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Wolfeater
All things die. Eventually.
Found as a child by the war-hungry tribe of the Grey Crow, Radok has forged himself a legend as the mighty Wolfeater; a warrior feared by all. Yet even legends can die, and when he finds himself inflicted with a fatal disease, Radok sets out on a quest to face his gods and ask them the one question only gods can answer: what was the meaning of it all?
With him goes Nyana, the blind eight-year-old girl long held in his care, who has her own question for the gods: what next?
They are hunted by friends and enemies alike, some desperate to preserve the natural balance of things, others hungry for revenge. Against them are set a pack of savage cannibals, a blood-thirsty monster, and the servant of a raging god.
But if the pair can do the impossible, if they can touch the Blackstone, it could change the destiny of their people… and with it, the fate of the world.
Found as a child by the war-hungry tribe of the Grey Crow, Radok has forged himself a legend as the mighty Wolfeater; a warrior feared by all. Yet even legends can die, and when he finds himself inflicted with a fatal disease, Radok sets out on a quest to face his gods and ask them the one question only gods can answer: what was the meaning of it all?
With him goes Nyana, the blind eight-year-old girl long held in his care, who has her own question for the gods: what next?
They are hunted by friends and enemies alike, some desperate to preserve the natural balance of things, others hungry for revenge. Against them are set a pack of savage cannibals, a blood-thirsty monster, and the servant of a raging god.
But if the pair can do the impossible, if they can touch the Blackstone, it could change the destiny of their people… and with it, the fate of the world.
503 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 23, 2021
10 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Mitchell
4 books67 followersUK fantasy writer Anthony Mitchell is the author of several stories set in the world of Domanska.
He lives on the Wirral with his wife, Jen, daughter, Penny, and their dog, the mighty Thor.
By day he works in IT, but by night he can be found in a world of swords and sandals, working towards his next novel.
You can find out more about both him and the world of Domanska at his website: https://anthonymitchellauthor.com/
He lives on the Wirral with his wife, Jen, daughter, Penny, and their dog, the mighty Thor.
By day he works in IT, but by night he can be found in a world of swords and sandals, working towards his next novel.
You can find out more about both him and the world of Domanska at his website: https://anthonymitchellauthor.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 14, 2022
Obligatory advance apologies for any misspelled words/names etc., I listened to the (SENSATIONAL) audiobook.
This is one of the best books I’ve read in years, and I can see why it was a hair away from being a finalist in SPFBO7. It’s very much deserving of all the praise it receives and I hope more readers discover it.
Anthony Mitchell’s writing style is fabulous. It’s immersive, richly detailed, vividly described, with a great cast of characters tying it all together. The world building is excellent, even going to the trouble of detailing the physical differences between the two main tribes of this story: The Grey Crow and The Valar (Wolves) - the latter of whom are people with elongated/sharpened canines and heightened senses.
For a book set mostly somewhere cold, with ice, snow, and blizzards a constant occurrence, the writing effortlessly captures the bleakness and frigidity of the environment, as well as a strong sense of hope. Hope, which is so very necessary, because it’s a brutal story that does not shy away from the grim reality of not just surviving on the edge of the Whitelands (and travelling through it), but living in a constant war with other tribes.
It’s a harsh environment that paves the way for harsh characters, yet every one is so deeply human that you cannot help but care for them.
The story opens with Senya, dropping us into the midst of how difficult this bitter land is to survive, and shows us how villages are struggling, forcing people to desperate acts. Winter is tough, and this is one of the hardest ones for some time. Senya is an interesting character, one who is both stubborn to a fault, yet deeply compassionate for those she loves. It’s a tricky balance, and she could easily have become unlikeable, but those opening chapters with her show her history and help build such a bond that I completely understand why she was so driven. Though I often wanted to shake her into sense(!), she was a brilliant, strong character who stuck to her morals and yet was capable of change.
Radok, the titular Wolfeater, is seen through the eyes of many characters, as well as his own POV. He is a legend in his own right, having slain so many of the “Wolves” from an opposing tribe, and his reputation precedes him. I always love to see great characters on hard times, because you really do get the measure of them. Radok is no exception, and his story was deeply moving. Dying of a disease that is essentially rotting his lungs, he knows his time is limited. After everything he has done for his tribe, he does not understand why the gods punish him, and so is desperate to get an answer. Unfortunately, this act is forbidden, and his people turn against him.
Nyana, effectively Radok’s adopted daughter, is another equally great character. Blind, small, weak, and seen as little more than a burden by the Grey Crow tribe to whom she and Radok belong, Nyana is one of the more intriguing characters. Despite being physically weak, emotionally she is perhaps the strongest of any of them. She has so little and yet her determination is fiercer than those who have everything. To see her grow and flourish, and overcome self-doubt, is inspiring.
My favourite character probably has to be Mikilov. Known as the Grey Wolf, and with an animal companion to boot, he brought a lightness to the story (and Senya, especially), as well as offering a voice of reason. I am desperate to know more of his backstory, especially with some of the “friends” he has who pop up from time to time. I also would love to know more about how things were “in the old days,” despite the fact he has done many things he regrets. His scenes with Radok were some of the most memorable.
The side characters, too, are brilliant. From the maddening Talak to the stoic Jian (she’s another of my favourites, I loved her story so much), the Empty Faces and of course, the Seven Gods who make up the Will.
The way the magic is described is fantastic, and inspires a deep sense of wonder and awe - exactly what I want in any fantasy book. The action sequences in particular are fantastic, edge-of-your-seat reads, and the final climactic battle made me wince several times with how viscerally it is described.
It’s also a really nicely paced book, with plenty of tense moments, build ups, and mini-revelations scattered all the way through to keep you on your toes. Nothing feels forced or rushed, and even though plenty of the story involves travelling, none of it dragged.
I also cried at least twice (both happy tears and more upset tears), while reading this, so be warned you might need some tissues!
A final note - the audiobook narration was fantastic! Really enjoyed Harry Frost’s narration style.
I will 100% be reading more of Anthony Mitchell’s writing in the future, and highly recommend Wolfeater if you want a Viking-flavoured quest in a frigid landscape, gods and priests attempting to move people to their will, deeply flawed characters, and brilliant action scenes!
This is one of the best books I’ve read in years, and I can see why it was a hair away from being a finalist in SPFBO7. It’s very much deserving of all the praise it receives and I hope more readers discover it.
Anthony Mitchell’s writing style is fabulous. It’s immersive, richly detailed, vividly described, with a great cast of characters tying it all together. The world building is excellent, even going to the trouble of detailing the physical differences between the two main tribes of this story: The Grey Crow and The Valar (Wolves) - the latter of whom are people with elongated/sharpened canines and heightened senses.
For a book set mostly somewhere cold, with ice, snow, and blizzards a constant occurrence, the writing effortlessly captures the bleakness and frigidity of the environment, as well as a strong sense of hope. Hope, which is so very necessary, because it’s a brutal story that does not shy away from the grim reality of not just surviving on the edge of the Whitelands (and travelling through it), but living in a constant war with other tribes.
It’s a harsh environment that paves the way for harsh characters, yet every one is so deeply human that you cannot help but care for them.
The story opens with Senya, dropping us into the midst of how difficult this bitter land is to survive, and shows us how villages are struggling, forcing people to desperate acts. Winter is tough, and this is one of the hardest ones for some time. Senya is an interesting character, one who is both stubborn to a fault, yet deeply compassionate for those she loves. It’s a tricky balance, and she could easily have become unlikeable, but those opening chapters with her show her history and help build such a bond that I completely understand why she was so driven. Though I often wanted to shake her into sense(!), she was a brilliant, strong character who stuck to her morals and yet was capable of change.
Radok, the titular Wolfeater, is seen through the eyes of many characters, as well as his own POV. He is a legend in his own right, having slain so many of the “Wolves” from an opposing tribe, and his reputation precedes him. I always love to see great characters on hard times, because you really do get the measure of them. Radok is no exception, and his story was deeply moving. Dying of a disease that is essentially rotting his lungs, he knows his time is limited. After everything he has done for his tribe, he does not understand why the gods punish him, and so is desperate to get an answer. Unfortunately, this act is forbidden, and his people turn against him.
Nyana, effectively Radok’s adopted daughter, is another equally great character. Blind, small, weak, and seen as little more than a burden by the Grey Crow tribe to whom she and Radok belong, Nyana is one of the more intriguing characters. Despite being physically weak, emotionally she is perhaps the strongest of any of them. She has so little and yet her determination is fiercer than those who have everything. To see her grow and flourish, and overcome self-doubt, is inspiring.
My favourite character probably has to be Mikilov. Known as the Grey Wolf, and with an animal companion to boot, he brought a lightness to the story (and Senya, especially), as well as offering a voice of reason. I am desperate to know more of his backstory, especially with some of the “friends” he has who pop up from time to time. I also would love to know more about how things were “in the old days,” despite the fact he has done many things he regrets. His scenes with Radok were some of the most memorable.
The side characters, too, are brilliant. From the maddening Talak to the stoic Jian (she’s another of my favourites, I loved her story so much), the Empty Faces and of course, the Seven Gods who make up the Will.
The way the magic is described is fantastic, and inspires a deep sense of wonder and awe - exactly what I want in any fantasy book. The action sequences in particular are fantastic, edge-of-your-seat reads, and the final climactic battle made me wince several times with how viscerally it is described.
It’s also a really nicely paced book, with plenty of tense moments, build ups, and mini-revelations scattered all the way through to keep you on your toes. Nothing feels forced or rushed, and even though plenty of the story involves travelling, none of it dragged.
I also cried at least twice (both happy tears and more upset tears), while reading this, so be warned you might need some tissues!
A final note - the audiobook narration was fantastic! Really enjoyed Harry Frost’s narration style.
I will 100% be reading more of Anthony Mitchell’s writing in the future, and highly recommend Wolfeater if you want a Viking-flavoured quest in a frigid landscape, gods and priests attempting to move people to their will, deeply flawed characters, and brilliant action scenes!
August 5, 2022
This is a super ambitious book and I think it pulls it off well. Senya is a young-ish girl, maybe around 19 IIRC. At the opening she’s gone on a journey to go see her uncle who has cattle. Her village is starving and even though it was considered a suicide mission to cross the tundra during a storm to go find these cattle, she did it anyway. Her father was famous and known throughout the clans/tribes as being a notable warrior. Due to that, she’s desperate to get out from under his shadow and shine on her own. She’s a part of a wolf clan, the Valor, and they’ve got more than a little wolf in them. Their clan is marked by extended canines, extra strength, keen senses, and a pension for making friends with wolves. The author sort of sets this up so you think you’re going to be rooting for this character. But, once she arrives at her uncles she makes a ton of mistakes and then presses on with her folly for the entirety of the book, lol.
The Wolfeater shows up at her uncle’s farm and he demands half his herd to feed his Crow clan, these clans have been rivals for generations, and the Wolfeater is a legend among men. Senya, in her anger and impulsivity, kills one of the Wolfeater’s men. She wanted to kill the Wolfeater himself, but his man took a knife for him. Not just any dude, either. They were like best bros since forever and the Wolfeater is Pissed Off. Senya runs and she tries to lead him away from the farm where her uncle is, but he’s not an idiot and so he goes straight to the farm and kills her uncle in revenge for his friend. Which then sets her on a path for revenge.
Senya is a moron. I completely disliked her from beginning to end but I do believe that’s the point. She’s hot headed, but if you actually try and put yourself in her shoes, maybe you could find a bit of sympathy for her. Like yes, this man killed your uncle, and that would obviously piss me off, too. To think that you’d shrug off someone murdering one of your family members isn’t reasonable. However, she was just so headstrong and thought she was right in everything, so much so that she refuses to take advice from others, even from woods witches which are supposed to supernatural. She calls the witch a fraud for disagreeing with her. It’s just so off putting, but that’s 19 for you, I guess? I feel like this is a bit immature for how old she is by this society’s standards. It’s like she’s old enough to know the rules, but not wise enough yet to spot the exceptions to the rules and know how to adapt. She has reasons to believe what she does, but she’s still wrong. The fact that she’s not completely in the wrong makes her mildly relatable but goodness me, teenage characters do tend irk the shit out of me. That’s a terrible idea. Oh dear god you’re making it worse.
Raddock is the Wolfeater and he’s already dying. He’s got some kind of pulmonary disease where he’s coughing up blood. He lives in a world where the weak don’t survive, people who are disabled in some way are often left to die. He knows that his leadership will fade if anyone catches wind of this cough, so he tries to hide it at all cost. He’s had enough of war, he’s lived long enough to have gone through a blood lust and come out the other side as a more calmed, level headed killer. He truly would have left her uncle alone had they just cooperated, despite being rival clans. He has a soft spot for kids, it seems, and the infirmed. He took on a blind girl who was left to die by her family, and he’s the only reason another person in the clan is alive as well, defending her against a death sentence. He’s an extremely complicated and well written character, and he’s going on an impossible quest.
In the Crow clans, they worship the seven gods, and fear the eighth. The seven gods speak on the wind, and there are two classifications of people who can either sense or use magic, but most people can’t do either. There’s a black stone that’s set at the edge of the world, and it’s said that’s where the All Song pours into the world, it’s a sacred stone for them and it’s said that if you touch it, the seven voices become clear and you can commune with the gods. It’s forbidden for women to go there, and for men you can only touch the stone once in a lifetime.
The Wolfeater is not just pissed off his friend is dead, he’s pissed off that his whole life was spent dedicated to being a warrior and serving the seven gods, only to die from a wasting disease. He considers it an insult, and so he says, fuck it, I’m going to touch that black stone twice. Well, his tribe is like, “sorry bro, that’s forbidden, you gotta die now”, and so they set off on a chase to go kill him before he can commit blasphemy.
So now the Wolfeater has two sets of people out to kill him, and he’s got a wasting disease. Can he make it to the black stone and get his answers from the Gods before one of those things kills him? Read and find out!
I think the most compelling aspect of this author’s writing is how quickly I invest and feel like the characters are real people. There are a bunch of POV switches but I was never upset about it because I was almost always instantly interested in what it was they were doing and how they were going to affect the story. I usually grumble through the first few POV jumps because I have to re-orient and I find that annoying sometimes, but not this time. The characters ranged from villainous to ones you’re really rooting for, which is a great cast, I love when there’s variety like that. Too many super likable people is bland, only assholes is grating, a nice blend of everything is fantastic.
So as far as detractions…this did stray into one of my most hated pet peeves, though. However, I saw it coming from the very beginning, which is part of the peeve itself. I was more just disappointed when it happened around 2/3rds through the book. Anyone who’s read it and knows my reviews might know what it is, and hopefully those who haven’t read the book are just vaguely guessing at what it could be. I need to learn how to do spoiler text in my reviews. This also has a never ending death scene with far too many full and eloquent sentences being spoken by a person who’s been run through with a sword. I just made a remark about that in another review recently, so to be consistent, I’ll mention it here, too. There were just a couple info dumps, not very long and they were mostly character background info dumps. Given the length of the book and the depth to the characters there really wasn’t much to scoff at as far as exposition, though. I wouldn’t necessarily call this “fast paced” either. I wouldn’t say it’s a drag, and there wasn’t any point where I wanted to put it down, but this is a slow build to a crescendo. Not necessarily a detraction, more of a warning to people who want hack and slash action battles fast paced craziness. This isn’t that.
This book wraps up very nicely, this could be read as a stand alone despite the epilogue hinting at books to come and more stories from this world and the characters that survived this tale. However, Wolfeater on Goodreads is not listed as #1 in a series, so I’m not sure when this world will be revisited.
Highly, highly recommended.
Ratings:
Plot: 13/15
Characters: 14/15
World Building: 14/15
Writing: 14/15
Pacing: 11/15
Originality: 11/15
Enjoyment: 9/10
Final Score: 86/100
The Wolfeater shows up at her uncle’s farm and he demands half his herd to feed his Crow clan, these clans have been rivals for generations, and the Wolfeater is a legend among men. Senya, in her anger and impulsivity, kills one of the Wolfeater’s men. She wanted to kill the Wolfeater himself, but his man took a knife for him. Not just any dude, either. They were like best bros since forever and the Wolfeater is Pissed Off. Senya runs and she tries to lead him away from the farm where her uncle is, but he’s not an idiot and so he goes straight to the farm and kills her uncle in revenge for his friend. Which then sets her on a path for revenge.
Senya is a moron. I completely disliked her from beginning to end but I do believe that’s the point. She’s hot headed, but if you actually try and put yourself in her shoes, maybe you could find a bit of sympathy for her. Like yes, this man killed your uncle, and that would obviously piss me off, too. To think that you’d shrug off someone murdering one of your family members isn’t reasonable. However, she was just so headstrong and thought she was right in everything, so much so that she refuses to take advice from others, even from woods witches which are supposed to supernatural. She calls the witch a fraud for disagreeing with her. It’s just so off putting, but that’s 19 for you, I guess? I feel like this is a bit immature for how old she is by this society’s standards. It’s like she’s old enough to know the rules, but not wise enough yet to spot the exceptions to the rules and know how to adapt. She has reasons to believe what she does, but she’s still wrong. The fact that she’s not completely in the wrong makes her mildly relatable but goodness me, teenage characters do tend irk the shit out of me. That’s a terrible idea. Oh dear god you’re making it worse.
Raddock is the Wolfeater and he’s already dying. He’s got some kind of pulmonary disease where he’s coughing up blood. He lives in a world where the weak don’t survive, people who are disabled in some way are often left to die. He knows that his leadership will fade if anyone catches wind of this cough, so he tries to hide it at all cost. He’s had enough of war, he’s lived long enough to have gone through a blood lust and come out the other side as a more calmed, level headed killer. He truly would have left her uncle alone had they just cooperated, despite being rival clans. He has a soft spot for kids, it seems, and the infirmed. He took on a blind girl who was left to die by her family, and he’s the only reason another person in the clan is alive as well, defending her against a death sentence. He’s an extremely complicated and well written character, and he’s going on an impossible quest.
In the Crow clans, they worship the seven gods, and fear the eighth. The seven gods speak on the wind, and there are two classifications of people who can either sense or use magic, but most people can’t do either. There’s a black stone that’s set at the edge of the world, and it’s said that’s where the All Song pours into the world, it’s a sacred stone for them and it’s said that if you touch it, the seven voices become clear and you can commune with the gods. It’s forbidden for women to go there, and for men you can only touch the stone once in a lifetime.
The Wolfeater is not just pissed off his friend is dead, he’s pissed off that his whole life was spent dedicated to being a warrior and serving the seven gods, only to die from a wasting disease. He considers it an insult, and so he says, fuck it, I’m going to touch that black stone twice. Well, his tribe is like, “sorry bro, that’s forbidden, you gotta die now”, and so they set off on a chase to go kill him before he can commit blasphemy.
So now the Wolfeater has two sets of people out to kill him, and he’s got a wasting disease. Can he make it to the black stone and get his answers from the Gods before one of those things kills him? Read and find out!
I think the most compelling aspect of this author’s writing is how quickly I invest and feel like the characters are real people. There are a bunch of POV switches but I was never upset about it because I was almost always instantly interested in what it was they were doing and how they were going to affect the story. I usually grumble through the first few POV jumps because I have to re-orient and I find that annoying sometimes, but not this time. The characters ranged from villainous to ones you’re really rooting for, which is a great cast, I love when there’s variety like that. Too many super likable people is bland, only assholes is grating, a nice blend of everything is fantastic.
So as far as detractions…this did stray into one of my most hated pet peeves, though. However, I saw it coming from the very beginning, which is part of the peeve itself. I was more just disappointed when it happened around 2/3rds through the book. Anyone who’s read it and knows my reviews might know what it is, and hopefully those who haven’t read the book are just vaguely guessing at what it could be. I need to learn how to do spoiler text in my reviews. This also has a never ending death scene with far too many full and eloquent sentences being spoken by a person who’s been run through with a sword. I just made a remark about that in another review recently, so to be consistent, I’ll mention it here, too. There were just a couple info dumps, not very long and they were mostly character background info dumps. Given the length of the book and the depth to the characters there really wasn’t much to scoff at as far as exposition, though. I wouldn’t necessarily call this “fast paced” either. I wouldn’t say it’s a drag, and there wasn’t any point where I wanted to put it down, but this is a slow build to a crescendo. Not necessarily a detraction, more of a warning to people who want hack and slash action battles fast paced craziness. This isn’t that.
This book wraps up very nicely, this could be read as a stand alone despite the epilogue hinting at books to come and more stories from this world and the characters that survived this tale. However, Wolfeater on Goodreads is not listed as #1 in a series, so I’m not sure when this world will be revisited.
Highly, highly recommended.
Ratings:
Plot: 13/15
Characters: 14/15
World Building: 14/15
Writing: 14/15
Pacing: 11/15
Originality: 11/15
Enjoyment: 9/10
Final Score: 86/100
June 7, 2021
Wolfeater is one of the rare standalone books that tells a complete story and invites you to explore more of the world within. Focusing on 2 warring tribes, it features Radok, also called Wolfeater, a tremendously scary warrior of the Grey Crow tribe. the other POV character is Senya of the Wolf tribe who has valid reasons to go after Radok and amidst this all is Nyana, an eight year old blind girl who's searching might change the fortunes for everyone.
A story that is brutal, and yet a endearing one. Wolfeater focuses on characters, and their motivations. With Radok, Senya, Nyana, Mikilov and many others, Anthony Mitchell creates a fascinating story that will keep you riveted till its anticipated climax.
Full review to come soon....
A story that is brutal, and yet a endearing one. Wolfeater focuses on characters, and their motivations. With Radok, Senya, Nyana, Mikilov and many others, Anthony Mitchell creates a fascinating story that will keep you riveted till its anticipated climax.
Full review to come soon....
May 4, 2022
My absolute favorite part of SPFBO is finding hidden gems in the SFF community, and Wolfeater is absolutely one of them! The heart of the book, I feel, lies in the prose, which cradles character development and worldbuilding beautifully. These three elements balance each other out to create an engaging story that moves forward at a comfortable pace.
One of the things I liked most about Wolfeater was how subtly it handled deeper topics. For example, the titular main character, Radok (a.k.a. "Wolfeater"), was born to a different tribe and looks different: "On those rare occasions he forgot that, there was always someone to remind him. Always the outsider, he had to fight every day of his life to gain the respect of those born Grey Crow. It wasn't enough that he be the fastest, or the strongest, or the bravest. He had to be the best too."
This resonated with me more than anything I've read this year, lol. There's a bitter truth to being held to higher, often impossible standards simply because of the way you look/the way you were born. I liked that this was addressed but also wasn't a "thing," like Radok's otherness wasn't constantly hammered over our heads. He looked different, sometimes people noticed, and that was it, lol.
The pacing was great. The book never dragged and never info-dumped, and details were masterfully woven into the storytelling. There were some characters I didn't click with (...just like in real life, lol), but others I adored. My favorite is actually Radok! A tough warrior nearing the end of his journey, he has already established himself as a legend. Once you're at the top, it's easy to lose sight of what's down below, so the fact that he protects Nyana with all his being warmed my black heart. Two outcasts who found family in each other—I live for this.
Overall, I enjoyed Wolfeater. It was a quick read for me, and once I settled into the world the author created, it was hard to put down.
Key words to help you decide: multiple POV, plucky female protagonist, fallen hero, good vs. evil, lovable animal sidekick, tough warrior protagonist, chosen family, Norse-inspired fantasy
One of the things I liked most about Wolfeater was how subtly it handled deeper topics. For example, the titular main character, Radok (a.k.a. "Wolfeater"), was born to a different tribe and looks different: "On those rare occasions he forgot that, there was always someone to remind him. Always the outsider, he had to fight every day of his life to gain the respect of those born Grey Crow. It wasn't enough that he be the fastest, or the strongest, or the bravest. He had to be the best too."
This resonated with me more than anything I've read this year, lol. There's a bitter truth to being held to higher, often impossible standards simply because of the way you look/the way you were born. I liked that this was addressed but also wasn't a "thing," like Radok's otherness wasn't constantly hammered over our heads. He looked different, sometimes people noticed, and that was it, lol.
The pacing was great. The book never dragged and never info-dumped, and details were masterfully woven into the storytelling. There were some characters I didn't click with (...just like in real life, lol), but others I adored. My favorite is actually Radok! A tough warrior nearing the end of his journey, he has already established himself as a legend. Once you're at the top, it's easy to lose sight of what's down below, so the fact that he protects Nyana with all his being warmed my black heart. Two outcasts who found family in each other—I live for this.
Overall, I enjoyed Wolfeater. It was a quick read for me, and once I settled into the world the author created, it was hard to put down.
Key words to help you decide: multiple POV, plucky female protagonist, fallen hero, good vs. evil, lovable animal sidekick, tough warrior protagonist, chosen family, Norse-inspired fantasy
December 28, 2023
Although Wolfeater came highly recommended, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I might. I felt it needed a little bit more for me. It was a good story, a good world, had some interesting characters, but I thought the stakes just weren't quite high enough for what I was expecting given the cover and the synopsis and what I'd heard about it.
It wasn't a cozy read by any stretch, but it was a nice easy read all the same. It just didn't have that little ‘oomph’ that I needed from it. It was enjoyable, and one that I would recommend, but it's just not one that I think is really going to stay with me too much in years to come.
It wasn't a cozy read by any stretch, but it was a nice easy read all the same. It just didn't have that little ‘oomph’ that I needed from it. It was enjoyable, and one that I would recommend, but it's just not one that I think is really going to stay with me too much in years to come.
July 12, 2022
Most underrated fantasy book of the year?
I wouldn’t discover Wolfeater were it not for SPFBO7, and in case you don’t know, this book was close to becoming a finalist. Seriously, it’s a crime that this gem has only 10 star ratings on Amazon as I write this review.
Anthony Mitchell is a masterful storyteller whose prose flows smoothly like a river, maintaining a pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat as the chase begins. He makes you discover his grim, brutal, cold world, with its opposing factions, religions, and myths without bombarding you with loads of infodump that might detach you from the story.
Mitchell knows how to bring his characters to life. As I dug deep into the story, I found myself caring for them, even for Scar the wolf. Of course, Radok the Wolfeater was my favorite, Mikilov coming second by a hair, both of them heroes, both of them monsters, depending on whose perspective you would adopt. The Wolves? Or the Crows?
It’s a damn freezing world; Mitchell doesn’t waste a chance to remind us of this fact, and I never felt him overdoing it. Sometimes it’s his vivid descriptions that do the job, sometimes it’s his dialogue. One of my favorite quotes was this one:
“I never knew the cold could burn.”
“Pain is good. Pain will keep you alive out here. It’s when the pain stops you need to worry.”
Overall, Wolfeater is a very well-written story with interesting characters, solid worldbuilding, and nice pace. I can’t recommend it enough!
I wouldn’t discover Wolfeater were it not for SPFBO7, and in case you don’t know, this book was close to becoming a finalist. Seriously, it’s a crime that this gem has only 10 star ratings on Amazon as I write this review.
Anthony Mitchell is a masterful storyteller whose prose flows smoothly like a river, maintaining a pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat as the chase begins. He makes you discover his grim, brutal, cold world, with its opposing factions, religions, and myths without bombarding you with loads of infodump that might detach you from the story.
Mitchell knows how to bring his characters to life. As I dug deep into the story, I found myself caring for them, even for Scar the wolf. Of course, Radok the Wolfeater was my favorite, Mikilov coming second by a hair, both of them heroes, both of them monsters, depending on whose perspective you would adopt. The Wolves? Or the Crows?
It’s a damn freezing world; Mitchell doesn’t waste a chance to remind us of this fact, and I never felt him overdoing it. Sometimes it’s his vivid descriptions that do the job, sometimes it’s his dialogue. One of my favorite quotes was this one:
“I never knew the cold could burn.”
“Pain is good. Pain will keep you alive out here. It’s when the pain stops you need to worry.”
Overall, Wolfeater is a very well-written story with interesting characters, solid worldbuilding, and nice pace. I can’t recommend it enough!
October 16, 2021
In the frigid Whitelands survival is difficult. Food is scarce. Clan attack clan. The gods are revered. Beasts of immense power stalk their prey. Vendettas and the quest for vengeance reign. This hunt will be bloody. This hunt will be death. Epic storytelling.
Hoping for further adventures from this lot of characters.
Hoping for further adventures from this lot of characters.
January 2, 2023
Please read my review at the following link:
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2023/...
Thanks for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2023/...
Thanks for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
May 6, 2023
This an amazing grim and bloody story that still dangles enough hope in front of your nose to keep you hoked all the way through. This also works really fine as stand alone, which is rare in fantasy these days, which is a big plus in my eyes!
While the villain was really way over the top stereotype villainous, the rest of the cast more than made up for it. Having not just one, but three different groups of seasoned warriors on opposing sides also makes for enough friction outside of the bad guy problem.
We have a young woman on the path for revenge, who pairs up with a weary old warrior who has long since stopped seeing the glory of killing. I loved how those two balance each other out and the wolf companion also was a bonus for me!
We have another old warrior who is dying from lung rot in a quest to ask the gods why they would punish hin like that - and he's joined by his sort of adopted daughter who is a small, blind girl. While her body might be weak, her mind is sharp and her will is strong like iron. I really adored her POV, and I hope there might be another book telling her story in the future.
And then we have a group of warriors from his tribe who want to stop him from achieving his quest, as it goes against their rules.
The setting is a hard to live in land, with a very cold part, and I felt like I really vanished from my couch and instead wandered those frozen mountains right along with the characters. The bleakness, hunger and ice basically flowed from the pages, and was really well written.
The story has little actual plot besides the journey, but it's all the book needed. I quite enjoyed this closely focused story that had me griped right from the start. Instead it's much more about the characters, their motivations, and how they interact and change over the course of the story.
This definitely won't be my last book by the author!
While the villain was really way over the top stereotype villainous, the rest of the cast more than made up for it. Having not just one, but three different groups of seasoned warriors on opposing sides also makes for enough friction outside of the bad guy problem.
We have a young woman on the path for revenge, who pairs up with a weary old warrior who has long since stopped seeing the glory of killing. I loved how those two balance each other out and the wolf companion also was a bonus for me!
We have another old warrior who is dying from lung rot in a quest to ask the gods why they would punish hin like that - and he's joined by his sort of adopted daughter who is a small, blind girl. While her body might be weak, her mind is sharp and her will is strong like iron. I really adored her POV, and I hope there might be another book telling her story in the future.
And then we have a group of warriors from his tribe who want to stop him from achieving his quest, as it goes against their rules.
The setting is a hard to live in land, with a very cold part, and I felt like I really vanished from my couch and instead wandered those frozen mountains right along with the characters. The bleakness, hunger and ice basically flowed from the pages, and was really well written.
The story has little actual plot besides the journey, but it's all the book needed. I quite enjoyed this closely focused story that had me griped right from the start. Instead it's much more about the characters, their motivations, and how they interact and change over the course of the story.
This definitely won't be my last book by the author!
February 19, 2023
The Wolfeater is told from multiple POVs to give you a wider understanding of the story and the chosen motives of the range of main characters. I found that this book was good and enjoyable, with some perspectives to be of more interest to me than others. Radok is the Wolfeater, hailing from the Grey Crow tribe, he approaches a rival tribesman demanding cattle which is where the story really kicks off. Radok is suffering with a wasting disease and after this encoutner., decides to commit blasphemy to his tribe and journey to question his gods with Nyana, a blind girl that he has been looking after since her parents left her to die. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship together, both of these perspectives were definitely my favourite ones to read from. Overall, this is an enjoyable book, one that I think fantasy readers will really enjoy.
September 22, 2023
i liked the story and the world quite a lot.
its an ice cold world where
Sleep is death.
Worldbuilding read great but didn't quite landed. There were something missing, i would have liked to read. Also unfortunately i did not feel as emotionally invested/connected as i would have loved to be with Nyana and Senya. Both really interesting characters.
Also i would have loved to learn more about the creatures and the cannibals, but that would have probably gone beyond the scope of the story. still extremely interesting concept and would love to read more of this world.
I don't know if that was any intention but it read like a russian folktale which i really liked.
Overall a solid, great read and well deserving of the 4 stars.
its an ice cold world where
Sleep is death.
Worldbuilding read great but didn't quite landed. There were something missing, i would have liked to read. Also unfortunately i did not feel as emotionally invested/connected as i would have loved to be with Nyana and Senya. Both really interesting characters.
Also i would have loved to learn more about the creatures and the cannibals, but that would have probably gone beyond the scope of the story. still extremely interesting concept and would love to read more of this world.
I don't know if that was any intention but it read like a russian folktale which i really liked.
Overall a solid, great read and well deserving of the 4 stars.
March 1, 2023
Wolfeater is one of those books that came out of left field and caught me completely by surprise. I picked it up, mostly on a whim thanks to a review from one of the book blogging sites that I follow. I was interested in some of the pre-agricultural world building aspects of the story and was also interested in reading a book that had less to do with epic fantasy and more with sword and sorcery.
I'm glad that I did.
I had an enormous amount of fun reading Wolfeater. Instead of a sprawling epic, we’re treated to a tightly focused, fast-paced adventure. Instead of thousands of characters spanning generations or multiple countries, we have a small cast of characters on a single perilous journey. Plot-wise, it’s one of the simplest stories I’ve read in a long time, and I found that simplicity both refreshing and rewarding.
Yes, the world-building is excellent, and yes, the magic is subtle and awesome. But it never loses focus on that core story. There’s no political maneuvering, no world-ending stakes (although world-changing, definitely). That simplicity allows us to focus more on the characters, who are all a joy to spend time with.
In short, this is sword and sorcery done well.
I loved the setting here, too. It’s a (mostly?) pre-agricultural society, driven by tribes who are often fighting with one another. It actually reminds me of a fantasy-horror novella I read last year that I really loved, Red in Tooth and Claw.
On top of all of this, Wolfeater embraces some of my favorite tropes. Characters are driven by a sense of honor and proper behavior. There are many examples of found family relationships. And the magic of this world is weaved subtly into the story, always present but never overwhelming.
In short, as a reader, I loved this book and will definitely be reading more.
I'm glad that I did.
I had an enormous amount of fun reading Wolfeater. Instead of a sprawling epic, we’re treated to a tightly focused, fast-paced adventure. Instead of thousands of characters spanning generations or multiple countries, we have a small cast of characters on a single perilous journey. Plot-wise, it’s one of the simplest stories I’ve read in a long time, and I found that simplicity both refreshing and rewarding.
Yes, the world-building is excellent, and yes, the magic is subtle and awesome. But it never loses focus on that core story. There’s no political maneuvering, no world-ending stakes (although world-changing, definitely). That simplicity allows us to focus more on the characters, who are all a joy to spend time with.
In short, this is sword and sorcery done well.
I loved the setting here, too. It’s a (mostly?) pre-agricultural society, driven by tribes who are often fighting with one another. It actually reminds me of a fantasy-horror novella I read last year that I really loved, Red in Tooth and Claw.
On top of all of this, Wolfeater embraces some of my favorite tropes. Characters are driven by a sense of honor and proper behavior. There are many examples of found family relationships. And the magic of this world is weaved subtly into the story, always present but never overwhelming.
In short, as a reader, I loved this book and will definitely be reading more.
January 3, 2023
The last of us in a fantasy setting. This is a beautiful explanation of love, life, and death in the frozen wilds. Full review soon, but this book deserves far more attention than it has done
March 13, 2024
This book is high-fantasy but without elves and dwarfs. It's realistic but not grim-dark.
What it does have, is complex characters with flaws and depth. In fact, the central theme appears to argue against simple answers and black and white thinking. This nuanced philosophy is emphasized by the author waiting until the last third of the book to reveal the true antagonist.
I must also commend the world-building. We are not drowned in hundreds of fantastical races and monsters. Instead, we get one cryptid and a subtle magic system, only practiced by a handful of people, that verges on the mystical. Rather than fantasy races, we get divergent and conflicting cultures that are deeply integrated into the world's history.
This book is clearly the work of many months of hard work and loving attention to detail. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that it's such a slow burn... there's no hard hook. However, that doesn't mean I found it difficult to keep reading/listening, not with the terrific narration by Harry Frost.
What it does have, is complex characters with flaws and depth. In fact, the central theme appears to argue against simple answers and black and white thinking. This nuanced philosophy is emphasized by the author waiting until the last third of the book to reveal the true antagonist.
I must also commend the world-building. We are not drowned in hundreds of fantastical races and monsters. Instead, we get one cryptid and a subtle magic system, only practiced by a handful of people, that verges on the mystical. Rather than fantasy races, we get divergent and conflicting cultures that are deeply integrated into the world's history.
This book is clearly the work of many months of hard work and loving attention to detail. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that it's such a slow burn... there's no hard hook. However, that doesn't mean I found it difficult to keep reading/listening, not with the terrific narration by Harry Frost.
July 6, 2022
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
I recieved an audible code from the author in exchange for an honest review. What we are presented with here is a nordic inspired fantasy story with plenty of grit. A warrior feared by all has now become the hunted as he races across the land to reach the Blackstone to communiate with his gods once again. The only problem is that it is forbidden and both friends and enemies will be sent to stop the warrior from disturbing the way of things, for better or worse.
Radok is a warrior of the Grey Crow tribe and is feared by all with his infamous name, Wolfeater. If you don’t believe me, just ask the wolf tribe whom Radok has killed many times over. After a bloody mission, Radok is cursed with the slow death of the black lung and he only has a very short time to live. He decides to embark on one final quest to reach the Blackstone and get answerd from the seven gods once again. With him is Nyana, a blind eight year old girl who Radok has adopted as a daughter. Nyana wants to be with Radok until the end as she starts to hear the voices of the Gods themselves. For a girl or woman to touch the Blackstone is forbidden and the hunt will begin for the two characters by friends and foes. The story will kick into high gear before you know it.
This story is an edge of your seat type of thrill ride with action, religion, blood, and the sense of wonder. Radok’s story of redemption from the monster he has become to the guardian he needs to be is something that stuck with me throughout the story. Also in the story is a shaman of the Grey Wind who is told by the seven Gods to not let Radok and Nyana near the Blackstone, but an eight voice may be having his way with this character. The pacing is quick and the plot never feels stale. There weren’t too many surprises that I didn’t see coming but the emotional character moments many wil find surprising. Glory and fame are not what defines a man, but the connections with friends and loved ones will last a lifetime.
Never forget the impact you may have on those around you. Even in your darkest moments, those strings of hope will lead you back from the abyss. Although Wolfeater works as a standalone I’m sure the author has many more works in this world. I will be sure to add them to my TBR.
Cheers!
I recieved an audible code from the author in exchange for an honest review. What we are presented with here is a nordic inspired fantasy story with plenty of grit. A warrior feared by all has now become the hunted as he races across the land to reach the Blackstone to communiate with his gods once again. The only problem is that it is forbidden and both friends and enemies will be sent to stop the warrior from disturbing the way of things, for better or worse.
Radok is a warrior of the Grey Crow tribe and is feared by all with his infamous name, Wolfeater. If you don’t believe me, just ask the wolf tribe whom Radok has killed many times over. After a bloody mission, Radok is cursed with the slow death of the black lung and he only has a very short time to live. He decides to embark on one final quest to reach the Blackstone and get answerd from the seven gods once again. With him is Nyana, a blind eight year old girl who Radok has adopted as a daughter. Nyana wants to be with Radok until the end as she starts to hear the voices of the Gods themselves. For a girl or woman to touch the Blackstone is forbidden and the hunt will begin for the two characters by friends and foes. The story will kick into high gear before you know it.
This story is an edge of your seat type of thrill ride with action, religion, blood, and the sense of wonder. Radok’s story of redemption from the monster he has become to the guardian he needs to be is something that stuck with me throughout the story. Also in the story is a shaman of the Grey Wind who is told by the seven Gods to not let Radok and Nyana near the Blackstone, but an eight voice may be having his way with this character. The pacing is quick and the plot never feels stale. There weren’t too many surprises that I didn’t see coming but the emotional character moments many wil find surprising. Glory and fame are not what defines a man, but the connections with friends and loved ones will last a lifetime.
Never forget the impact you may have on those around you. Even in your darkest moments, those strings of hope will lead you back from the abyss. Although Wolfeater works as a standalone I’m sure the author has many more works in this world. I will be sure to add them to my TBR.
Cheers!
April 20, 2022
I listened to the audiobook of this so please forgive any misspellings!
The story starts with Senya, one of the Valor also known as a Wolf, trying to ease the suffering of her starving city, and Radok one of the Grey Crow named the Wolfeater.
This is a great standalone story. It's packed with vivid and engaging characters and a setting that's evocative and interesting. I'd love to see more of the world of the Wolfeater, whether with these characters or new ones exploring other aspects of the world. I definitely felt the bite of the wind as the story took us across the frozen wastelands and I enjoyed finding out about the different tribes that lived in the world.
The story, which started out feeling like a powerful and driven revenge story, unravelled into something much larger with repercussions beyond the close cast of characters we travel with. Even with expanding scope of the story, it all tied up very nicely at the end but still kept the feeling that the characters will live on and have more to do once the book is over.
On the audiobook side, I thought it was wonderful narration. Harry Brooks did a brilliant job. All the character voices felt distinct and memorable and full of emotion-kudos for that as there was a wide range of characters to voice!
I'd highly recommend this if you fancy something with strong characters, a wintry setting, and an epic, self-contained story.
The story starts with Senya, one of the Valor also known as a Wolf, trying to ease the suffering of her starving city, and Radok one of the Grey Crow named the Wolfeater.
This is a great standalone story. It's packed with vivid and engaging characters and a setting that's evocative and interesting. I'd love to see more of the world of the Wolfeater, whether with these characters or new ones exploring other aspects of the world. I definitely felt the bite of the wind as the story took us across the frozen wastelands and I enjoyed finding out about the different tribes that lived in the world.
The story, which started out feeling like a powerful and driven revenge story, unravelled into something much larger with repercussions beyond the close cast of characters we travel with. Even with expanding scope of the story, it all tied up very nicely at the end but still kept the feeling that the characters will live on and have more to do once the book is over.
On the audiobook side, I thought it was wonderful narration. Harry Brooks did a brilliant job. All the character voices felt distinct and memorable and full of emotion-kudos for that as there was a wide range of characters to voice!
I'd highly recommend this if you fancy something with strong characters, a wintry setting, and an epic, self-contained story.
May 1, 2025
This was an amazing book!!!
The writing was excellent, with a nice abundance of details about the world and the two tribes, but smartly inserted along the road, not with big &heavy info dumps.
It very much feels that it`s following a classic recipe of old school fantasy.
The characters were solid and very well build with multiple layers of motivations and not everything could be easily characterized as bad or good.
Also, the story blends in masterfully to all this elements, making it one of the best fantasy novel that I read recently!!!
The writing was excellent, with a nice abundance of details about the world and the two tribes, but smartly inserted along the road, not with big &heavy info dumps.
It very much feels that it`s following a classic recipe of old school fantasy.
The characters were solid and very well build with multiple layers of motivations and not everything could be easily characterized as bad or good.
Also, the story blends in masterfully to all this elements, making it one of the best fantasy novel that I read recently!!!
May 11, 2022
When you start the book off immediately in combat, I don't care about the characters or really know what's going on, so, I'm not invested. The book shifts POV, so then I have a whole new character to not care about. There desperately needs to be some world building early on.
"Her father once told her that some men were born to ride the storm, while others were crushed by it. There was no denying that the Wolfeater was such a man" (p. 154). Some weird writing here - I think the narrator means that the wolfeater is the former not the latter.
The bad guy is a mustache twirling stereotype and all of the characters goals are either misguided, change or conflict in ways that make one of the characters seem clueless. It takes away from the narrative thrust of the story.
It certainty gets better as it goes along. The POV characters are well characterized. The writing is pretty strong - the ambiance of the frozen tundra world really comes through.
"Her father once told her that some men were born to ride the storm, while others were crushed by it. There was no denying that the Wolfeater was such a man" (p. 154). Some weird writing here - I think the narrator means that the wolfeater is the former not the latter.
The bad guy is a mustache twirling stereotype and all of the characters goals are either misguided, change or conflict in ways that make one of the characters seem clueless. It takes away from the narrative thrust of the story.
It certainty gets better as it goes along. The POV characters are well characterized. The writing is pretty strong - the ambiance of the frozen tundra world really comes through.
August 16, 2021
This hit me where it hurt. I certainly wasn't expecting to be this emotionally invested in this story but when it hit - ooofff!
*spoiler*
tissues may be required.
*spoiler*
tissues may be required.
April 10, 2021
Pulled me in very quickly. I like the prose - it's easy to read and very visual. Some great characterisation when talking about grief from Radok's POV early in the book. Pacing was variable - good at the start and end but there was a long slow section in the middle. The main problem was that the book needed sensitivity readers. Personally I struggled with the magic blind girl with superpowers (particularly with the copious visual metaphors in her POV chapters) and with the bisexual woman who (it's heavily implied) has turned to women because men don't want her because she has lost her womb.
Despite these problems it was overall an ok read with some good concepts and worldbuilding. Sadly let down by some superficial exploration of deep topics and by inconsistent pacing. Points for disability (fictional - lungrot), POC and LGBT rep.
Despite these problems it was overall an ok read with some good concepts and worldbuilding. Sadly let down by some superficial exploration of deep topics and by inconsistent pacing. Points for disability (fictional - lungrot), POC and LGBT rep.
July 17, 2021
I hadn't heard anything about this book before picking it up but I'm so glad I did. It's amazing. You won't be able to put it down. I'm a very character driven reader and I fell in love with the characters and couldn't wait to read more of their journey and lives. I laughed out loud a lot and shouted at my husband if he dared to speak to me during reading. It's a great fantasy novel with everything you need, great characters, a journey and even a wolf. If I could say anything it would be take a chance and buy this book, you won't regret it and will be wanting more. Anthony Mitchell is a brilliant writer and his books should be a staple on every fantasy lovers shelf.
February 7, 2025
A simple premise that kept me interested throughout.
On my YouTube channel, I exclusively review indie/self-published fantasy books. I gave Wolfeater a 7.2/10 on my INDIE ranking scale. Here is a brief overview of my breakdown:
Immersion (worldbuilding): 7/10 - He does a great job painting the harsh winter conditions of this landscape. It also features several nomadic tribes with different traditions and beliefs, which are very interesting. This isn't a bad thing, but there just isn't much else to the world. It's a quest into the frozen tundra to confront the gods.
Names (characters): 7/10 - Really enjoyed Radok as the Wolfeater. Great job making this man a reputable warrior, but also with an urge to protect the vulnerable. Senya was a little one-note with the revenge motivation. The dialogue I felt like was a little too on-the-nose and straightforward, often adding info dumps during conversation. This sometimes made the characters seem less authentic.
Da Magic (& creatures): 6.5/10 - It's a pretty simple, but vague magic system. Essentially, it's just a 'Will' that tells the leaders of a tribe what to do. But the tribes are always at war with each other, despite all of them having a belief in the Will. I just think it left too many questions towards the end.
Infrastructure (plot): 8.5/10 - Really good pacing and tone throughout. With every obstacle and challenge, I wanted to find out how they would overcome. My main issue was just that some things became a little repetitive, like explaining Radok's backstory multiple times in the same way.
Enjoyment: 7/10 - The pacing and premise made up for some of the issues I had with the character work. It's definitely an interesting world that left room for more development, which I like. I think I just would've liked to see a little more authenticity from the dialogue to make it more engaging.
Overall Score: 7.2/10 - You can see my full review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzyK1...
On my YouTube channel, I exclusively review indie/self-published fantasy books. I gave Wolfeater a 7.2/10 on my INDIE ranking scale. Here is a brief overview of my breakdown:
Immersion (worldbuilding): 7/10 - He does a great job painting the harsh winter conditions of this landscape. It also features several nomadic tribes with different traditions and beliefs, which are very interesting. This isn't a bad thing, but there just isn't much else to the world. It's a quest into the frozen tundra to confront the gods.
Names (characters): 7/10 - Really enjoyed Radok as the Wolfeater. Great job making this man a reputable warrior, but also with an urge to protect the vulnerable. Senya was a little one-note with the revenge motivation. The dialogue I felt like was a little too on-the-nose and straightforward, often adding info dumps during conversation. This sometimes made the characters seem less authentic.
Da Magic (& creatures): 6.5/10 - It's a pretty simple, but vague magic system. Essentially, it's just a 'Will' that tells the leaders of a tribe what to do. But the tribes are always at war with each other, despite all of them having a belief in the Will. I just think it left too many questions towards the end.
Infrastructure (plot): 8.5/10 - Really good pacing and tone throughout. With every obstacle and challenge, I wanted to find out how they would overcome. My main issue was just that some things became a little repetitive, like explaining Radok's backstory multiple times in the same way.
Enjoyment: 7/10 - The pacing and premise made up for some of the issues I had with the character work. It's definitely an interesting world that left room for more development, which I like. I think I just would've liked to see a little more authenticity from the dialogue to make it more engaging.
Overall Score: 7.2/10 - You can see my full review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzyK1...
June 27, 2023
As we enter into the 7th month of the year I can say with quite some certainty that I have found my book of the year, maybe even one of my top reads of all time
Wolfeater is, simply put, absolutely fantastic from start to finish. It combines some of the best character and world building I've read to date, with a cast of deeply unique and memorable characters. And contains a level of emotion and intensity that is so rare to see in even the biggest authors work, let alone indies. This book made it to the semi finals of the spfbo a few years ago, I'm shocked it didn't win.
I know I'm not going to have enough words to fully dive into this on Instagram. It's a story of Radok, an outcast raised by the Grey Crow tribe . A revered warrior across the Whitelands. When he realises he's become afflicted with a deadly sickness, he ventures out into the whitelands in search of the gods , to find the meaning behind his life, before it ends , and with him he takes a blind, 8 year old girl who he has essentially adopted .
That's the premise, but the book is so much more. The characters we meet, the world we traverse , and the conclusion we reach are highly ambitious and executed brilliantly . The intensity of the wilderness is so vivid in it's descriptions. The environment is just as dangerous as those chasing Radok and Nyanna and more dangers lurk there too.
I couldn't help but feel like I was reliving the story of 2018's God of War in some ways, this is a perfect blend of Viking-esque fantasy I've been looking for. Each POV is unique in their own involvement in this story, be that power, revenge, glory, faith, loyalty .
If you take one reccomendation from me this year, let it be this
The audio narration is 10/10
Wolfeater is, simply put, absolutely fantastic from start to finish. It combines some of the best character and world building I've read to date, with a cast of deeply unique and memorable characters. And contains a level of emotion and intensity that is so rare to see in even the biggest authors work, let alone indies. This book made it to the semi finals of the spfbo a few years ago, I'm shocked it didn't win.
I know I'm not going to have enough words to fully dive into this on Instagram. It's a story of Radok, an outcast raised by the Grey Crow tribe . A revered warrior across the Whitelands. When he realises he's become afflicted with a deadly sickness, he ventures out into the whitelands in search of the gods , to find the meaning behind his life, before it ends , and with him he takes a blind, 8 year old girl who he has essentially adopted .
That's the premise, but the book is so much more. The characters we meet, the world we traverse , and the conclusion we reach are highly ambitious and executed brilliantly . The intensity of the wilderness is so vivid in it's descriptions. The environment is just as dangerous as those chasing Radok and Nyanna and more dangers lurk there too.
I couldn't help but feel like I was reliving the story of 2018's God of War in some ways, this is a perfect blend of Viking-esque fantasy I've been looking for. Each POV is unique in their own involvement in this story, be that power, revenge, glory, faith, loyalty .
If you take one reccomendation from me this year, let it be this
The audio narration is 10/10
February 23, 2021
So today I’m doing my review for Wolfeater by @anthony_mitchell_author .
Just want to say a thank you to the author for sending me a copy to review!
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My review!
This is set in a brutal and frozen world where food is scarce and there is also massive conflict between the tribes that inhabit it.
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It is filled with morally grey characters. So it’s difficult to root for someone in particular when they all have their own reasons for the choices they make. Especially when they are clouded by the need for their own answers or just pure vengeance!
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Radok although named Wolfeater, with a deadly reputation and feared by most. Has a heart of gold which we see as the story goes on. His relationships mean everything to him and his fatherly bond with Nyana was my favourite part of the story.
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This also has some strong female characters in it which I always love.
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The bloodthirsty fight scenes were very well done and really set the tone for this unforgiving environment that the stories set in!!
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Also the journey aspect kept the story flowing and I didn’t feel it dragged whatsoever because of that. The ending also made me feel all the emotions!
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My only issues I had were that the chapters were very long and sometimes where it would switch between characters it felt like the end of the chapter so a bit more editing would have been perfect. Also the world building although good I felt needed some more backstory considering it is a standalone. However it still held its own and hopefully the next book in this world will be easier for me to dive straight into now that I’m familiar with it!
I gave this one 4⭐️.
This book is also available on kindle unlimited on Amazon!!
Just want to say a thank you to the author for sending me a copy to review!
.
.
My review!
This is set in a brutal and frozen world where food is scarce and there is also massive conflict between the tribes that inhabit it.
.
It is filled with morally grey characters. So it’s difficult to root for someone in particular when they all have their own reasons for the choices they make. Especially when they are clouded by the need for their own answers or just pure vengeance!
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Radok although named Wolfeater, with a deadly reputation and feared by most. Has a heart of gold which we see as the story goes on. His relationships mean everything to him and his fatherly bond with Nyana was my favourite part of the story.
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This also has some strong female characters in it which I always love.
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The bloodthirsty fight scenes were very well done and really set the tone for this unforgiving environment that the stories set in!!
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Also the journey aspect kept the story flowing and I didn’t feel it dragged whatsoever because of that. The ending also made me feel all the emotions!
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My only issues I had were that the chapters were very long and sometimes where it would switch between characters it felt like the end of the chapter so a bit more editing would have been perfect. Also the world building although good I felt needed some more backstory considering it is a standalone. However it still held its own and hopefully the next book in this world will be easier for me to dive straight into now that I’m familiar with it!
I gave this one 4⭐️.
This book is also available on kindle unlimited on Amazon!!
February 26, 2021
1) World: so the world that Mitchell created gives me is very old world/Vikingesque. We don’t get a lot of background of the world or really of the people that inhabit it but I have a very good feeling that we will be seeing more from this author so I’m ok with that. The whole story takes place on a super snowy mountain so there’s a heck of a lot of trudging through snow.
2) Characters: Some were more fleshed out than others but overall I was able to insert myself into the group effortlessly and that’s a huge plus! Who doesn’t like to pretend they’re going into battle right beside their favorite character????
3) Plot: I guess you could say that whole point was (a) to get to the Blackstone & (b) vengeance. A handful of little subplots lead to the main plot and then boom you have a story! That might not make sense to many but I get it in my head lol. I don’t want to really say much because I feel that to really enjoy the story you need to just jump in feet first.
4) Overall: The story was very well written! Everything flowed very well and nothing felt disjointed or clumpy. There were times when I found myself rooting for both sides!! (Technically there are 3 but the 3rd is a 1 person show 😂)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only problem I have is that 2 characters are saved by a group who say that they will hold of their pursuers but then when that scene happens it lasts all of like 8 minutes? Honestly the whole group being killed off didn’t sit well with me but I do see why it was done.
2) Characters: Some were more fleshed out than others but overall I was able to insert myself into the group effortlessly and that’s a huge plus! Who doesn’t like to pretend they’re going into battle right beside their favorite character????
3) Plot: I guess you could say that whole point was (a) to get to the Blackstone & (b) vengeance. A handful of little subplots lead to the main plot and then boom you have a story! That might not make sense to many but I get it in my head lol. I don’t want to really say much because I feel that to really enjoy the story you need to just jump in feet first.
4) Overall: The story was very well written! Everything flowed very well and nothing felt disjointed or clumpy. There were times when I found myself rooting for both sides!! (Technically there are 3 but the 3rd is a 1 person show 😂)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only problem I have is that 2 characters are saved by a group who say that they will hold of their pursuers but then when that scene happens it lasts all of like 8 minutes? Honestly the whole group being killed off didn’t sit well with me but I do see why it was done.
March 25, 2023
The world-building for Wolfeater is one of my favorite aspects of the story. The Grey Crow felt very reminiscent of North American indigenous peoples, particularly those of the Great Lakes Region, where I live. I grew up reading the tales of Native Americans of the region, which may help to explain my love of this story. Once the characters set out into the wintry white wilderness, it sort of reminded me of the atmosphere of Jeremiah Johnson--one of my favorite movies of all time. The feel of the Grey Crow's rivals, the Valor, is more Nordic, which makes for a very unique and engaging blend.
But it's not just the world-building that gripped me. The characters are well-developed, and they grow and evolve throughout the tale. The fact that we are so clearly shown the perspectives of characters from two rival cultures builds to a powerful thematic climax. We are shown, via these excellent character portrayals, the folly of "othering." The story viscerally demonstrates the corrosive effect of unending violence--sustained by idolized bitterness and the selfishness of vendetta--upon our shared humanity. It's compelling and relatable stuff.
This book gripped me quickly, kept me immersed, and pulled me through to a moving and memorable ending. I'm excited to read more from this author, particularly if it's set in this world.
But it's not just the world-building that gripped me. The characters are well-developed, and they grow and evolve throughout the tale. The fact that we are so clearly shown the perspectives of characters from two rival cultures builds to a powerful thematic climax. We are shown, via these excellent character portrayals, the folly of "othering." The story viscerally demonstrates the corrosive effect of unending violence--sustained by idolized bitterness and the selfishness of vendetta--upon our shared humanity. It's compelling and relatable stuff.
This book gripped me quickly, kept me immersed, and pulled me through to a moving and memorable ending. I'm excited to read more from this author, particularly if it's set in this world.
September 9, 2024
3.75 stars
"It's not the broken that win my heart. It's those who continue to fly even when their wings are clipped. That's Nyana. And it's you."
WHOOP WHOOP I've finished my 2024 reading challenge!! Can't believe this is book 70th of this year!
I've had this book on my kindle unlimited list for actual years, so to actually finish it was great. Also I just realised how little ratings and reviews this actually has, which is criminal since this story has such an emotional impact on the reader. I did not see that left hook coming a mile away, I will say that.
Incredible storytelling, even though I felt a bit of a lull during the mid point, but the ending came fast and left a deep impression on me since the end of the journey was very gut wrenching on this one.
Wolfeater and Nyana's relationship is incredible to read about as well as the other characters that are all important for the ending of this story. Would recommend to anyone that loves this kind of fantasy stories.
"It's not the broken that win my heart. It's those who continue to fly even when their wings are clipped. That's Nyana. And it's you."
WHOOP WHOOP I've finished my 2024 reading challenge!! Can't believe this is book 70th of this year!
I've had this book on my kindle unlimited list for actual years, so to actually finish it was great. Also I just realised how little ratings and reviews this actually has, which is criminal since this story has such an emotional impact on the reader. I did not see that left hook coming a mile away, I will say that.
Incredible storytelling, even though I felt a bit of a lull during the mid point, but the ending came fast and left a deep impression on me since the end of the journey was very gut wrenching on this one.
Wolfeater and Nyana's relationship is incredible to read about as well as the other characters that are all important for the ending of this story. Would recommend to anyone that loves this kind of fantasy stories.
March 2, 2021
Anthony Mitchell, the author of "Wolfeater", sent me an arc copy of this book to review and I thank him for it! Now, the review:
Holy crap, what a memorable ride in this book's waters! The characters didn't feel one dimension, they were 3D due to their fleshed-out stories throughout this epic Mr. Mitchell weaves. Dangers are real in the world, none of the characters were over-developed to an unrealistic level like some authors...well done on that Mr. Anthony Mitchell.
This book, like I told the author in the email when he offered me an arc, I told him the book's blurb felt like God of War which is true. Then I also realize it had some Skyrim vibes as well, making this a very interesting read which will leave me empty for the rest of the year until Anthony Mitchell serves us some more of his grimdark stories.
Total, 5/5 stars with no complaints! fleshed-out
Holy crap, what a memorable ride in this book's waters! The characters didn't feel one dimension, they were 3D due to their fleshed-out stories throughout this epic Mr. Mitchell weaves. Dangers are real in the world, none of the characters were over-developed to an unrealistic level like some authors...well done on that Mr. Anthony Mitchell.
This book, like I told the author in the email when he offered me an arc, I told him the book's blurb felt like God of War which is true. Then I also realize it had some Skyrim vibes as well, making this a very interesting read which will leave me empty for the rest of the year until Anthony Mitchell serves us some more of his grimdark stories.
Total, 5/5 stars with no complaints! fleshed-out
January 23, 2023
After reading The Scars of Jorn Redclaw and Glories Gone, I couldn’t wait to read The Wolfeater. The build up did not disappoint!!!!
Such an amazing book from start to finish. I fell in love with some of these characters and when the “Will” called some of them home, I had to honestly take a break from the story to compose myself.
Some of the deaths and emotions due to the deaths made my eyes get misty.
I think everyone should be reading this story. It was very well written and so easy to understand that I felt like I was right there with these characters the whole time.
I hope the author decides to come back to this world and move the story every further. It would be hard to do after some of the events that happened but I would love to get lost back in this world again. Great job to the Author!
Such an amazing book from start to finish. I fell in love with some of these characters and when the “Will” called some of them home, I had to honestly take a break from the story to compose myself.
Some of the deaths and emotions due to the deaths made my eyes get misty.
I think everyone should be reading this story. It was very well written and so easy to understand that I felt like I was right there with these characters the whole time.
I hope the author decides to come back to this world and move the story every further. It would be hard to do after some of the events that happened but I would love to get lost back in this world again. Great job to the Author!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 15, 2023I don’t like to give bad ratings for self published books unless it’s just absolutely horrendous since it’s an uphill battle for them as it is, so I’ll just leave an honest review and leave out the rating.
I unfortunately did not like this book very much. One reason that isn’t this books fault is that I was reading it along with The Shadow Rising which is obviously light years better than this.
Another reason is because it’s too short for me to really feel anything for these characters. I did not like the Wolfeater nor care about what happened to him, the main character was annoying and the antagonist’s death was anti climactic to me.
The things that I really liked was the graphic action scenes and the wolf “Scar”. Other than that it just wasn’t hitting it for me. I’m quietly giving it 2 stars.
I unfortunately did not like this book very much. One reason that isn’t this books fault is that I was reading it along with The Shadow Rising which is obviously light years better than this.
Another reason is because it’s too short for me to really feel anything for these characters. I did not like the Wolfeater nor care about what happened to him, the main character was annoying and the antagonist’s death was anti climactic to me.
The things that I really liked was the graphic action scenes and the wolf “Scar”. Other than that it just wasn’t hitting it for me. I’m quietly giving it 2 stars.
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