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Fear the Wolf
In Senla Nora's village, the children are raised to remember one rule above all else: "Fear the Wolf."
To fear the Wolf is to know your place. If any villager were to step out of line, the Wolf would emerge from the surrounding forest and massacre every man, woman, and child.
For a simple garment weaver like Senla Nora, knowing her place should be easy. Yet Senla dreams of abandoning her assigned duty and becoming a fearless warrior like her best friend, Reni, the woman she loves but is forbidden to be with.
When the Wolf devastates her village, Senla sets out—racked with guilt and bloodthirsty for revenge—to hunt down the enormous white beast. She must become the skilled swordswoman she has always wanted to be. To survive in the forest, she will need to fight vicious creatures, outsmart violent nomads, and ally with the unlikeliest of beings.
If she fails, no village will ever be safe again … and Senla will never discover what it truly means to fear the Wolf.
Fear the Wolf is a dark fantasy tale full of action, suspense, and plot twists that will keep you guessing until the very end.
To fear the Wolf is to know your place. If any villager were to step out of line, the Wolf would emerge from the surrounding forest and massacre every man, woman, and child.
For a simple garment weaver like Senla Nora, knowing her place should be easy. Yet Senla dreams of abandoning her assigned duty and becoming a fearless warrior like her best friend, Reni, the woman she loves but is forbidden to be with.
When the Wolf devastates her village, Senla sets out—racked with guilt and bloodthirsty for revenge—to hunt down the enormous white beast. She must become the skilled swordswoman she has always wanted to be. To survive in the forest, she will need to fight vicious creatures, outsmart violent nomads, and ally with the unlikeliest of beings.
If she fails, no village will ever be safe again … and Senla will never discover what it truly means to fear the Wolf.
Fear the Wolf is a dark fantasy tale full of action, suspense, and plot twists that will keep you guessing until the very end.
- GenresFantasyDark FantasyLGBT
289 pages, ebook
Published April 12, 2019
56 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Butcher
10 books126 followersAndrew Butcher writes supernatural suspense and dark fantasy tales brimming with fascinating characters, tantalizing mysteries, and jaw-dropping plot twists. After releasing his first novel, A Death Displaced, Andrew Butcher focused on continuing the Lansin Island series while helping thousands of fellow writers to realize their dreams through his online creative writing course, Write a Novel Outline from Scratch.
More interested in telling a good story than following the 'rules' of genre, Andrew takes an eclectic approach to his fiction. His paranormal suspense novels are sprinkled with elements of fantasy, mystery, and family drama. His dark fantasy tale, Fear the Wolf, is full of action, suspense, and enough mystery to keep readers guessing until the very end. Fantasy Book Critic described Fear the Wolf as "an intriguing new angle on the formula" and "a solid, well-structured book that should appeal to readers enjoying dark and intimate stories."
When Andrew isn't reading, writing, or binge-watching TV shows, he enjoys hand-feeding his pet tortoise and daydreaming about imaginary worlds filled with unforgettable characters.
More interested in telling a good story than following the 'rules' of genre, Andrew takes an eclectic approach to his fiction. His paranormal suspense novels are sprinkled with elements of fantasy, mystery, and family drama. His dark fantasy tale, Fear the Wolf, is full of action, suspense, and enough mystery to keep readers guessing until the very end. Fantasy Book Critic described Fear the Wolf as "an intriguing new angle on the formula" and "a solid, well-structured book that should appeal to readers enjoying dark and intimate stories."
When Andrew isn't reading, writing, or binge-watching TV shows, he enjoys hand-feeding his pet tortoise and daydreaming about imaginary worlds filled with unforgettable characters.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 7, 2019
3.50 Stars. This was a solid fantasy read. I would put this in the category of dark fantasy and maybe even new adult. I think the best way to describe this would be Little Red Riding Hood on steroids. At least I felt like some inspiration could have come from Red but the story is plenty different not some remake. I personally don’t like dark fantasy as much as high or epic as it tends to have a bit of a depressing feel, but that doesn’t take away from this being a well written story.
This is a story about Senla who lives in a village where the most important thing is to “fear the wolf”. You are to do as you are told, respect you elders, and be happy with the plain life you are given. Art, expressing one’s self, and really having a difference of opinion is thought to bring death upon you by the wolf. Senla, is not doing well in the village. She chafes under the restrictions and yearns for freedom. Will her rebellious ways finally catch up with her?
I did mention I felt this could go in the NA category. That is because of Senla’s age and the age of most of the other important characters. Part of the story is also about Senla growing-up, coming of age so parts had that YA/NA feel. However, I do want to make clear that this is still plenty dark. There is a lot of violence and plenty of death. I should also add in another trigger warning that rape is threatened.
I do want to mention this doesn’t have much of a romance. Senla is bisexual, she talked about being attracted to both men and women, but in this book she only has relationships with women. There are a few kisses and one fade to black sex scene but nothing explicit. Again, I would not really call it a romance but two characters that care for each other and are just starting to get to know one another.
I thought the world building overall could have been better. The villages and why the act the way they do is well explained but the earth being changed was barely talked about. It was mentioned so little I don’t even know what to call the event that happened. There were two big twists that I did not see coming. One seemed out of left field and while I was all for it being discussed in a book, it felt rushed and the storyline underdeveloped. The other twist I should have seen coming, but didn’t and I enjoyed it more. There has been some question about if this might have a sequel. My opinion is I’m good with how the book ended and I don’t think one is needed.
My last issue and why I can’t rate this book as high as I was hoping really was the main character. She is fine and sometime even interesting. The problem was I wanted more. I wanted to bleed with her and have my heart ache when hers did. I wanted to care so much that the danger of death almost made it too hard to read… but it just didn’t happen. The best fantasy books are with characters that just grip you and don’t let go. Once again Senla is a perfectly fine character, I didn’t dislike her or anything, I was just hoping for great.
There are some bumps but I thought most of the book was well imagined and well written. Right now this book is priced at only 0.99 on Amazon. Don’t let that price fool you. The story is quality and well done even if I didn’t always love all the story choices. But again I’m not the biggest dark fantasy fan so you might enjoy this one even more than I did.
A copy was given to me from https://lezreviewbooks.com for a honest review.
This is a story about Senla who lives in a village where the most important thing is to “fear the wolf”. You are to do as you are told, respect you elders, and be happy with the plain life you are given. Art, expressing one’s self, and really having a difference of opinion is thought to bring death upon you by the wolf. Senla, is not doing well in the village. She chafes under the restrictions and yearns for freedom. Will her rebellious ways finally catch up with her?
I did mention I felt this could go in the NA category. That is because of Senla’s age and the age of most of the other important characters. Part of the story is also about Senla growing-up, coming of age so parts had that YA/NA feel. However, I do want to make clear that this is still plenty dark. There is a lot of violence and plenty of death. I should also add in another trigger warning that rape is threatened.
I do want to mention this doesn’t have much of a romance. Senla is bisexual, she talked about being attracted to both men and women, but in this book she only has relationships with women. There are a few kisses and one fade to black sex scene but nothing explicit. Again, I would not really call it a romance but two characters that care for each other and are just starting to get to know one another.
I thought the world building overall could have been better. The villages and why the act the way they do is well explained but the earth being changed was barely talked about. It was mentioned so little I don’t even know what to call the event that happened. There were two big twists that I did not see coming. One seemed out of left field and while I was all for it being discussed in a book, it felt rushed and the storyline underdeveloped. The other twist I should have seen coming, but didn’t and I enjoyed it more. There has been some question about if this might have a sequel. My opinion is I’m good with how the book ended and I don’t think one is needed.
My last issue and why I can’t rate this book as high as I was hoping really was the main character. She is fine and sometime even interesting. The problem was I wanted more. I wanted to bleed with her and have my heart ache when hers did. I wanted to care so much that the danger of death almost made it too hard to read… but it just didn’t happen. The best fantasy books are with characters that just grip you and don’t let go. Once again Senla is a perfectly fine character, I didn’t dislike her or anything, I was just hoping for great.
There are some bumps but I thought most of the book was well imagined and well written. Right now this book is priced at only 0.99 on Amazon. Don’t let that price fool you. The story is quality and well done even if I didn’t always love all the story choices. But again I’m not the biggest dark fantasy fan so you might enjoy this one even more than I did.
A copy was given to me from https://lezreviewbooks.com for a honest review.
April 24, 2020
This book follows Senla as she grows up and develops in a village where children are taught only 2 main things... know your place and fear The Wolf! But Senla is not going to let silly superstition hold her back from being herself is she? Will she be able to right her wrongs before The Wolf catches up with her?
This was a well written story. Great character development. However I thought the world building could use some work as I had trouble seeing things around the characters clearly.
I did have another issue and that is that the twists, while good, were out of nowhere it seemed. Like BAM there it is and after it hits you, you're left feeling the "WTF just happened?" after effects. While this is a good thing in most books (to be surprised) in this book it did not feel that way. It felt rushed almost. It's hard to describe.
This book also reminded me a lot of the film The Village 2004. It has a lot of the same premises as the film does. I was wondering throughout reading the book if it would end the same way the film did.
But overall, I enjoyed the coming of age, dark fantasy with even a little sprinkle of romance to top it off. It was a very decent read. I'd recommend this book to those who like dark fantasy and YA.
This was a well written story. Great character development. However I thought the world building could use some work as I had trouble seeing things around the characters clearly.
I did have another issue and that is that the twists, while good, were out of nowhere it seemed. Like BAM there it is and after it hits you, you're left feeling the "WTF just happened?" after effects. While this is a good thing in most books (to be surprised) in this book it did not feel that way. It felt rushed almost. It's hard to describe.
This book also reminded me a lot of the film The Village 2004. It has a lot of the same premises as the film does. I was wondering throughout reading the book if it would end the same way the film did.
But overall, I enjoyed the coming of age, dark fantasy with even a little sprinkle of romance to top it off. It was a very decent read. I'd recommend this book to those who like dark fantasy and YA.
September 14, 2019
I received a copy of Fear the Wolf from BookSirens for review Considerations. This in no way influences my opinion of this book.
Trigger warnings: Violence and Death, moderately explicit. There is non-explicit sex. There’s also an attempted rape scene which continues to haunt after with flashbacks.
Fear the Wolf is a dark fantasy thriller set in a mysterious world that was torn apart by a great cataclysm. And in this world, people live a life overshadowed by fear and a taught as children to Fear the Wolf and never presume too much. Because The Wolf is not like other beasts. She’s ancient. And she reminds the people who they are and, more importantly, who they’re not!
“To fear the Wolf is to know your place. To fear the Wolf is to never presume too much. If any villager were to step out of line, the Wolf would descend upon them all.“
This story features Protagonist Senla who lives in a village where the most important thing is to “fear the wolf”. You are to do as you are told, and be happy with the plain life you are given. Art, expressing one’s self, and really having a difference of opinion is thought to bring death upon you by the wolf.
"For a simple garment weaver like Senla Nora, knowing her place should be easy. But Senla’s never been good at following orders."
She keeps forgetting her place and presuming too much, bringing grief and shame upon her mother and her entire village. Because, after all, if Senla presumes too much, she might insult the Wolf and bring disaster upon the village. Raised by a strict and deeply unhappy mother, Senla constantly rebels at the restrictions set by the village rules and yearns for more. Being taught to fear even making decisions for herself, Senla rebels and breaks the rules.
I also found it interesting that Senla was raised vegetarian and chose to stay that way. I expected her to throw off her dietary restrictions when she rejected most of the rules of her old village, especially since other characters were encouraging her to eat meat so she could survive in the forest. But she decided to live her way and accept that others might make different choices.
It wasn’t preaching vegetarianism, it was more about accepting that every person had to choose their own way of life and people with different beliefs could coexist. To be Honest, I would have done the exact same thing, I’ve been vegetarian for quite a while now, and I really don’t think I would be able to just give that up, even for survival. I have read very few books actually featuring Characters who are Vegetarian so that was a plus for me.
Fear the Wolf is a dark tale that points out humanity’s deepest fears and apprehensions, woven onto a perhaps even darker background of a journey of self-discovery shadowed by wild creatures, a mysterious plague and worst of all, the darkest side of human nature. And from under all that darkness, hope blooms, followed by love and acceptance.
There is not much romance in this story which I prefer anyway as I’m not that interested in a lot of Romance in Books, I prefer it kept to a Minimum. Senla is bisexual, she talked about being attracted to both men and women, but only has relationships with women throughout this book, I mean if you want to call it that.
I thought the world building overall could have been better. The villages and why the act the way they do is well explained but the earth being changed was barely talked about, this might have annoyed me in some other books, but I didn’t really have a problem with it in this book. I’m Okay with how the book ended though. There are some bumps but I thought most of the book was well imagined and well written.
I honestly really enjoyed this story and I would recommend it anyone looking for a quick YA Fantasy that drops you into a world and lets you discover it yourself. I found the pacing good and there was always something going on, it didn’t feel like I was struggling or trudging through just to get to the end of the book. I didn’t feel like the story was rushed considering how short it was either, except the end was a bit rushed as there was a lot of build up and then it was over, but I still loved this story.
Trigger warnings: Violence and Death, moderately explicit. There is non-explicit sex. There’s also an attempted rape scene which continues to haunt after with flashbacks.
Fear the Wolf is a dark fantasy thriller set in a mysterious world that was torn apart by a great cataclysm. And in this world, people live a life overshadowed by fear and a taught as children to Fear the Wolf and never presume too much. Because The Wolf is not like other beasts. She’s ancient. And she reminds the people who they are and, more importantly, who they’re not!
“To fear the Wolf is to know your place. To fear the Wolf is to never presume too much. If any villager were to step out of line, the Wolf would descend upon them all.“
This story features Protagonist Senla who lives in a village where the most important thing is to “fear the wolf”. You are to do as you are told, and be happy with the plain life you are given. Art, expressing one’s self, and really having a difference of opinion is thought to bring death upon you by the wolf.
"For a simple garment weaver like Senla Nora, knowing her place should be easy. But Senla’s never been good at following orders."
She keeps forgetting her place and presuming too much, bringing grief and shame upon her mother and her entire village. Because, after all, if Senla presumes too much, she might insult the Wolf and bring disaster upon the village. Raised by a strict and deeply unhappy mother, Senla constantly rebels at the restrictions set by the village rules and yearns for more. Being taught to fear even making decisions for herself, Senla rebels and breaks the rules.
I also found it interesting that Senla was raised vegetarian and chose to stay that way. I expected her to throw off her dietary restrictions when she rejected most of the rules of her old village, especially since other characters were encouraging her to eat meat so she could survive in the forest. But she decided to live her way and accept that others might make different choices.
It wasn’t preaching vegetarianism, it was more about accepting that every person had to choose their own way of life and people with different beliefs could coexist. To be Honest, I would have done the exact same thing, I’ve been vegetarian for quite a while now, and I really don’t think I would be able to just give that up, even for survival. I have read very few books actually featuring Characters who are Vegetarian so that was a plus for me.
Fear the Wolf is a dark tale that points out humanity’s deepest fears and apprehensions, woven onto a perhaps even darker background of a journey of self-discovery shadowed by wild creatures, a mysterious plague and worst of all, the darkest side of human nature. And from under all that darkness, hope blooms, followed by love and acceptance.
There is not much romance in this story which I prefer anyway as I’m not that interested in a lot of Romance in Books, I prefer it kept to a Minimum. Senla is bisexual, she talked about being attracted to both men and women, but only has relationships with women throughout this book, I mean if you want to call it that.
I thought the world building overall could have been better. The villages and why the act the way they do is well explained but the earth being changed was barely talked about, this might have annoyed me in some other books, but I didn’t really have a problem with it in this book. I’m Okay with how the book ended though. There are some bumps but I thought most of the book was well imagined and well written.
I honestly really enjoyed this story and I would recommend it anyone looking for a quick YA Fantasy that drops you into a world and lets you discover it yourself. I found the pacing good and there was always something going on, it didn’t feel like I was struggling or trudging through just to get to the end of the book. I didn’t feel like the story was rushed considering how short it was either, except the end was a bit rushed as there was a lot of build up and then it was over, but I still loved this story.
September 14, 2019
3.5 Stars Thank you for allowing me to read & review!
This was a pure YA/NA bildungsroman high fantasy read. It had a solid world built and an original storyline, which is hard to find these days. The connections/transitions in the plot could use some work as at times things were either confusing or random; however, the story overall was great and it was a quick read.
I liked that this YA/NA wasn’t explicit with the sex (another thing that’s hard to come by since everyone wants to imitate SJM) and had a diverse MC! #bisexualrep!! That’s what caught my attention and held it but I wish I could have loved her more outside of a modern-day label. I wanted more from her (maybe for her to grow more?) I’m not sure what it was but I was waiting. Making a reader wait for anything is never a good sign...
Note: I’d add some trigger warnings to this though for those that don’t know what YA/NA high fantasy books usually entail.
EDIT: Also I just want to point out that I picked up this book because of the amazing cover (very unlike me). So, shout out the cover designer because sometimes a great cover can get someone to open the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a pure YA/NA bildungsroman high fantasy read. It had a solid world built and an original storyline, which is hard to find these days. The connections/transitions in the plot could use some work as at times things were either confusing or random; however, the story overall was great and it was a quick read.
I liked that this YA/NA wasn’t explicit with the sex (another thing that’s hard to come by since everyone wants to imitate SJM) and had a diverse MC! #bisexualrep!! That’s what caught my attention and held it but I wish I could have loved her more outside of a modern-day label. I wanted more from her (maybe for her to grow more?) I’m not sure what it was but I was waiting. Making a reader wait for anything is never a good sign...
Note: I’d add some trigger warnings to this though for those that don’t know what YA/NA high fantasy books usually entail.
EDIT: Also I just want to point out that I picked up this book because of the amazing cover (very unlike me). So, shout out the cover designer because sometimes a great cover can get someone to open the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 17, 2019
Fear the Wolf is a small-scale dark fantasy in which Senla (the protagonist) faces her desires and fears. In her village, children are raised in fear of the Wolf and taught to know their place and follow the orders. She's no good at it, and her desires don't fit societal norms.
Fear the Wolf has a lot going on: forbidden love, secrets, moments of dark introspection, a mysterious and devastating plague, dangerous monsters, and a young woman who wants to find her inner strength to slay the Wolf (both physically and metaphorically). All of these ingredients make for an engaging story.
On the surface, it draws from classic fantasy novels, as it features the troubled, naive adventurer leaving a destroyed home, seeking answers, and meeting unique and unlikely partners that help her survive, succeed and grow as a character. However, the predictable elements stop there, as Butcher has crafted an intriguing new angle on the formula, and demonstrates his skills as a storyteller from the very first page.
While I appreciate the build-up and strong reveals, I didn't fully warm up to Senla as a character. I enjoyed parts of the story but wasn't keen on others. I think I understand the final confrontation leading to important reveal, but I wasn't fully satisfied with it.
Overall, it's a solid, well-structured book that should appeal to readers enjoying dark and intimate stories.
SPFBO rating: 6/10
Fear the Wolf has a lot going on: forbidden love, secrets, moments of dark introspection, a mysterious and devastating plague, dangerous monsters, and a young woman who wants to find her inner strength to slay the Wolf (both physically and metaphorically). All of these ingredients make for an engaging story.
On the surface, it draws from classic fantasy novels, as it features the troubled, naive adventurer leaving a destroyed home, seeking answers, and meeting unique and unlikely partners that help her survive, succeed and grow as a character. However, the predictable elements stop there, as Butcher has crafted an intriguing new angle on the formula, and demonstrates his skills as a storyteller from the very first page.
While I appreciate the build-up and strong reveals, I didn't fully warm up to Senla as a character. I enjoyed parts of the story but wasn't keen on others. I think I understand the final confrontation leading to important reveal, but I wasn't fully satisfied with it.
Overall, it's a solid, well-structured book that should appeal to readers enjoying dark and intimate stories.
SPFBO rating: 6/10
June 10, 2021
This is a unique fantasy book. The writing style is very good, and the character development is great. There are some really good fantasy adventure scenes, and then there are some awkward scenes. I learned quite a bit from reading this book.
1. Having differences is not necessarily a weakness.
2. We don't always get to choose our friends, sometimes they choose us.
3. Our friends can be our best friends, worst enemies, or a combination of both.
One phrase that tended to float through my mind as I read this book was, "Hanibal is at the gates." It was a phrase Roman parents used to tell their children to invoke fear in them so that they would behave.
1. Having differences is not necessarily a weakness.
2. We don't always get to choose our friends, sometimes they choose us.
3. Our friends can be our best friends, worst enemies, or a combination of both.
One phrase that tended to float through my mind as I read this book was, "Hanibal is at the gates." It was a phrase Roman parents used to tell their children to invoke fear in them so that they would behave.
August 17, 2019
Tried to read it but its not my kind of book. Not into paranormal.
July 2, 2019
When I wrote this review (which was originally for Big Al and Pals) the author was given as S J Sparrows. Now it is given as Andrew Butcher. It is definitely the same book. This is the writing CV Butcher has on Amazon "[he] wrote and released his first novel, 'A Death Displaced', at the age of twenty-one. Since then, he has written more books in the same series and has branched out into writing nonfiction and teaching creative writing online. Over 5,000 students have enrolled in his highly rated course 'Write a Novel Outline from Scratch', and his books have often hit the #1 spot for their categories on Amazon and other online retailers. The fiction genres he writes in are a mix of paranormal fantasy, paranormal mystery, urban fantasy, ghost stories, and paranormal suspense."
There is a prologue in which people we have not yet been introduced to chase an enormous white wolf. This is doubtless to get a bit of action in early. The book proper is quite slow to get going. It paints its first pictures in muted colours – the colours of the village. We learn that the village lives in fear of anyone who ‘presumes too much’ and brings the wrath of the wolf down on the whole community. The ideal is to be unexceptional. Outside the village are nomads who roam and trade. They are sometimes free spirits, sometimes wild and violent. Nobody is well educated.
There is an element of stereotyping, one might think, in the diametrically opposed communities – the villagers living on the edge of the wildwood, the nomads within and criss-crossing it. Dangerous animals live in the forest: night-apes, foxes, wolflings, and the great white wolf. There is also a sickness for which there is no cure. All this goes to encourage the villagers to stay quietly in their own place.
You might think, then, that this sounds like a novel of stereotypes. And in a way you’d be right. But this is a novel which only came out in April of 2019 and it has the zeitgeist firmly in its teeth – the polarisation of communities in both the US and here in the UK (Brexit! Aaargh!), the diminution of personal liberty in a search for greater security, the loss of excellence in a quest for conformity, suspicion and fear of ‘the other’ – the incomer who is not ‘us’. It wears its political allegories lightly but they are definitely there in the examination of “the most basic human fears and insecurities”.
The main protagonist is Senla. She has been rebelling against her dreary life since she was a small child. She is the grief of her mother who is always sharp with her. Senla’s mother is a deeply unhappy woman who, along with the rest of the village finds Senla ‘presumes too much’. However, Senla, we learn, is an exceptional person, forged in adversity. How will the village deal with her? How does that Prologue fit into what is to come?
There were some minor frustrations for this reader. The first was a mention in the blurb of this novel being set in “a mysterious world that was torn apart by a great cataclysm”. This cataclysm is occasionally mentioned. But no reason for it, or result from it is ever offered. Checkov reckoned that (in fiction) if a gun was seen to be hanging over the fireplace in the first act of the story, then it needed to be fired in the third. The ‘cataclysm’ gun is still hanging over the fireplace, and the story is finished.
A second frustration was that every time Senla exerted herself we were given a litany of every scratch, wound, sore, and ache – all of which would promptly be forgotten next time she needed to run or fight. The listings often started during action sequences, slowing them down. I learned to skip past them: you may wish to do the same. And a third was an authorial fondness for the phrase ‘off of’ which exists nowhere in the English language.
However, this is an interesting book which has much to say about the times we are living in as well as telling an exciting story which gathers pace as it unfolds.
Do let me mention that one of the threads of this book hangs on a comma! Yes, that itsy bitsy grammatical mark. I can’t say more because of spoilers – but I hope you enjoy that powerful little comma as much as I did when you come to it.
With the change of author name there may have been some authorial revisions. I have not checked. Although I am told that the 'off ofs' are no more: huzzah!
There is a prologue in which people we have not yet been introduced to chase an enormous white wolf. This is doubtless to get a bit of action in early. The book proper is quite slow to get going. It paints its first pictures in muted colours – the colours of the village. We learn that the village lives in fear of anyone who ‘presumes too much’ and brings the wrath of the wolf down on the whole community. The ideal is to be unexceptional. Outside the village are nomads who roam and trade. They are sometimes free spirits, sometimes wild and violent. Nobody is well educated.
There is an element of stereotyping, one might think, in the diametrically opposed communities – the villagers living on the edge of the wildwood, the nomads within and criss-crossing it. Dangerous animals live in the forest: night-apes, foxes, wolflings, and the great white wolf. There is also a sickness for which there is no cure. All this goes to encourage the villagers to stay quietly in their own place.
You might think, then, that this sounds like a novel of stereotypes. And in a way you’d be right. But this is a novel which only came out in April of 2019 and it has the zeitgeist firmly in its teeth – the polarisation of communities in both the US and here in the UK (Brexit! Aaargh!), the diminution of personal liberty in a search for greater security, the loss of excellence in a quest for conformity, suspicion and fear of ‘the other’ – the incomer who is not ‘us’. It wears its political allegories lightly but they are definitely there in the examination of “the most basic human fears and insecurities”.
The main protagonist is Senla. She has been rebelling against her dreary life since she was a small child. She is the grief of her mother who is always sharp with her. Senla’s mother is a deeply unhappy woman who, along with the rest of the village finds Senla ‘presumes too much’. However, Senla, we learn, is an exceptional person, forged in adversity. How will the village deal with her? How does that Prologue fit into what is to come?
There were some minor frustrations for this reader. The first was a mention in the blurb of this novel being set in “a mysterious world that was torn apart by a great cataclysm”. This cataclysm is occasionally mentioned. But no reason for it, or result from it is ever offered. Checkov reckoned that (in fiction) if a gun was seen to be hanging over the fireplace in the first act of the story, then it needed to be fired in the third. The ‘cataclysm’ gun is still hanging over the fireplace, and the story is finished.
A second frustration was that every time Senla exerted herself we were given a litany of every scratch, wound, sore, and ache – all of which would promptly be forgotten next time she needed to run or fight. The listings often started during action sequences, slowing them down. I learned to skip past them: you may wish to do the same. And a third was an authorial fondness for the phrase ‘off of’ which exists nowhere in the English language.
However, this is an interesting book which has much to say about the times we are living in as well as telling an exciting story which gathers pace as it unfolds.
Do let me mention that one of the threads of this book hangs on a comma! Yes, that itsy bitsy grammatical mark. I can’t say more because of spoilers – but I hope you enjoy that powerful little comma as much as I did when you come to it.
With the change of author name there may have been some authorial revisions. I have not checked. Although I am told that the 'off ofs' are no more: huzzah!
July 17, 2019
This is a dark fantasy, and from the start, it was difficult not to compare it to the Yarnsworld novels by Benedict Patrick. A village in the forest, with villagers full of superstitions to protect their simple lives, threatened by mysterious dark creatures with supernatural powers. The villagers have lots of rules for dealing with these threats, but they don’t really understand their world or how it works. But unlike Yarnsworld, there are no elaborate folktales. This story is less about finding out the source of the Wild Forces and more about the personal struggles of Senla to find where she belongs.
The story is a classic fantasy quest: a giant monster has killed everyone in Senla’s village and she seeks revenge. She must learn how to fight and navigate a dangerous forest to find the foe. With these common elements, the story is still unique in the way it’s told and how things transpire. At times, the narrative can drag a little because Senla tends to repeat many of the same questions in her head, and she spends a lot of time wandering around until she stumbles on the next thing, but overall it was compelling.
I also found it interesting that Senla was raised vegetarian and chose to stay that way. I expected her to throw off her dietary restrictions when she rejected most of the rules of her old village, especially since other characters were encouraging her to eat meat so she could survive in the forest. But she decided to live her way and accept that others might make different choices. It wasn’t preaching vegetarianism, it was more about accepting that every person had to choose their own way of life and people with different beliefs could coexist. This tied into the overall theme of the book about personal growth and making personal moral choices instead of following strict rules without question.
In the end, it’s not just about physical strength to win the day. Senla must also understand herself and the world in order to make the right choice. I was left with some questions about what happened and there is an opening for a sequel, although there’s no indication if this is planned as a series.
Trigger warnings: violence and death, moderately explicit. There is non-explicit sex. There’s also an attempted rape scene which continues to haunt after with flashbacks.
LGBTQ content: the main character is a lesbian. The story starts with her unrequited feelings for her best friend, who is about to marry a man. It’s interesting to note that Senla’s village used to accept same-sex partners but after too many people are killed, their elders wanted to replace the population, so they’re forcing everyone into breeding pairs. Accepting herself and finding likeminded people is a driving force for the main character. Also, one character appears to be intersex but it’s described vaguely and comes out of left field (no hints before to set up the twist). I think it could have been handled better, but it’s rare to see intersex people mentioned in fiction at all.
I would recommend this book to readers of dark fantasy, including Tanith Lee, Neil Gaiman, and Terri Windling. Yarnsworld readers may enjoy similar elements or may be disappointed by the less detailed world-building.
The story is a classic fantasy quest: a giant monster has killed everyone in Senla’s village and she seeks revenge. She must learn how to fight and navigate a dangerous forest to find the foe. With these common elements, the story is still unique in the way it’s told and how things transpire. At times, the narrative can drag a little because Senla tends to repeat many of the same questions in her head, and she spends a lot of time wandering around until she stumbles on the next thing, but overall it was compelling.
I also found it interesting that Senla was raised vegetarian and chose to stay that way. I expected her to throw off her dietary restrictions when she rejected most of the rules of her old village, especially since other characters were encouraging her to eat meat so she could survive in the forest. But she decided to live her way and accept that others might make different choices. It wasn’t preaching vegetarianism, it was more about accepting that every person had to choose their own way of life and people with different beliefs could coexist. This tied into the overall theme of the book about personal growth and making personal moral choices instead of following strict rules without question.
In the end, it’s not just about physical strength to win the day. Senla must also understand herself and the world in order to make the right choice. I was left with some questions about what happened and there is an opening for a sequel, although there’s no indication if this is planned as a series.
Trigger warnings: violence and death, moderately explicit. There is non-explicit sex. There’s also an attempted rape scene which continues to haunt after with flashbacks.
LGBTQ content: the main character is a lesbian. The story starts with her unrequited feelings for her best friend, who is about to marry a man. It’s interesting to note that Senla’s village used to accept same-sex partners but after too many people are killed, their elders wanted to replace the population, so they’re forcing everyone into breeding pairs. Accepting herself and finding likeminded people is a driving force for the main character. Also, one character appears to be intersex but it’s described vaguely and comes out of left field (no hints before to set up the twist). I think it could have been handled better, but it’s rare to see intersex people mentioned in fiction at all.
I would recommend this book to readers of dark fantasy, including Tanith Lee, Neil Gaiman, and Terri Windling. Yarnsworld readers may enjoy similar elements or may be disappointed by the less detailed world-building.
July 20, 2019
Wow
I definitely didn’t expect that ending. Then I did not want it to end that way. I mean keep going, get back to the village. Would I read the next book I don’t know. This one was just so packed what else could happen?
I definitely didn’t expect that ending. Then I did not want it to end that way. I mean keep going, get back to the village. Would I read the next book I don’t know. This one was just so packed what else could happen?
December 17, 2022
I loved this book so much. I spent most of it trying to figure out what kind of story it even was, and in the end I was still left guessing.
Set in either another world or our world way way in the future, most of humanity seemed to be gone. The main character lived in a dystopian-ish little village where everyone had a role and life's biggest rule was "Fear the wolf" (which basically meant "know your place", never do or want more than you're assigned).
The main character wanted more. She could draw (but that was against the rules), she could read (but reading for pleasure was against the rules). Her mother seemed to hate her because she never knew her place, and she just never fit in.
Through the first part of the story I couldn't figure out if Wolf was just an idea to control people with or a literal wolf. Then .
A good two-thirds of the story was the main character traveling through the woods with the only other survivor of the attack (an autistic(?) man). I would have said that spending so much time traveling, especially when one of the two characters can't communicate, would be boring, but nope, it was great.
As the story continued, the pair met other people in the forest (good and bad), and eventually arrived at the other village in this land. The MC decided she was going to kill Wolf.
Through the story there was a relationship/love plot too, and some really interesting (and almost unique in stores I've read -- ) facts came out about the MC. But the main focus was her intent to kill Wolf.
As good as the whole story was, the end got even better. In Wolf's lair, the MC discovered .
So, by the very end of the book, my guess was that this was about religion, how we-current-humans misunderstand and twist around really old religions to hurt and control each other now. It wasn't at all heavy-handed about it though, I love that I'm not even sure that's the intended message or not.
Set in either another world or our world way way in the future, most of humanity seemed to be gone. The main character lived in a dystopian-ish little village where everyone had a role and life's biggest rule was "Fear the wolf" (which basically meant "know your place", never do or want more than you're assigned).
The main character wanted more. She could draw (but that was against the rules), she could read (but reading for pleasure was against the rules). Her mother seemed to hate her because she never knew her place, and she just never fit in.
Through the first part of the story I couldn't figure out if Wolf was just an idea to control people with or a literal wolf. Then .
A good two-thirds of the story was the main character traveling through the woods with the only other survivor of the attack (an autistic(?) man). I would have said that spending so much time traveling, especially when one of the two characters can't communicate, would be boring, but nope, it was great.
As the story continued, the pair met other people in the forest (good and bad), and eventually arrived at the other village in this land. The MC decided she was going to kill Wolf.
Through the story there was a relationship/love plot too, and some really interesting (and almost unique in stores I've read -- ) facts came out about the MC. But the main focus was her intent to kill Wolf.
As good as the whole story was, the end got even better. In Wolf's lair, the MC discovered .
So, by the very end of the book, my guess was that this was about religion, how we-current-humans misunderstand and twist around really old religions to hurt and control each other now. It wasn't at all heavy-handed about it though, I love that I'm not even sure that's the intended message or not.
May 16, 2020
epub (via BookSirens); 246 pages (this variant cover, no printed ISBN within)
Senla grows up in an isolated village surrounded by forest rarely visited by outsiders - and the few visiting nomad travellers are usually shunned. She seems a bit of an outsider herself - and often challenges her mother, chafing somewhat with the restrictions placed on everyone - to 'Fear the Wolf' and to know one's place... When the village is attacked and overrun by wolflings Senla escapes with the only other survivor, the 'addle-headed' Aldan, son of the blacksmith and begins a terrifying journey through the unknown.
A coming-of-age story set in a world that has been broken into a series of self contained areas separated by chasms. As Senla travels and learns how to survive she grows and becomes determined to avenge the death of her mother (and her village). Along the way she acquires a pet bush-cat and a companion who teaches her additional skills with a sword - and an extra goal in her quest.
Senla's world is well-crafted and ultimately much of the mystery is dispelled, though not entirely. Needed information is given naturally when needed - not in massive info-dumps. We do not find out what caused the Tearing of the world, nor about the sickness that affects many animals (and some unfortunate humans). We do get a tantalising glimpse of other regions and the true meaning of the 'Fear the Wolf' creed is revealed as Senla is about to achieve her goal.
I enjoyed much about this book - and will probably sample others from the same pen.
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Senla grows up in an isolated village surrounded by forest rarely visited by outsiders - and the few visiting nomad travellers are usually shunned. She seems a bit of an outsider herself - and often challenges her mother, chafing somewhat with the restrictions placed on everyone - to 'Fear the Wolf' and to know one's place... When the village is attacked and overrun by wolflings Senla escapes with the only other survivor, the 'addle-headed' Aldan, son of the blacksmith and begins a terrifying journey through the unknown.
A coming-of-age story set in a world that has been broken into a series of self contained areas separated by chasms. As Senla travels and learns how to survive she grows and becomes determined to avenge the death of her mother (and her village). Along the way she acquires a pet bush-cat and a companion who teaches her additional skills with a sword - and an extra goal in her quest.
Senla's world is well-crafted and ultimately much of the mystery is dispelled, though not entirely. Needed information is given naturally when needed - not in massive info-dumps. We do not find out what caused the Tearing of the world, nor about the sickness that affects many animals (and some unfortunate humans). We do get a tantalising glimpse of other regions and the true meaning of the 'Fear the Wolf' creed is revealed as Senla is about to achieve her goal.
I enjoyed much about this book - and will probably sample others from the same pen.
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 21, 2019
*I have received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion*
The premise of the book was very interesting, a village that lives under the constant fear of this creature (the wolf) that it is said to attack when people start presuming too much, start to break the rules or try to change their situation in any way.
I appreciated the LGBTQ+ aspects of it and it was overall a pleasant book to read, even if it was a little slow at times.
Really liked the ending which I guess makes it up for some of the other, less interesting parts.
Overall I recommend it if it sounds interesting to you, it is well written and, like always, I love to support some less known authors.
The premise of the book was very interesting, a village that lives under the constant fear of this creature (the wolf) that it is said to attack when people start presuming too much, start to break the rules or try to change their situation in any way.
I appreciated the LGBTQ+ aspects of it and it was overall a pleasant book to read, even if it was a little slow at times.
Really liked the ending which I guess makes it up for some of the other, less interesting parts.
Overall I recommend it if it sounds interesting to you, it is well written and, like always, I love to support some less known authors.
Read
July 9, 2019Made it to 35%, not for me.
January 25, 2020
Solid fantasy - I like the representation and part of the writing was really nice. The overall story was interesting. I didn't like the other half of the writing and some of the character choices.
October 7, 2021
This one delves right in from the start and doesn't stop, it's superb definition of all the creatures and beings were so good, I was disappointed when I'd finished it and wish it we're longer.
June 21, 2019
Thank you to #BookSirens and the publisher for giving me a free ARC of this book, I truly appreciate it.
The story of this book is an interesting one. In a world torn apart, people live in constant fear of “presuming too much”, while one girl doesn’t want to walk the line anymore. I enjoyed the pacing of this novel, as it always felt like something was happening, but there were a few times where the sequence of events seemed a little confusing to me, mostly at the beginning. Once the story started it just kept on going, and the events were always entertaining.
Sena was a great main character, despite here naivety throughout the book, and by the end I think she knew what she wanted to do. There were not many other characters and the ones that were there were either magnificently developed, such as Illus and Neverdark or flat stand-ins like Taker, who just had one purpose in the narrative and then were swiftly left behind.
The reveal game was strong with this one. The novel has two very big reveals that really hit me. One of which created a world that was rich with intrigue by the end of the book. This story was the type of story where there were so many questions and by the end many were answered, but many others remain. I hope that the author writes a sequel because I can’t handle the unanswered questions.
I honestly really enjoyed this story and I would recommend it anyone looking for a quick YA Fantasy that drops you into a world and lets you discover it yourself.
4 stars.
The story of this book is an interesting one. In a world torn apart, people live in constant fear of “presuming too much”, while one girl doesn’t want to walk the line anymore. I enjoyed the pacing of this novel, as it always felt like something was happening, but there were a few times where the sequence of events seemed a little confusing to me, mostly at the beginning. Once the story started it just kept on going, and the events were always entertaining.
Sena was a great main character, despite here naivety throughout the book, and by the end I think she knew what she wanted to do. There were not many other characters and the ones that were there were either magnificently developed, such as Illus and Neverdark or flat stand-ins like Taker, who just had one purpose in the narrative and then were swiftly left behind.
The reveal game was strong with this one. The novel has two very big reveals that really hit me. One of which created a world that was rich with intrigue by the end of the book. This story was the type of story where there were so many questions and by the end many were answered, but many others remain. I hope that the author writes a sequel because I can’t handle the unanswered questions.
I honestly really enjoyed this story and I would recommend it anyone looking for a quick YA Fantasy that drops you into a world and lets you discover it yourself.
4 stars.
September 27, 2019
I picked this up at the start of a long weekend break in the country and it was so lovely to read on the patio surrounded by trees and wildlife. Really added another dimension to the setting of the book.
I loved the writing style of the author and the general universe they created. The descriptions were rich but not over the top. Enough to really set the scene.
It didn't take long to be drawn into Senla's life and her dissatisfaction at the mysteries which plagued it. There was the right amount of intrigue just to keep you holding on for more and the characters felt interesting and fully formed.
It was hard to put the book down but I feel sated by the ending. No open ended set-ups for another book and things left on a decent note. Definitely enjoyed reading this work and will be interested to see others from the author in the future!
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I received an advance review copy for free, but this in no way influences my review.
I loved the writing style of the author and the general universe they created. The descriptions were rich but not over the top. Enough to really set the scene.
It didn't take long to be drawn into Senla's life and her dissatisfaction at the mysteries which plagued it. There was the right amount of intrigue just to keep you holding on for more and the characters felt interesting and fully formed.
It was hard to put the book down but I feel sated by the ending. No open ended set-ups for another book and things left on a decent note. Definitely enjoyed reading this work and will be interested to see others from the author in the future!
-----------------------------------------
I received an advance review copy for free, but this in no way influences my review.
November 27, 2019
For generations people have believed that the Wolf watches over them and will destroy their village if they forget their place, if they forget that no one is better than anyone else, if they forget that desire and dreams are selfish and dangerous.
Senla cannot help but wish for a little beauty, a little color in her life. But the day she steps too far over the line, the Wolf attacks her village and destroys everything she thought she knew.
This story captured my imagination from the start. (You had me at “Wolf”, really. I love almost any story with a strong wolf.) The whole story was vivid in my mind, and I felt a lot of empathy for Senla.
Senla’s journey of revenge felt natural but was also full of surprises and twists.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone who loves wolves, oppressive governing creatures, adventures, forests, or revenge.
I received a copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Senla cannot help but wish for a little beauty, a little color in her life. But the day she steps too far over the line, the Wolf attacks her village and destroys everything she thought she knew.
This story captured my imagination from the start. (You had me at “Wolf”, really. I love almost any story with a strong wolf.) The whole story was vivid in my mind, and I felt a lot of empathy for Senla.
Senla’s journey of revenge felt natural but was also full of surprises and twists.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone who loves wolves, oppressive governing creatures, adventures, forests, or revenge.
I received a copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2019
I received free copy of this book and am leaving a review of my own free will 😊
I mostly enjoyed this book, I found the pacing good and there was always something going on, it didn’t feel like I was struggling or trudging through just to get to the end of the book....I didn’t realise how close to the end of the book I was until it was over! That being said I do feel as if the end of the book was a bit rushed, there was a lot of build up and then it was just over! I feel as if this is going to be part of an on going series and if that is the case I’ll be happy to read what happens to Senla and Neverdark (and Nosy!).
Solid four stars from me!
I mostly enjoyed this book, I found the pacing good and there was always something going on, it didn’t feel like I was struggling or trudging through just to get to the end of the book....I didn’t realise how close to the end of the book I was until it was over! That being said I do feel as if the end of the book was a bit rushed, there was a lot of build up and then it was just over! I feel as if this is going to be part of an on going series and if that is the case I’ll be happy to read what happens to Senla and Neverdark (and Nosy!).
Solid four stars from me!
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