each-other.
Another great dynamic is between Indigo and her love-interest. I liked their banter, but mostly appreciated them going slow; a rare sight within a YA-contemporary.
Overall, I highly recommend this novel if you’re looking for something that balances important contemporary conversations with a lush and vivid world painted in bright colours that almost literally leap of the pages. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but in this case I’m glad I did, as its beauty completely matches the inside.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for allowing my access to an audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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February 12, 2023
Okay, I feel like magical realism books just aren't my thing. When they're done poorly - and this was done pretty poorly - the fact that the characters don't question the SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF MAGIC just makes them look... really bloody stupid.
17-year-old Indigo Serra is the daughter of the famous Zoe Serra, an artist who became known 30 years ago for her Wolfwood paintings: a series featuring a quartet of girls, in a magical jungle, hunted by a shadowy Wolf. The series was never finished, and Zoe dropped into obscurity. But now Zoe's old gallery owner friend Annika has suggested an exhibition, and Indigo is determined that it should go ahead so they can finally raise some money.
The problem: Zoe refuses to paint anymore. Indigo takes over, but every time she paints the Wolfwood, she finds herself actually falling into the paintings - where she's injured, and trapped, unable to escape the confines of the deadly jungle. The more she paints, the less connected she feels to the real world. But how can she stop, when they need the money so badly?
The prose is good, flowing nicely, and Indigo's an impressively independent heroine. There's also a cute, mild romance with half-Japanese Kai, a childhood friend and the gallery owner's son (initiated after Indigo breaks things off with a friends-with-benefits she'd been seeing).
My biggest issue is with how the magical realism is handled. She realises that whenever she paints the Wolfwood paintings, she seems to actually enter the canvas, and injuries she sustains there are still on her body when she leaves. So... HOW DOES SHE NOT QUESTION THIS FURTHER? She's spent 17 years living a perfectly magic-free life, so why is she so quick to accept the sudden appearance of magic in her life, without even a thought about how it's possible?
There's also a lot to be said in this book about class and money, and the fact that the two are not the same thing., which is how the book treats them. I'm generalising here, but this seems to be a quintessentially American perspective: you are rich, therefore you are of the upper classes. You are poor, therefore you are not. But that's not exactly how it works.
As a British person, I can tell you that we have an upper class (which boils down to the aristocracy), and upper echelons of the middle class (not titled, but historical landowners). They aren't necessarily all rich. The blue-blooded scion without two pennies to rub together is a staple of English literature, not to mention classical literature throughout Europe.
Indigo thinks of herself as being lower/working class, because her mother is a starving artist and has no money, but she doesn't seem to appreciate the fact that she actually has class connections. For example, she only knows Kai - a wealthy gallery owner's son, whose mum offers her an internship at their prestigious gallery - because Zoe's famous art has elevated them into those kinds of social circles. An even better example: Kai's best friend Ravi is the son of a famous fashion designer, the kind of woman whose outfits are featured in Vogue. Indigo meets her and even gets a dress for free purely through an underlying class connection.
Anyway, I've gone on for a bit longer about that than I intended to. Overall, the book definitely held my interest - I tore through it in less than a day - and I plan to check out whatever Baer writes next.
April 12, 2023
This was okay and pretty forgettable but I just wanted to collect the cover :)
March 19, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for sending me an early copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!
This is such a haunting and beautiful story, and I have no idea how to put my thoughts into words! From the very start I was compelled by Indigo and her backstory. It was so easy to root for her and start to want to fix everything for her so she wouldn't have to struggle anymore. But on top of that, the flashbacks to the past and the times in Wolfwood absolutely dragged me in as well.
The imagery of Wolfwood is so haunting and compelling, and the way it really combines with the flashbacks and parallels real life is so touching. The deeper themes of this book are ones that really pull at your heart, and I loved the way that it was all represented. Some of it was hard to experience, but I think that made the message of the book even more impactful. I love the healing that took place and the way both Indigo and her mother had their own journeys to take.
If you like magical realis and are looking for something moving and alluring, this is the book for you!
This is such a haunting and beautiful story, and I have no idea how to put my thoughts into words! From the very start I was compelled by Indigo and her backstory. It was so easy to root for her and start to want to fix everything for her so she wouldn't have to struggle anymore. But on top of that, the flashbacks to the past and the times in Wolfwood absolutely dragged me in as well.
The imagery of Wolfwood is so haunting and compelling, and the way it really combines with the flashbacks and parallels real life is so touching. The deeper themes of this book are ones that really pull at your heart, and I loved the way that it was all represented. Some of it was hard to experience, but I think that made the message of the book even more impactful. I love the healing that took place and the way both Indigo and her mother had their own journeys to take.
If you like magical realis and are looking for something moving and alluring, this is the book for you!
Want to read
March 26, 2023"Painting submerges Indigo into Wolfwood itself—a dangerous jungle where an army of grotesque, monstrous flora are in a violent battle with a band of girls. As Indigo enters Wolfwood again and again, the line between fantasy and reality blurs."
February 8, 2025
I don’t really know how to describe this book. It was honestly mind boggling and left me completely stunned. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story that’s so complex in both its storytelling and world building. I’m bewildered and I’m shocked and I honestly want to read more books by this author because her writing style is insane and I love that this book was written by someone with an actual fine arts degree who understands how art works as a medium and describes how one actually paints. I’m not usually one for like mystery books, but this book absolutely changed me in, and I was so excited to learn more about the twist and about the backstory that created Wolfwood
August 10, 2023
The book was an absolute delight (and sometimes terrifying) to read. It skillfully weaved together modern fairytale elements with magic and fantasy, while also addressing universally relevant themes. The author's writing style was effortless, making the reading experience smooth and enjoyable.
Now, I can't wait to delve into other works penned by this gifted author.
Now, I can't wait to delve into other works penned by this gifted author.
March 12, 2023
Wolfwood was a pleasant surprise. I was drawn in to the concept of the book, a teen girl who decides to paint her mother's designs to get themselves out of poverty but when she starts painting the Wolfwood paintings, she is transported INTO Wolfwood and sustains injuries and has memories of Wolfwood after she is done painting.
It is not entirely unique for drawings to come to life, but this was a different take on that trope. It deals with trauma and comes from the point of view of a struggling family, just a single mother and her daughter. Honestly, we don't see many actual depictions of poverty in YA novels.
I really appreciated that while Indigo, the daughter, and Zoe, the mother, are poor, Indigo acknowledges that they do have connections and have some privilege due to them being white women. I appreciated that because being poor is a different experience for people of color then it is white people and the author acknowledging that is well appreciated.
Overall I definitely think this book is worth a read (or listen as I really enjoyed the narrator's performance). If you enjoy magical realism with dark elements then this book is for you. There is definitely descriptions of gore, but not OVERLY gore-y in my opinion, but I do like horror so take that with a grain of salt I suppose.
Thank you Net Galley for this advanced reader copy <3 (I listened to the Audio version)
It is not entirely unique for drawings to come to life, but this was a different take on that trope. It deals with trauma and comes from the point of view of a struggling family, just a single mother and her daughter. Honestly, we don't see many actual depictions of poverty in YA novels.
I really appreciated that while Indigo, the daughter, and Zoe, the mother, are poor, Indigo acknowledges that they do have connections and have some privilege due to them being white women. I appreciated that because being poor is a different experience for people of color then it is white people and the author acknowledging that is well appreciated.
Overall I definitely think this book is worth a read (or listen as I really enjoyed the narrator's performance). If you enjoy magical realism with dark elements then this book is for you. There is definitely descriptions of gore, but not OVERLY gore-y in my opinion, but I do like horror so take that with a grain of salt I suppose.
Thank you Net Galley for this advanced reader copy <3 (I listened to the Audio version)
May 15, 2023
The good:
I really liked the main character, Indigo.
The writing style was pleasant to read.
I liked that the author addressed issues like poverty and depression.
The not so good:
There are a bunch of flashbacks, which are one of my least favourite stylistic devices.
Another thing that bothered me was that there was so much talk about painting and paintings and I don’t really care about painting techniques etc., so those parts of the book were rather boring to me.
Overall Wolfwood was a pleasant read, but the plot could have been stronger, so the book also ended up being a forgettable read.
[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
I really liked the main character, Indigo.
The writing style was pleasant to read.
I liked that the author addressed issues like poverty and depression.
The not so good:
There are a bunch of flashbacks, which are one of my least favourite stylistic devices.
Another thing that bothered me was that there was so much talk about painting and paintings and I don’t really care about painting techniques etc., so those parts of the book were rather boring to me.
Overall Wolfwood was a pleasant read, but the plot could have been stronger, so the book also ended up being a forgettable read.
[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
March 21, 2023
Thank you to ABRAMS and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Whoa, this completely exceeded my expectations! The best book I've read so far in 2023! Wolfwood by Marianna Baer is a contemporary YA fantasy with elements of thriller and horror. The story revolves around Indigo, who lives with her mother, who isn't all there mentally. A former artist, Zoe Serra hasn't touched her paintbrush for years, after painting the haunting and monstrous Wolfwood series. Now, desperate for money, Indigo decides to forge a new series of Wolfwood paintings. But as she paints the terrifying scenes, she begins to have nightmares about the monsters in the paintings. Are the monsters coming to life?
Here is a chilling excerpt from the Prologue:
"There aren’t any wolves in Wolfwood, but there are monsters.
...
Night after night, they trap me in the Wolfwood jungle.
Roots like giants’ fingers grab my ankles. Grotesque flowers knock me down with fleshy pink petals, slice open my gut with machete-sized thorns. Python-thick acid-green vines wind around my neck, squeezing tight, tight, tight . . . And always, just as I’m about to die, the Wolfwood girls circle around, their own bloody wounds bandaged with fabric torn from their brightly colored dresses. I never understand why they won’t help, why they’re so angry with me. The rage in their eyes is enough to wake me up screaming."
Overall, Wolfwood is an absolutely amazing contemporary YA fantasy that I wish I could give more than 5 stars. It will appeal to fans of the movies Labyrinth or Sucker Punch. One highlight of this book is the super interesting plot. Indigo having to fake her mother's paintings is already interesting, but then add in the concept of the monsters in the paintings coming to life, and the story becomes unputdownable. Another highlight of this book is the real-life issues regarding mental health and poverty that the author expertly weaves in between the fantasy elements. There are fantastic metaphors here that I found and probably others that I missed. One final highlight of this book is Kai, the Japanese-American love interest. This might be obvious, but how can I not support an Asian male romantic lead? If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in March!
Whoa, this completely exceeded my expectations! The best book I've read so far in 2023! Wolfwood by Marianna Baer is a contemporary YA fantasy with elements of thriller and horror. The story revolves around Indigo, who lives with her mother, who isn't all there mentally. A former artist, Zoe Serra hasn't touched her paintbrush for years, after painting the haunting and monstrous Wolfwood series. Now, desperate for money, Indigo decides to forge a new series of Wolfwood paintings. But as she paints the terrifying scenes, she begins to have nightmares about the monsters in the paintings. Are the monsters coming to life?
Here is a chilling excerpt from the Prologue:
"There aren’t any wolves in Wolfwood, but there are monsters.
...
Night after night, they trap me in the Wolfwood jungle.
Roots like giants’ fingers grab my ankles. Grotesque flowers knock me down with fleshy pink petals, slice open my gut with machete-sized thorns. Python-thick acid-green vines wind around my neck, squeezing tight, tight, tight . . . And always, just as I’m about to die, the Wolfwood girls circle around, their own bloody wounds bandaged with fabric torn from their brightly colored dresses. I never understand why they won’t help, why they’re so angry with me. The rage in their eyes is enough to wake me up screaming."
Overall, Wolfwood is an absolutely amazing contemporary YA fantasy that I wish I could give more than 5 stars. It will appeal to fans of the movies Labyrinth or Sucker Punch. One highlight of this book is the super interesting plot. Indigo having to fake her mother's paintings is already interesting, but then add in the concept of the monsters in the paintings coming to life, and the story becomes unputdownable. Another highlight of this book is the real-life issues regarding mental health and poverty that the author expertly weaves in between the fantasy elements. There are fantastic metaphors here that I found and probably others that I missed. One final highlight of this book is Kai, the Japanese-American love interest. This might be obvious, but how can I not support an Asian male romantic lead? If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in March!
April 5, 2023
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Wolfwood is a story about a secret world of paintings and obsession. It's a story about art and suffering. At the same time, it's also a story about family and teens and kids who have to take on more of the weight and responsibilities. The pain and the resentment all entangled in that. In some ways, it feels like two different books, but Baer weaves them together so beautifully.
Indigo is buckling under the weight of not only their financial stability, but also her mother's mental well being. This story alone broke my heart because you can see the situation she is put into. All the pressure which is causing this tower of cards to come down. While Wolfwood progresses, readers are introduced to Zoe's story and this world of Wolfwood. It's a mystery which comes together slowly, but once it does, you need to figure out what is going to happen.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Wolfwood is a story about a secret world of paintings and obsession. It's a story about art and suffering. At the same time, it's also a story about family and teens and kids who have to take on more of the weight and responsibilities. The pain and the resentment all entangled in that. In some ways, it feels like two different books, but Baer weaves them together so beautifully.
Indigo is buckling under the weight of not only their financial stability, but also her mother's mental well being. This story alone broke my heart because you can see the situation she is put into. All the pressure which is causing this tower of cards to come down. While Wolfwood progresses, readers are introduced to Zoe's story and this world of Wolfwood. It's a mystery which comes together slowly, but once it does, you need to figure out what is going to happen.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
April 10, 2024
I desperately wanted to love this book due to its use of magical realism to explore the unhealed trauma of a mother and the devastating effects it has on a teenage daughter. It was truly a fascinating and poignant start. However, as the story progressed, the length of time between returning to the world of Wolfwood due to setting up the daughter's romance was extremely distracting. And in my opinion, unnecessary in order to explore the daughter's need for " a shoulder to cry on". By adding the romance, the novel lost its focus on unpacking the role reversal relationship between mother & daughter and the overall driving mystery of Wolfwood.
So 3.5/5 ⭐ because the story had the potential to be mesmerizing and visceral but took too long to get to the heart of the story.
So 3.5/5 ⭐ because the story had the potential to be mesmerizing and visceral but took too long to get to the heart of the story.
March 16, 2023
Wolfwood by Marianna Baer
5/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•••Spoiler free review below•••
I did not know what to expect when starting this but I was hooked from the very first scene. I felt like I was with our main character, Indigo, while she painted and was left guessing at the conclusion until the very end.
Read this book if you like:
- magical realism
- electric descriptions of artwork
- strong mother/daughter bonds
- flashbacks to move the current day plot forward
- a look into the art world in NY
- a hint of romance
Wolfwood will be released on March 28th and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
.
.
.
Special thanks to Tantor Audio for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review on Instagram
5/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•••Spoiler free review below•••
I did not know what to expect when starting this but I was hooked from the very first scene. I felt like I was with our main character, Indigo, while she painted and was left guessing at the conclusion until the very end.
Read this book if you like:
- magical realism
- electric descriptions of artwork
- strong mother/daughter bonds
- flashbacks to move the current day plot forward
- a look into the art world in NY
- a hint of romance
Wolfwood will be released on March 28th and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
.
.
.
Special thanks to Tantor Audio for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review on Instagram
December 31, 2022
Wolfwood puts into words how art makes me feel on my most vulnerable days. The transportive power of paintings is made into an actual portal to another world. The contrasting settings of New York City and the world of Wolfwood are what makes this book work, along with the relationship between Zoe and Indigo. Indigo is a relatively common type of protagonist, and her love interest Kai (why is every Asian guy in YA named Kai?) is fine but unremarkable. What makes this book special are the contrasts between Indigo and Zoe, and how much they love each other despite their issues.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2023
this was so well written omg
May 4, 2023
i’m confused as to why i didn’t enjoy this book. the premise sounds great, i guess it just wasn’t for me
February 21, 2025
I’m hovering around a 2.5/3 for this one. Really enjoyed the first half and then got really lost in the rushed nature of the second. Also agree with other readers on the nature of the magical realism. Very odd how the characters reacted to the extraordinary in their lives.
June 16, 2025
Wow! This story had me hooked from beginning to end! The suspense of both stories running parallel to one another kept me turning the page into the early hours of the beginning of dawn. Brilliant work!
November 1, 2022
I LOVED this. I had been hunting for something that had similar vibes to another book I’d read and this was spot on. This felt like a dark fairy tale based in the real world and I couldn’t put it down!
March 15, 2023
3.5 round led down
Indigo needs money and, to get that, she needs her mom to finish Wolfwood, her art series from years ago. They’re drowning in debt and barely surviving, the expected sale of the art could save them. But her mom refuses to finish them. So Indigo takes the art into her own hands. But Wolfwood isn’t just art and it is not at all what she expected.
Plot: 3.5/5
This story is told mostly from Indigo’s present perspective but we also get some chapters from her Mom’s in the 80’s/90’s. I really liked the parallels to the experience. I think there were a lot of moving parts in Indigo’s life which made it all a little hard to keep track of. And it was nearly unbelievable that she managed to do so much each day. The repetition of her life and the same “new” issues, created a bit of a drag at points.
The mystery of Wolfwood was really fascinating and as well as the part it played in the story.
During Zoe’s plot line, we also get to see some uncomfortable conversations about artistic colonialism and white artists in other countries suppressing cultures. She’s in a very manipulative and toxic relationship (who is revealed to be older than he said)
I felt a little weird with both Indigo and Zoe’s relationships being with older men when they’re 17. Indigos isn’t as bad cause he’s at least recently 18 and they know each other. But for Zoe, he is secretly 24 and said he was ~18 (can’t remember exact but it was closer to her age).
Characters: 4/5
Indigo works tirelessly to provide for her and her disabled mother. She clearly is taking on way too much for a 17 year old but that’s just her life. The book has a very sex positive perspective (not in a graphic way but it is present. I did question the age of Josh and then also Khai but once I realized she was only 17, I couldn’t remember their ages (finding that info in an ALC is near impossible).
Zoe has some pretty intense PTSD regarding Wildwood. It played a huge part in her life and ability to create. She also beat cancer (?) and has had pain and fatigue issues ever since.
Kai was also a really complex character and his brother’s drug addiction/his struggles to forgive himself for their current relationship added a ton of depth. However the other side characters all felt pretty one dimensional.
Writing: 3/5
The magic was mixed into the world fairly well, it is kind of odd that Indigo isn’t totally fazed by the development. But it seems like it’s all kind of a metaphor for mental health and trauma. The first few Wolfwood scenes were so immersive, I really saw it through Indigo’s eyes. But the more we got, the more repetitive it felt. And Baer’s direct descriptive style felt very flat in the jungle/fantasy setting.
Indigos internal monologue did feel a bit repetitive at times too as she often repeated the same fears.
There are also some nuanced conversations about homelessness. A character says a homeless man’s opinion doesn’t matter because he’s homeless (re: a racist comment). The MC makes a point to clarify that it’s shitty of the homeless guy to say that stuff but just because he’s homeless, doesn’t mean he isn’t human and doesn’t get opinions.
Overall: 3.5/5
I don’t think this is the authors fault but the cover art does make the MC look potentially Asian which is a little misleading at the MC is white. However, I do think the author does a good job on page of showing diversity, putting her characters into uncomfortable and nuanced situations, and having the MC acknowledge her privilege as a white woman even though she is in poverty.
Indigo needs money and, to get that, she needs her mom to finish Wolfwood, her art series from years ago. They’re drowning in debt and barely surviving, the expected sale of the art could save them. But her mom refuses to finish them. So Indigo takes the art into her own hands. But Wolfwood isn’t just art and it is not at all what she expected.
Plot: 3.5/5
This story is told mostly from Indigo’s present perspective but we also get some chapters from her Mom’s in the 80’s/90’s. I really liked the parallels to the experience. I think there were a lot of moving parts in Indigo’s life which made it all a little hard to keep track of. And it was nearly unbelievable that she managed to do so much each day. The repetition of her life and the same “new” issues, created a bit of a drag at points.
The mystery of Wolfwood was really fascinating and as well as the part it played in the story.
During Zoe’s plot line, we also get to see some uncomfortable conversations about artistic colonialism and white artists in other countries suppressing cultures. She’s in a very manipulative and toxic relationship (who is revealed to be older than he said)
I felt a little weird with both Indigo and Zoe’s relationships being with older men when they’re 17. Indigos isn’t as bad cause he’s at least recently 18 and they know each other. But for Zoe, he is secretly 24 and said he was ~18 (can’t remember exact but it was closer to her age).
Characters: 4/5
Indigo works tirelessly to provide for her and her disabled mother. She clearly is taking on way too much for a 17 year old but that’s just her life. The book has a very sex positive perspective (not in a graphic way but it is present. I did question the age of Josh and then also Khai but once I realized she was only 17, I couldn’t remember their ages (finding that info in an ALC is near impossible).
Zoe has some pretty intense PTSD regarding Wildwood. It played a huge part in her life and ability to create. She also beat cancer (?) and has had pain and fatigue issues ever since.
Kai was also a really complex character and his brother’s drug addiction/his struggles to forgive himself for their current relationship added a ton of depth. However the other side characters all felt pretty one dimensional.
Writing: 3/5
The magic was mixed into the world fairly well, it is kind of odd that Indigo isn’t totally fazed by the development. But it seems like it’s all kind of a metaphor for mental health and trauma. The first few Wolfwood scenes were so immersive, I really saw it through Indigo’s eyes. But the more we got, the more repetitive it felt. And Baer’s direct descriptive style felt very flat in the jungle/fantasy setting.
Indigos internal monologue did feel a bit repetitive at times too as she often repeated the same fears.
There are also some nuanced conversations about homelessness. A character says a homeless man’s opinion doesn’t matter because he’s homeless (re: a racist comment). The MC makes a point to clarify that it’s shitty of the homeless guy to say that stuff but just because he’s homeless, doesn’t mean he isn’t human and doesn’t get opinions.
Overall: 3.5/5
I don’t think this is the authors fault but the cover art does make the MC look potentially Asian which is a little misleading at the MC is white. However, I do think the author does a good job on page of showing diversity, putting her characters into uncomfortable and nuanced situations, and having the MC acknowledge her privilege as a white woman even though she is in poverty.
January 27, 2023
A harsh reality mixes with desperation, the art world, and violent, monstrous fantasy to create a unique experience on a journey of self-discovery.
Zoe can't believe her ears, when the art gallery's owner explains she can sell Zoe's mother's paintings for almost $100,000 a piece. After living in a run-down basement with barely enough food to survive while working two jobs, going to school, and repairing the apartments above them, it's a dream come true. But Zoe soon discovers that her mother hasn't painted the rest of the Wolfwood series and refuses to without reason...and that with even more building debt than Zoe even knew. Zoe's desperate, but she doesn't realize what monsters are hiding behind the story Wolfwood portrays...ones which are out for blood.
Zoe's rough life in poverty smashes full force into the high-class world of art, buyers, and galleries. She's been working two jobs to pay the bills, while her mother suffers heavily from depression and other unaddressed mental issues. Zoe's attitude isn't as negative as one might think, but she does wish there was a way to, at least, lighten the load and earn some real meals. It's hard not to feel for her, especially since she doesn't have any lofty desires. Despite the problems, her relationship with her mother is very good. There are some understandable arguments and misunderstandings, but the love between them is golden.
When Zoe hits the rich world, her desire to somewhat fit in builds one aspect of the plot. She tries to hide her situation, but at the same time, doesn't grow obsessed with reaching the same status...which I appreciated. Her goals stay on pulling her and her mother out of their situation. She makes some bad decisions, but even these are understandable. Even the romance end, which taps constantly on her door, plays in the background as her main goal never waivers. So, there isn't a love at first sight or even heavy concentration on this like is found in many young adult novels. It's there, adds a nice subplot, but doesn't overwhelm.
The gem in this tale comes with the whirl of Wolfwood's fantasy with Zoe's reality. Wolfwood has a very heavy story behind it, one which rotates around Zoe's mother. Zoe has no clue about what truly inspired the series, but when she paints, she's drawn into the very violent, plant-eating world with a group of girls, she's determined to save. These scenes are packed with danger and tension of a very different kind. The tale switches back and forth between Zoe's reality and the one in the paintings. Plus, the mother's own history slides in little by little in its own, shorter chapters. It never grows confusing and is very well laid out, so as to lure the reader in little by little. There were a few moments, where I found myself skimming, but it was more out of curiosity of what would happen next than boredom.
The ending leaves some questions unanswered, but I assume that's the intent. This is a tale, which calls food for thought. The ending is heart-wrenching in several ways, and yet, satisfying, too. I received a DRC through Edelweiss and thoroughly enjoyed the original storytelling.
Zoe can't believe her ears, when the art gallery's owner explains she can sell Zoe's mother's paintings for almost $100,000 a piece. After living in a run-down basement with barely enough food to survive while working two jobs, going to school, and repairing the apartments above them, it's a dream come true. But Zoe soon discovers that her mother hasn't painted the rest of the Wolfwood series and refuses to without reason...and that with even more building debt than Zoe even knew. Zoe's desperate, but she doesn't realize what monsters are hiding behind the story Wolfwood portrays...ones which are out for blood.
Zoe's rough life in poverty smashes full force into the high-class world of art, buyers, and galleries. She's been working two jobs to pay the bills, while her mother suffers heavily from depression and other unaddressed mental issues. Zoe's attitude isn't as negative as one might think, but she does wish there was a way to, at least, lighten the load and earn some real meals. It's hard not to feel for her, especially since she doesn't have any lofty desires. Despite the problems, her relationship with her mother is very good. There are some understandable arguments and misunderstandings, but the love between them is golden.
When Zoe hits the rich world, her desire to somewhat fit in builds one aspect of the plot. She tries to hide her situation, but at the same time, doesn't grow obsessed with reaching the same status...which I appreciated. Her goals stay on pulling her and her mother out of their situation. She makes some bad decisions, but even these are understandable. Even the romance end, which taps constantly on her door, plays in the background as her main goal never waivers. So, there isn't a love at first sight or even heavy concentration on this like is found in many young adult novels. It's there, adds a nice subplot, but doesn't overwhelm.
The gem in this tale comes with the whirl of Wolfwood's fantasy with Zoe's reality. Wolfwood has a very heavy story behind it, one which rotates around Zoe's mother. Zoe has no clue about what truly inspired the series, but when she paints, she's drawn into the very violent, plant-eating world with a group of girls, she's determined to save. These scenes are packed with danger and tension of a very different kind. The tale switches back and forth between Zoe's reality and the one in the paintings. Plus, the mother's own history slides in little by little in its own, shorter chapters. It never grows confusing and is very well laid out, so as to lure the reader in little by little. There were a few moments, where I found myself skimming, but it was more out of curiosity of what would happen next than boredom.
The ending leaves some questions unanswered, but I assume that's the intent. This is a tale, which calls food for thought. The ending is heart-wrenching in several ways, and yet, satisfying, too. I received a DRC through Edelweiss and thoroughly enjoyed the original storytelling.
March 19, 2023
3.5/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley for providing early access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb represents the book accurately: 17-year-old Indigo begins forging her mother Zoe's Wolfwood paintings out of financial desperation, only to discover that the paintings have supernatural properties, somehow pulling her into the world of the painting. The narrative switches between Indigo's day-to-day life of scrambling to make ends meet and tiptoeing around her mother's depressive episodes, her experiences inside the paintings, and short flashbacks of her mother's past and the traumatic events that informed the paintings.
A major theme of the story is Indigo's response to her mother's declining mental health and to their poverty. She doesn't want anyone to know the depth of their struggles, like the fact that they live in a run-down basement or that they've been homeless before or that Indigo works multiple jobs while her mother is too depressed to get off the couch. Indigo feels pressured to shoulder more and more responsibility. She even reaches the point of accepting real-world injuries as a consequence of entering the magical paintings in hopes of making some money. More than anything, this is a story about the consequences of failing to ask for and accept help, the futility of keeping secrets, and the dangers of trying to fix someone else's problems.
The book is at its strongest in the real world, keeping stakes high for Indigo with constant financial pressure and tight deadlines. It's at its weakest in Wolfwood, where the inevitable action sequences are both muddled and flat and where the stakes are nebulous rather than urgent. The violence feels campy when compared to the more mundane horrors of struggling to cover rent, especially since the horrors inside the painting are usually revealed to be just visions and injuries sustained inside are rarely truly dangerous (in particular, the three sisters always magically heal). Many of the Wolfwood painting portions lag, despite being heavily summarized. The characters generally feel fleshed-out and multidimensional, though unfortunately the three sisters of the paintings/past were the least interesting to me.
On diversity: although the cover art cues the protagonist as East Asian, the story makes it clear she's white. I don't think this is the author's fault, but it is potentially misleading. Some of the supporting characters are people of the color, like the Black upstairs neighbors, the half-Japanese love interest, and the wealthy half-black (?) friend, Ravi. Not only are these characters financially diverse, but they also talk about their experiences of being othered. A few characters are mentioned to be gay, though those experiences aren't part of the story at all. The rest of the major characters are either explicitly or assumed straight and white.
Overall, I found the story interesting and engaging, but the lackluster fabulist portions held it back. I'd recommend it to fans of Melissa Albert, especially Our Crooked Hearts. I could also see pitching it to fans of "reincarnated into a video game" Webtoons and manga, since many of those elements are here.
Content warnings: mentions of drug addiction, parental neglect, character death including parental death, not the main character), poverty, homelessness, blood and injury, suicidal ideation, a pretty graphic depiction of an attempted suicide, car accidents, depression and mental illness, emotional manipulation and abuse by a romantic partner, and a minor being tricked into a relationship with an older man.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing early access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb represents the book accurately: 17-year-old Indigo begins forging her mother Zoe's Wolfwood paintings out of financial desperation, only to discover that the paintings have supernatural properties, somehow pulling her into the world of the painting. The narrative switches between Indigo's day-to-day life of scrambling to make ends meet and tiptoeing around her mother's depressive episodes, her experiences inside the paintings, and short flashbacks of her mother's past and the traumatic events that informed the paintings.
A major theme of the story is Indigo's response to her mother's declining mental health and to their poverty. She doesn't want anyone to know the depth of their struggles, like the fact that they live in a run-down basement or that they've been homeless before or that Indigo works multiple jobs while her mother is too depressed to get off the couch. Indigo feels pressured to shoulder more and more responsibility. She even reaches the point of accepting real-world injuries as a consequence of entering the magical paintings in hopes of making some money. More than anything, this is a story about the consequences of failing to ask for and accept help, the futility of keeping secrets, and the dangers of trying to fix someone else's problems.
The book is at its strongest in the real world, keeping stakes high for Indigo with constant financial pressure and tight deadlines. It's at its weakest in Wolfwood, where the inevitable action sequences are both muddled and flat and where the stakes are nebulous rather than urgent. The violence feels campy when compared to the more mundane horrors of struggling to cover rent, especially since the horrors inside the painting are usually revealed to be just visions and injuries sustained inside are rarely truly dangerous (in particular, the three sisters always magically heal). Many of the Wolfwood painting portions lag, despite being heavily summarized. The characters generally feel fleshed-out and multidimensional, though unfortunately the three sisters of the paintings/past were the least interesting to me.
On diversity: although the cover art cues the protagonist as East Asian, the story makes it clear she's white. I don't think this is the author's fault, but it is potentially misleading. Some of the supporting characters are people of the color, like the Black upstairs neighbors, the half-Japanese love interest, and the wealthy half-black (?) friend, Ravi. Not only are these characters financially diverse, but they also talk about their experiences of being othered. A few characters are mentioned to be gay, though those experiences aren't part of the story at all. The rest of the major characters are either explicitly or assumed straight and white.
Overall, I found the story interesting and engaging, but the lackluster fabulist portions held it back. I'd recommend it to fans of Melissa Albert, especially Our Crooked Hearts. I could also see pitching it to fans of "reincarnated into a video game" Webtoons and manga, since many of those elements are here.
Content warnings: mentions of drug addiction, parental neglect, character death including parental death, not the main character), poverty, homelessness, blood and injury, suicidal ideation, a pretty graphic depiction of an attempted suicide, car accidents, depression and mental illness, emotional manipulation and abuse by a romantic partner, and a minor being tricked into a relationship with an older man.
March 18, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up.
I usually try not to request arcs that are so close to the publish date but I'm so glad I did with this one! I loved that the MC is relatable (ymmv). Indigo is a teenager who lives in poverty in one of the most expensive cities in the world and struggles to make ends meet. But she has a talent for art and design and dreams of becoming a fashion designer someday. Her mother, Zoe, suffers from an unnamed mental illness (possibly depression and/or PTSD) and can't work to support either of them.
I liked that the author chose to portray how difficult poverty can be on a family. They live in a basement and help clean the building to lower the cost of rent, while Indigo has to work several other jobs to earn enough money to pay the bills. There's a scene where she doesn't have enough money to buy food at McDonalds and another where she can't afford outdoor concert tickets. At the art gallery where Indigo's mother will show her work, she tries her best to fit in with the rich kids. The writing makes you understand how she feels so out of place, but yet she tries her best to fit in. And her efforts (mostly) work. I think these were all portrayed realistically.
Another strong point of the story is the portrayal of mental illness. Indigo's mother, Zoe, is very depressed and can't find it in herself to work on her famed Wolfwood paintings, which propelled her to fame when she was younger. As much as it was frustrating to read about how Zoe physically and mentally can't find it in herself to get out of the house and support them both, I think it's a very realistic portrayal of clinical depression. (Coming from someone who has firsthand experience.)
I also loved that the narrator, Annalyse McCoy, was absolutely perfect and brought Indigo's voice to life. It added an authentic, richer layer to the narrative itself.
The scenes in Wolfwood, when Indigo mentally dives into the paintings, weren't the best, imo. But then again, I understand things too literally sometimes, so I wasn't quite sure what was going on most of the time with Zoe and the girls. They're running away from danger and they're trying to capture the wolf? I pictured these scenes as Indigo having some kind of trance or mental breakdown and imagines herself in an Alice in Wonderland style world while she paints. She comes out with bruises and cuts from physically "being" in Wolfwood, but in the real world, they aren't really explained. Maybe she's reliving her mother's trauma? Or she's experiencing extreme stress which causes her to self-harm? I think there's different ways to interpret these portions of the novel.
Anyway, I really liked this novel and I hope to read more from Marianna Baer!
Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for this arc.
I usually try not to request arcs that are so close to the publish date but I'm so glad I did with this one! I loved that the MC is relatable (ymmv). Indigo is a teenager who lives in poverty in one of the most expensive cities in the world and struggles to make ends meet. But she has a talent for art and design and dreams of becoming a fashion designer someday. Her mother, Zoe, suffers from an unnamed mental illness (possibly depression and/or PTSD) and can't work to support either of them.
I liked that the author chose to portray how difficult poverty can be on a family. They live in a basement and help clean the building to lower the cost of rent, while Indigo has to work several other jobs to earn enough money to pay the bills. There's a scene where she doesn't have enough money to buy food at McDonalds and another where she can't afford outdoor concert tickets. At the art gallery where Indigo's mother will show her work, she tries her best to fit in with the rich kids. The writing makes you understand how she feels so out of place, but yet she tries her best to fit in. And her efforts (mostly) work. I think these were all portrayed realistically.
Another strong point of the story is the portrayal of mental illness. Indigo's mother, Zoe, is very depressed and can't find it in herself to work on her famed Wolfwood paintings, which propelled her to fame when she was younger. As much as it was frustrating to read about how Zoe physically and mentally can't find it in herself to get out of the house and support them both, I think it's a very realistic portrayal of clinical depression. (Coming from someone who has firsthand experience.)
I also loved that the narrator, Annalyse McCoy, was absolutely perfect and brought Indigo's voice to life. It added an authentic, richer layer to the narrative itself.
The scenes in Wolfwood, when Indigo mentally dives into the paintings, weren't the best, imo. But then again, I understand things too literally sometimes, so I wasn't quite sure what was going on most of the time with Zoe and the girls. They're running away from danger and they're trying to capture the wolf? I pictured these scenes as Indigo having some kind of trance or mental breakdown and imagines herself in an Alice in Wonderland style world while she paints. She comes out with bruises and cuts from physically "being" in Wolfwood, but in the real world, they aren't really explained. Maybe she's reliving her mother's trauma? Or she's experiencing extreme stress which causes her to self-harm? I think there's different ways to interpret these portions of the novel.
Anyway, I really liked this novel and I hope to read more from Marianna Baer!
Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for this arc.
June 9, 2025
oh man, where to begin...
this book left me seriously conflicted after I finished it in regards to how I feel about it. The reason being that the ending is the best part of the book! the last few chapters piqued my interest and engaged me in ways the rest of the book failed to do leading up to it.
first off, the main character. I don't know if the author just doesn't know how to write teenagers but she felt so stiff and disingenuous as a person. despite the fact that she was going through relatable things and I could identify traits that should have connected to me, she never felt like an actual person. Her pov was constantly reminding me that I was reading a book rather than allowing me to get lost in the narrative.
and then, Wolfwood. what should have been the most interesting part of the book was the reason I was feeling sluggish halfway through reading. I was disappointed in the lack of development of this new world. everything in the world felt one dimensional. only at the very end do we start to see and understand what Wolfwood is and how it works.
I think this is where pacing could have saved the book. if only some of the revelations we find towards the end of the book could have happened earlier. so much of the book is just indigo running around stressed. which isn't particularly enjoyable to read about if I'm being honest.
why couldn't the author take more time in bringing Zoe back as an active part of the story? in a lot of ways, Zoe is actually the main character of the book. the flashbacks and Wolfwood revolve around her. when she's in the story, it's interesting. indigo is where things start to go down the drain.
I also wish Wolfwood, and the ability to go to Wolfwood would have been developed more. can only Zoe and Indigo go there? what is it like to find someone painting with their consciousness in Wolfwood? What would have happened if Kai had found Indigo painting the last painting rather than Indigo? what if that's how he found out what's been going on with Indigo rather than us having to just read a conversation.
this book could have been good. but it just missed the mark.
this book left me seriously conflicted after I finished it in regards to how I feel about it. The reason being that the ending is the best part of the book! the last few chapters piqued my interest and engaged me in ways the rest of the book failed to do leading up to it.
first off, the main character. I don't know if the author just doesn't know how to write teenagers but she felt so stiff and disingenuous as a person. despite the fact that she was going through relatable things and I could identify traits that should have connected to me, she never felt like an actual person. Her pov was constantly reminding me that I was reading a book rather than allowing me to get lost in the narrative.
and then, Wolfwood. what should have been the most interesting part of the book was the reason I was feeling sluggish halfway through reading. I was disappointed in the lack of development of this new world. everything in the world felt one dimensional. only at the very end do we start to see and understand what Wolfwood is and how it works.
I think this is where pacing could have saved the book. if only some of the revelations we find towards the end of the book could have happened earlier. so much of the book is just indigo running around stressed. which isn't particularly enjoyable to read about if I'm being honest.
why couldn't the author take more time in bringing Zoe back as an active part of the story? in a lot of ways, Zoe is actually the main character of the book. the flashbacks and Wolfwood revolve around her. when she's in the story, it's interesting. indigo is where things start to go down the drain.
I also wish Wolfwood, and the ability to go to Wolfwood would have been developed more. can only Zoe and Indigo go there? what is it like to find someone painting with their consciousness in Wolfwood? What would have happened if Kai had found Indigo painting the last painting rather than Indigo? what if that's how he found out what's been going on with Indigo rather than us having to just read a conversation.
this book could have been good. but it just missed the mark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 28, 2023Wolfwood by Marianna Baer is a beautiful exploration of the complicated relation between mother and daughter with magical realism entwined in the story.
Wolfwood is Indigo Serra’s one chance to rise above the poverty her and her mother have struggled in for most of Indigo’s life, but her mother refuses to revisit the painting series she started in her youth. Indigo knows that they cannot miss out on this opportunity. They are one misfortune from being back on the streets and Indigo’s multiple jobs are not enough to keep them afloat. So, she does the only thing she can—she begins to paint the next paintings of the Wolfwood series herself. It won’t be for long, she reasons. Her mother will take over soon, once she sees that Indigo was able to get her started. But before she can share her secret with her mother, a new one unfolds. When Indigo paints Wolfwood, she seems to step into the painting’s world.
Baer writes the setting inside of the painting very lushly, while leaving Indigo’s real-world life stark and dingy. She also weaves memories from Zoe Serra, Indigo’s mother, throughout Indigo’s story, providing more context to Indigo’s escapes within Wolfwood. Information from each world is fed to the reader in complementary blocks, so that the ultimate mystery is woven together for a satisfying conclusion.
Indigo herself was a compelling narrator, her struggles are sympathetic and you want her to succeed. You can feel the exhaustion through the pages as she tries to balance her many jobs while she manages her mother’s emotions. Their relationship is unhealthy and difficult to watch, while also being understandable. Baer clearly lays the groundwork for their enmeshment and while I struggle to have sympathy for Zoe, I see why Indigo feels the way she does about her mother. Ultimately, it was frustrating watching Indigo drown under the weight of all that she was dealing with but never so much that I had to put the book down and turn away.
Wolfwood is Indigo Serra’s one chance to rise above the poverty her and her mother have struggled in for most of Indigo’s life, but her mother refuses to revisit the painting series she started in her youth. Indigo knows that they cannot miss out on this opportunity. They are one misfortune from being back on the streets and Indigo’s multiple jobs are not enough to keep them afloat. So, she does the only thing she can—she begins to paint the next paintings of the Wolfwood series herself. It won’t be for long, she reasons. Her mother will take over soon, once she sees that Indigo was able to get her started. But before she can share her secret with her mother, a new one unfolds. When Indigo paints Wolfwood, she seems to step into the painting’s world.
Baer writes the setting inside of the painting very lushly, while leaving Indigo’s real-world life stark and dingy. She also weaves memories from Zoe Serra, Indigo’s mother, throughout Indigo’s story, providing more context to Indigo’s escapes within Wolfwood. Information from each world is fed to the reader in complementary blocks, so that the ultimate mystery is woven together for a satisfying conclusion.
Indigo herself was a compelling narrator, her struggles are sympathetic and you want her to succeed. You can feel the exhaustion through the pages as she tries to balance her many jobs while she manages her mother’s emotions. Their relationship is unhealthy and difficult to watch, while also being understandable. Baer clearly lays the groundwork for their enmeshment and while I struggle to have sympathy for Zoe, I see why Indigo feels the way she does about her mother. Ultimately, it was frustrating watching Indigo drown under the weight of all that she was dealing with but never so much that I had to put the book down and turn away.
March 29, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, Amulet Books, Marianna Baer, and Annalyse McCoy (narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Wolfwood in exchange for an honest review.
Indigo's mother, Zoe, is a painter. Or, was, until she had a massive breakdown and stopped painting. Once famous for a series of paintings that tell a story, Wolfwood, she has quite the fanbase that want more, but she just won't paint.
When Indigo finds out how much one person is willing to pay for a single of her mother's Wolfwood paintings, she knows it will finally mean stepping out of poverty and into a life of stability. But her mom still refuses to paint, so Indigo takes the situation into her own hands and copies her mother's style to complete the Wolfwood painting series. But who is the wolf, and can Indigo replicate the style and end the story her mother always planned?
When Indigo paints, she is pulled into the world of the paintings themselves, with monstrous man-eating plants battling against a band of sisters. Reality and fantasy blur as she works on the paintings.
This novel is an interesting concept with its use of art and surrealism. The parts where Indigo "blacks out" or enters Wolfwood have a fine line that make the reader feel the same way as the character: is this real or all in her head? I find the topic of painting to be used sometimes in novels, but not often enough, and the story presented here is certainly an intriguing one.
With touches upon mental health and the line between poverty and survival, this book has much deeper meanings than the surface of a painting. Like visual art, this novel paints its own story, and it is an excellent stand-alone for a young adult audience.
Indigo's mother, Zoe, is a painter. Or, was, until she had a massive breakdown and stopped painting. Once famous for a series of paintings that tell a story, Wolfwood, she has quite the fanbase that want more, but she just won't paint.
When Indigo finds out how much one person is willing to pay for a single of her mother's Wolfwood paintings, she knows it will finally mean stepping out of poverty and into a life of stability. But her mom still refuses to paint, so Indigo takes the situation into her own hands and copies her mother's style to complete the Wolfwood painting series. But who is the wolf, and can Indigo replicate the style and end the story her mother always planned?
When Indigo paints, she is pulled into the world of the paintings themselves, with monstrous man-eating plants battling against a band of sisters. Reality and fantasy blur as she works on the paintings.
This novel is an interesting concept with its use of art and surrealism. The parts where Indigo "blacks out" or enters Wolfwood have a fine line that make the reader feel the same way as the character: is this real or all in her head? I find the topic of painting to be used sometimes in novels, but not often enough, and the story presented here is certainly an intriguing one.
With touches upon mental health and the line between poverty and survival, this book has much deeper meanings than the surface of a painting. Like visual art, this novel paints its own story, and it is an excellent stand-alone for a young adult audience.
July 16, 2025
This was a great one, and it was also the AYA book club pick. I loved it. I posted a review to my libraries reading program and forgot to share those few thoughts over here!!
I think this book would be perfect for those that loved House of Hollow and The Hazel Wood, the former being a favorite for me.
While I am always wanting to know more about the outliers in the books, I think we got a really good look into why our main character, Indigo, was up to the things she was up to. I think the story was a little lacking on world building and felt more like an unfinished world and less like a fall into "madness" which I do think our main girl was showing signs of some mental health issues brought in by a certain element of this plot. I felt like the "I'm going to be a normal girl" parts felt a little modge podged in. I was most interested in the idea of the world though main character and her mother, Zoe, were privy to
I could have done more with that side of things, at times this book also reminded me of Rules for Vanishing but I couldn't tell you why
I am recommending this like I said to people that like the writing of Melissa Albert and Krystal Sutherland
I had a great time reading this thank
I think this book would be perfect for those that loved House of Hollow and The Hazel Wood, the former being a favorite for me.
While I am always wanting to know more about the outliers in the books, I think we got a really good look into why our main character, Indigo, was up to the things she was up to. I think the story was a little lacking on world building and felt more like an unfinished world and less like a fall into "madness" which I do think our main girl was showing signs of some mental health issues brought in by a certain element of this plot. I felt like the "I'm going to be a normal girl" parts felt a little modge podged in. I was most interested in the idea of the world though main character and her mother, Zoe, were privy to
I could have done more with that side of things, at times this book also reminded me of Rules for Vanishing but I couldn't tell you why
I am recommending this like I said to people that like the writing of Melissa Albert and Krystal Sutherland
I had a great time reading this thank
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