The Wolf of Cape Fen

by Juliana Brandt

First Frost has touched Cape Fen, and that means Baron Dire has returned. For as long as anyone can remember, Baron Dire has haunted the town come winter, striking magical bargains and demanding unjust payment in return. The Serling sisters know better than to bargain, lest they find themselves hunted by the Baron’s companion, the Wolf.

Then the Wolf attacks Eliza's sister Winnie. They manage to escape, but they know the Wolf will be back, because the Wolf only attacks those who owe the Baron Dire. Winnie would never bargain, so that must mean that someone has struck a deal with Winnie as the price.

Eliza embarks on a journey to save her sister, but as she untangles the links between Baron Dire, the Wolf, and her family, she discovers a complicated web of bargains that cross all of Cape Fen. If Eliza can learn the truth, she might be able to protect her sister, but the truth behind the bargain could put her own life in danger.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Wolves

Hardcover

First published April 7, 2020

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful debut about the unbreakable bond between sisters, magical bargains, and sacrificing for those you love. I was swept away by this tale of two sisters in a rainy, coastal, small town setting.

I was lucky to read this novel as an early draft and delighted to see its final, published form.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful tribute to the magic of sisterhood. I absolutely loved it, and would recommend it to fans of Kelly Barnhill, Diana Wynn Jones, Corey Ann Haydu, and Pam Muñoz Ryan.

[Diane Magras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cape Fen is a popular holiday spot from which no resident can ever leave due to a generations-long curse. That's something the locals don't share, and adapt to the best they can. Baron Dire, grandson of the witch who began the curse, softens it with magical bargains that fulfill people's dreams…though there's always a catch of some kind. He and his Wolf, a terrifying beast, return every winter for this purpose. It's during the winter before her 12th birthday that Eliza finds her little sister Winnie threatened by the Wolf, and the subject, it seems, of a bargain that may include Winnie's life. Brandt weaves a tense tale with layer upon layer, a mystery that will delight its readers as they connect the clues (including dreams shared at the start of each chapter). She skillfully depicts the relationship between the sisters, as well as the tensions between family members on the island. Her villains have depth and character, which is refreshing. And her depiction of rural isolation will be familiar to anyone who has lived in a small town. A marvelous debut, and one that should be in every school library.

[Lorelei Savaryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while, a story comes along that makes you want to slow down and savor it, to linger a while longer between its pages. This was one of those stories for me.

Eliza is a girl who doesn't dream, and whose entire existence is wrapped up in keeping her little sister Winnie safe. The relationship between the two sisters is both realistic and heartwarming, and you can feel Eliza's drive to protect Winnie pulling the story forward.

The magic of Cape Fen and the bargains with Baron Dire felt like a wonderful puzzle, and gave me great satisfaction as I discovered the final pieces clicking into place towards the end of the book.

Juliana's lyrical, skillful writing drew me deeply into the magical world of Cape Fen. I have a feeling that the setting, and the characters, and the story itself will linger with me for a long time to come.

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Sourcebooks for sending me a gorgeous finished copy a month before the release. This has not changed my review in any way.

I'll admit, I was a little scared to use my platform to review a middle grade book. I don't read a ton of them and I wasn't sure if I would love it or find it too shallow for a YA reader. This book is better than 90% of the YA books out there. Like... where did this come from? This is a debut novel coming from Juliana Brandt. It follows Cape Fen, an island that's locked beneath the control of Dire and his Wolf. They come every winter to the island where no residents can leave. The thing they can do, though, is bargain. Whatever they want can be done, but there's a price. It doesn't always end up exactly as they'd like. Our main characters are Eliza and Winnie, two sisters. The wolf is coming after them for some reason and they have to find out who bargained with their names and how they can escape the clutches of the evil wolf. Not all is as it seems and we're thrown into a net of lies and bargaining, as well as a plot that offers redemption. Overall it was a mind-blowing, precious book. I plan to pick up Juliana's future books because her writing was just fantastic and she has shown an amazing talent in coming up with stories. She is definitely one of my favorite middle grade authors.

Please, do yourself a favour and pick this book up when it comes out. April 8th!!

[Kaitlynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I have ever read a book as good as this. It was AWESOME!!!!!! I don't know if I will be able to get into anything for a while because it was so good. I recommend this for everyone who likes a good middle grade book.

[Elizabeth May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the world of Cape Fen mysterious and charming. I thoroughly enjoyed the creative magic system -- the time period, the ocean, the bargaining system with Baron Dire that keeps residents on the Cape. The story was fresh and engaging and everything came together in a very satisfying and meaningful way at the book's conclusion that literally brought tears to my eyes.

I especially loved the relationship between the two sisters and how Eliza's fierce determination to protect her little sister pulled the narrative forward but also obscured a telling revelation about Eliza herself.

I'm recommending this book to both my teenage daughter (who still enjoys certain upper middle-grade books) and my 10-year-old son. They are huge animal lovers and will certainly enjoy a few of the book's fun twists-- and I know my older daughter will also enjoy the lyrical writing and inventive world-building.

[Liz H {Redd's Reads} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested a review copy from the publisher, which they granted. Thanks Sourcebooks!

After reading this in one sitting, I'm not quite sure what I think of it. The writing is really quite good and I enjoyed the mystery interwoven with the magic. But the path of the story came out of left field for me and I don't know if I liked how things were explained. As a kid, which this is aimed at middle grade, I would not have liked this story at all. But I believe that to be more of a comment about my reading tastes than anything. I will stew on these feelings before writing my blog review.

My actual rating is probably a 3.5 stars, but I like to round up.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The longer I sat on posting a review, the more I realized how much this story will stick with me and how much I enjoyed it. I would love to read another story set in Cape Fen! This story is magical, with sisterly love, aching hearts, atmosphere, layered characters, and suprising twists.

[Sammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for Young Readers for a review copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Not gonna lie, that cover totally got me. And then the blurb, because who doesn’t love stories about siblings trying to save siblings? You won’t find any complaints from me!

The Wolf of Cape Fen is a heartwarming story of sibling bonds, the power of dreams, and the nature of curses with a sweeping mystery that led to growth in all the characters.

While I did love the main characters (what’s not to love about two spunky girls who are doing their best), it was really the mystery that stole my attention. Especially since things aren’t quite what they seem, and there’s something bigger and deeper happening at Cape Fen.

My Thoughts:

- It’s so easy to love these characters. Eliza really just stole my heart, because she’s such a little character having to face big emotions and not quite sure how to parse them. Despite her age, she’s carrying the world on her shoulders, and she doesn’t know any other way. Eliza’s arc was absolutely beautiful and one I could really connect with, because she has to learn how to not shoulder everyone else’s problems and actually ask for help. This was a character journey that I not only enjoyed, but felt at my core.

- Winnie is the perfect balance for Eliza. Where her sister is all business and responsibility, Winnie is more whimsy and understanding. She somehow manages to be both wise (in that unintentional kid way) and adorably naive. It was a brilliant contrast to her sister, but made her character entirely her own in a way that made it hard not to like her. She’s funny and adorable and so very much a little kid and a little sister, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a bit of truth to what she says sometimes.

- There’s a heavy theme of dreaming throughout this book, and each chapter starts with what one of the characters is dreaming, and I just absolutely LOVED this. At first, this won’t make much sense, because it starts very generic, with the moon and the Wolf. Once you get into the story, though, these dreams start to have so much meaning to them. They’re gorgeous and eerie and offer a deeper, albeit brief, look into the characters. Slowly, things start to piece together and make sense the more you learn about what the island residents dream, because here, dreams have power. All I can say here is: pay attention. Don’t skip these sections. They have so much meaning.

- The name of the game here is secrets: everyone’s got them, and no one wants to share them. The residents of Cape Fen are super extra good at keeping secrets. The real nitty-gritty, important things are hidden away, which made this book all the more thrilling to read. Part of the fun of this book is trying to piece together and discover what all the characters don’t want to say. It’s middle grade, so eventually, most things are spelled out, but if you’re careful reading and pay attention to the hints, you’ll take away so much more from this book.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A town cut off from the rest of the world, kind of - the residents cannot leave, but visitors who are not there after First Frost can. There's something about wishes, or bargains, between residents and the Baron that Eliza wants to figure out, and how they tie into the Wolf and other strange events. Some of the mythology isn't as clear as it could have been, while Cape Fen itself treads the line between modern and something far older in a way that doesn't quite work. Still, I could see readers enjoying the book and hoping for a sequel.

ARC provided by publisher.

[Lacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wolf of Cape Fen is rich in relationships and atmosphere. I loved reading about the characters and how they felt about one another, and watching them learn what it means to be a family or friends. Exploring the deep bonds between sisters, the fragile link of friendship, and the strange connection of community, this book provides a wealth of interesting dynamics.

As for atmosphere, who wouldn't want to walk along a moonlit beach with mysterious magic following you every step of the way? A very creative magic system and setting make reading this book multiple times a must. Perfect for anyone who likes family stories, mysteries, and fantasy!

[Degenerate Chemist · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this novel dull and underwhelming. I didn't buy in to the main character- and the centerpiece of this novel- the relationship between two sisters fell flat for me. I am repeatedly told what a deep bond these sisters have with each other but I never actually bought in to it. I had most of the plot worked out in the first 100npages. And I couldn't stop comparing this book to 'The HungerGames'.

[Kurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it a murder mystery if no one has died yet?

For better or for worse, I’m a modernist at heart, which means that my first instincts are to figure out what kind of story I’m reading. I like to know how to categorize things. I like to think I’m self-aware enough that I can tell when stories can be chunked into multiple categories simultaneously, and I’m also self-aware enough to know that I don’t really know how open-minded I am. Probably not nearly as much as I think. I wonder which side of the family I get that from.

It’s not important for you to know what I like and what I don’t like exactly. It is important for you to know what you like, what you long for, and what you would give – or give up – to have those things. It’s important to know where that desire comes from.

Two generations ago, still in living memory, a man on Cape Fen fell in love with a witch and made a bargain with her, and they lived happily ever after. Or did they? Her magic came from the moon and she passed it on to her daughter, who passed it on to her son, even while the residents of the Cape followed in the footsteps of that man, the Baron, and they made further bargains with the witches, one generation after another.

Although the Fenians can’t do magic themselves, they have access to magic – the current Baron, who shows up ever winter and leaves every summer, is always available, and never sleeps. They can make a bargain with him, get the thing they dreamed of, and pay a price. Because magic isn’t free. Unsurprisingly, they loathe him for it. He collects no taxes. He demands no services. No one has to bargain. Everyone does. He holds the keys to their happiness. Who wouldn’t hate such a person? Besides, anyone who tries to go back on their bargain gets done in by the Baron’s wolf, an animal who appears and vanishes with the moon.

Eliza is twelve. Her sister is eight and the Wolf just tried to kill her. It’s a murder that hasn’t happened yet in a small community consumed with secrets and dreams and rules that everyone knows, and no one understands quite as well as they think. Since their mother left them four years ago, Winnie is all Eliza has. Their father has retreated into himself, present but unavailable. The Wolf can’t be stopped unless Eliza can figure how who put Winnie up as stakes in their bargain so that she can bargain to stop it. She’ll do everything she can to protect her sister, her only family.

The same as nearly everyone else in Cape Fen.

Family is everything. We mutually make each other who we are, for better or for worse. Sometimes they rein in our worst faults. Sometimes they exaggerate them.

Sometimes we still end up modernists.

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Full disclosure: I read an earlier draft of this book and Juliana’s a friend. It’s been amazing to watch this story change from manuscript-to-novel.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is well-written and a decent story, but definitely is through and through for tweens. As an adult, I had more trouble engaging with this book than with stand out middle grade fictional tales such as Blackthorne's Key, The Night Gardener, or Small Spaces. Winnie is pretty exasperating for the first half of the novel. I understand she's young but she seems borderline moronic. Yes, she's cute sometimes but good grief I was ready to scream at her over the library door and that wasn't even the half of it.

I also felt bad for Filemon for the first half. First, because that's his name. Second, because his father seems overbearing, even if it is out of concern. He doesn't seem to have many friends and Eliza is pretty rude to him. He keeps reaching out to her, sad and alone, and she is a jerk. She says he doesn't understand what it's like to lose a mother, but he does in a way, and he lost the one person in life who likely was helping him wade through the odd little town. Frankly, i liked him most of all, as a character, but he was sidelined for most of the novel, and even after getting some recognition and kindness he didn't carry a major role.

I liked the way the villain was given some consideration, but it withdrew from the spookiness. I wouldn't say that this book is spooky or atmospheric. I had questions about the time period and struggled to feel drawn into the world. I will say, my favourite scene there was Mrs. Chess. That was a great example of a bargain gone awry. Some of the other bargain consequences seemed tepid; this one I felt the creepiness the author intended, without tipping over into Horror.

All in all I would give this book 3 stars. It's sufficiently well-written and I think kids would like it a lot more, which is the intended audience. I love middle grade fantasy and was hoping it would offer a bit more for older readers, and I ended up skimming quite a bit, but I guess you can't win them all!

PS: what's with the one letter per page intros to dream sequences? It started happening out of the blue a few chapters in. I found it a little annoying, but perhaps because I'm on Google Books...still, it didn't seem purposeful, or super fun to just be tap tap tapping 10 pages through for one letter each, piecing together literally someone's name or something I will never use toward the plot.

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

[BLOG]::[YOUTUBE]::[TWITTER]

This book had so much potential. I thought it was amazing when I started reading it. I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. It is lyrical, poetic, enchanting and magical. I just loved the way she framed her sentences and how the story progressed. I was engrossed because of the story’s atmospheric theme and felt it was different for a middle grade novel.

However, my perception of the story changed at the end. I am not giving away any spoilers, but the ending was disappointing. For instance, I never felt like the main character, Eliza was very smart. Although I liked her throughout the story, I always felt that she was too confused to figure out the answer even when people gave her hints. So, it was unbelievable when she figured out how to put an end to the curse all on her own. Secondly, I thought it was a bit silly that the plan she came up with worked in all the ways she never imagined. Needless to say, I just couldn’t believe that Eliza resolved all the plots from her one act.

Apart from that, I really enjoyed reading the story! A lot of the supporting characters like Colby and Zilpha were eccentric and interesting in their own manner. I loved Winnie as well and thought she brought the much needed humor and lighthearted feel into the plot. The illustrations are gorgeous in the beginning of each chapter, along with the caption of what each character dreams of.

Overall, I thought the author did a wonderful job in this novel, but just wished it had ended a bit better. I really loved her style of writing and hope to read more of her books in the future!

[S.C. Yung · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this debut, though it took a bit for me to become invested. Definitely appreciated each chapter's dream headings, though.

Brandt employs a lyrical style that fits the folkloric atmosphere:
“Her sister smelled of the night sky. Of stars and the moon and the sort of darkness that birthed dreams.”
“Her eyes the same shade of black as the silent witching hour her mother used to speak of: It’s the most wondrous time of the night, when the best dreams are brewed. Careful of it, Eliza.”

There’s a fun bit of foreshadowing / extended metaphor that I only noticed upon going back:

Eliza in the beginning:
“To Winnie, she said, ‘What does it matter if the moon circles the earth or the sun? None of it changes what happens down here’” [20].

Baron Dire, in the game that he and Eliza play before she makes her bargain:
“‘I am not the sun, Eliza. I am the moon. I am not gravity. You are. You have all the power here, just as everyone does on Cape Fen. You have the power to strike a bargain; I merely have the magic to make it happen’” [255]

The ending might be slightly polarizing, but it seems to me like a bargain that makes sense within the confines of the magic system that Brandt created, and much in line with the kind of classic fables and fairytales Brandt seems to be utilizing as inspiration.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical wishes are granted in Cape Fen, but at what cost? You must be willing to bargain with the powerful Baron Dire...if you dare! THE WOLF OF CAPE FEN by Juliana Brandt is a gripping fantasy full of vivid imagery and stunning lyrical prose that had me guessing until the very end. Just when I thought I had finally put “two and two together,” Juliana Brandt throws another wrench (in the best possible way, of course) into her mystery and I’m trying to do the math all over again. Eliza is a force to be reckoned with: she is brave, inquisitive, and fiercely protective of her younger sister Winnie. When Winnie is attacked by the Baron’s ferocious wolf and narrowly escapes, Eliza sets out for answers—who bargained her sister’s life and how can she save her? An incredibly engaging plot and beautiful poetic writing transported me to the small, isolated town searching for clues right alongside the Serling sisters. Along the way, you’ll meet the very interesting residents who call the cape home and their unique experiences...and consequences...with Baron Dire when he visits each winter. THE WOLF OF CAPE FEN is a story about the strong bond of sisterhood and the lengths you would go for the ones you love. You can embark on this breathtaking adventure when it releases on April 7, 2020.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eliza and Winnie live with their dad in the beautiful seaside town of Cape Fen. All is not well in the idyllic setting, however. Winter’s first frost brings a dark magician and his blood-thirsty wolf, sleep is hard to reach and residents are freakishly trapped and may never leave the town’s boundaries unless they dare bargain with magician Baron Dire. Bargains with the Baron never seem to work out as hoped and the book centers on the ways that such deals have caused harm and the mystery surrounding the bargain that Eliza and Winnie’s mom made four years ago. The plot of “Wolf” moves swiftly and something new is revealed in nearly every chapter. The freaky weird happenings in the girls’ own home are intriguing. Unfortunately, the confusion over what the emphasis on dreams and sleeping means muddles the storyline and some of the loose ends throughout create so much puzzlement that I fear my 4th and 5th grade library patrons may give up before reaching the surprising and satisfying conclusion. Placement is probably best in grades 6-8. Content is free of any potential “red flag” elements. Thank you, Sourcebooks, for including this one in the surprise box of print ARCs. My students will enjoy receiving those ARCs as I finish them!

[Lynn Wynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something happening here,
What it is ain’t exactly clear...

As a retired elementary school librarian, I have read and enjoyed my share of middle grade fantasy novels, but it had been a few years since I’d opened one. This book was a wonderful discovery.

Setting—a place similar to Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, a little apart from the rest of the world. Insular. Contained. Controlled. Closed off.

I’ve decided I’m not going to summarize the story, neither am I going to send out a spoiler. You must read this book. The author has provided a well-developed magic system which brings the story to life and makes it such a convincing (yeah, I know...magical) read.

I think the foremost theme—in this reader’s opinion—besides the magic is the strength of the bond between the two sisters. And that is one of the very best things about this book. Brandt’s writing is magical in itself. After I began this book, I told myself a few chapters in that I would be reading this twice—once quickly to inhale the setting, characters, plot; and once again to savor more slowly the writer’s craft.

Loved it.

[ry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me by storm. I was genuinely shocked by how much I enjoyed this book. I've had this book sitting on my shelf for around 2 years now and never had the intrigue to pick it up. Once I finally did, I was addicted, the characters compassion and point of views captured me. Having the book in the perspective of a young girl made this book so much better, adding elements of abandonment, hurt, guilt, responsibility and everything around. I love how Eliza cared so deeply for her sister Winnie, and how she took on the roll as a mother after the disappearance of her own. Eliza struggles constantly with the fear of disappointing not only herself, but her sister as well. Eliza showed bravery and intelligence while attempting to save her sister, and would stop at nothing until she got what she wanted. This book was a 4 star for me because while I loved it there were some parts that I wish would've been different, even if I don't have specific corrections. Overall I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a mysterious fantasy with a sisterly bond stronger than most.

[Kasey Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without giving away anything about the book itself I thought it was a beautiful story. The twist and truth at the end genuinely surprised me as everything fell into place perfectly. I had to sit there for a second and realize that 'wow...that actually makes a lot of sense with all of the foreshadowing'. I will say that I liked the fact that as you read the book it becomes clear that there is no true antagonist as we get to see the truth behind the witch family and how everything has been changed in the minds of the people of Cape Fen because they want someone to be mad at for their predicament. I thought it was very well written with compelling characters and great world building for it to take place on such a small island. I would genuinely love to read a story that focuses on Baron Dire and Zilpha before the timeline of this book, and maybe even stories about the previous Baronesses and their time on Cape Fen. Regardless, it was a great first full book read of 2022.

[Rebecca Cockrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wolf of Cape Fen is a well written book. For me, I felt like the story took a while before anything happened. For majority of the book, you read about Eliza and Winnie. You read clues about the disappearance of their mother and about Baron Dire. Around Chapter 18, I felt like I really dove into the plot more and was starting to get to the more climatic part of the book. I felt like everything progressed very quickly between Chapters 18-24. This is when the Eliza finds out about her mother and her and Winnie’s birth. This is when Winnie turns into an owl and Eliza turns into a seal. I wasn’t expecting those twists to occur. But the last chapter felt unsatisfying. It left me wanting to know more details about how the people of Cape Fen was free to leave, what happened to Baron Dires powers, what happened to her mother, how did her mother come back.

Overall, it was a well written book, but the pacing was off for me and I was left needing more answers.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work in a library. I found this book in a pile of other wolf books left behind by a family (this happens frequently, in case you are not a library staff member and don't know). I had never seen it so I read the synopsis and was hooked. The full read did not disappoint.

One of the themes of the book is communication in a family. Like many other books, a lot of trouble could have been avoided for the protagonist if people had just given her relevant information. But all the adults around her are mired in the collective psychic morass of living in a small community that is essentially under a curse that they feel helpless to break. The story is well told and full of surprises that add to the richness of the world of Cape Fen.

I am a huge advocate for reading YA and Juvenile books for their great stories (even before I was a Librarian) and this book is a shining example of why.

[Elaine Platt · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing this book and giving it thought, I concur with myself - I really did enjoy it. I think the entire time I was bothered with whether or not a kid (written for juvenile?) would be able to follow it and how much they would get out of it - definitely wouldn't be the same feelings, reactions and thoughts as an adult. Although the main characters are children, I really feel it is more suitable for an adult or perhaps young adult with its touch of darkness and folklore. And being a children's librarian buying middle grade and also young adult books, I do know that most young adults would not choose to read it. So honestly, I just don't know where it belongs. Unless I highlight the book on a little display, how will an adult find this marvelous magical mystery?

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25+ - Full of mystery and "old" magic. Excellent writing with great characters overall and an even better relationship between two sisters. Part of me wants to say the beginning can be a bit confusing to get into, but I'm also a fan of letting us dive in and learn of this world from our experience. I thought the ending was great and was cool connecting the dots laid out prior.

Also shout-out to the artist for the cover and chapter art. They absolutely nailed the vibez.

** Note: The author is a friend of mine but that didn't stop me from being impressed by her writing and story, which only grew with time. So not only is she a kind, fun person to be around, but she's also a kick-ass writer so shout-out Juliana.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written and a really nice book.at the time that I read it I was Just getting into reading and enjoyed it. Now I don’t think I would enjoy it as much. It is definitely geared to a younger audience. When I read it I probably would have gave it a 4.5 but I settled on a 4. I would recommend it for 12 year olds and I think that is the age of the main character(Or around that). I will say this book got me into reading and made me want to read more books and see what genres I liked best. This book I will definitely recommend to begin a reading journey at a young age
Especially if you want to start reading fantasy. This book inspired me and I will always be thankful I picked it up at the library.

[Mel Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful read from start to finish. The relationship between the two sisters was so heartwarming and Eliza's drive to protect her younger sibling was a strong current that led the story with heart-force. I love the idea of secrets and what they can do or undo and this story explored this theme with skill. The author's imagination is vast and magical, weaving a mystery for Eliza to solve with the clock ticking. The magic is so different from anything I've ever read and the whole story was pacy, engaging and emotive. Every character was whole and satisfying and each decision motivated from their own truths. I loved everything about it, but especially the ending! Wow.

[Melody Hapner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhh, this book! It's absolutely magical! The writing was virtually flawless, with poetic prose sprinkled throughout. I love how the mystery is revealed ever so slowly as well. Once upon a time, I was told that everything has already been written, we are merely rewriting timeless tales with new flare. I could be wrong, but I think "The Wolf of Cape Fen" is more original and fresh than it is a new twist on an old favorite.

I'd say this is a good read-aloud for the family, but we haven't done that yet. I'll update this review once we have a chance for that. In the meantime, I highly recommend for all ages!

[Ash Otterloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juliana Brandt has a gift for writing mesmerizing contradictions: a world that's both unsettling and cozy, writing that's both dreamy and grounded, in a world that feels deeply familiar and completely strange. I was sucked into this tale of the fierce love between sisters from the first page, and completely enthralled all the way to the end. I'll definitely be reaching for it again, both as a comfort-read, and for stout doses of escapism and heartfelt courage.

The Wolf of Cape Fen is wholly unique, and I can't recommend it highly enough.