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The Pantheon Saga #1
The Wolf Mile
A forbidden contest. An international game.
Bankrolled by the world's wealthy elite and followed by thousands online, two teams of warriors vie for dominance ... and the streets of Edinburgh run with blood.
Into this secret struggle steps Tyler Maitland, seeking his lost sister, and Lana Cameron, grieving her dead child. When they are accosted by figures in black hoodies and each handed a silver amulet, they recognize the Triple Horn of Odin – the talisman of the Valhalla Horde.
They are being recruited into the great game known as The Pantheon. And one day they will change everything.
Now they must risk their lives and join the ranks of seven ancient warrior teams which inhabit this illicit world. Their journey will be more wondrous and horrifying than anything they could have dreamed, taking each of them to the depths of their souls ... and testing them to breaking point as they search for loved ones and for the meaning in their lives.
Let the Season begin.
Bankrolled by the world's wealthy elite and followed by thousands online, two teams of warriors vie for dominance ... and the streets of Edinburgh run with blood.
Into this secret struggle steps Tyler Maitland, seeking his lost sister, and Lana Cameron, grieving her dead child. When they are accosted by figures in black hoodies and each handed a silver amulet, they recognize the Triple Horn of Odin – the talisman of the Valhalla Horde.
They are being recruited into the great game known as The Pantheon. And one day they will change everything.
Now they must risk their lives and join the ranks of seven ancient warrior teams which inhabit this illicit world. Their journey will be more wondrous and horrifying than anything they could have dreamed, taking each of them to the depths of their souls ... and testing them to breaking point as they search for loved ones and for the meaning in their lives.
Let the Season begin.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2021
37 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 19, 2021
Modern-day Vikings and Greek hoplites clash on the streets of Edinburgh. Sword fights bring bloody death in the Highlands. Intrigue and treachery abound in a brutal underground game bankrolled by the world's mega-rich.
The Wolf Mile is a thrilling ride and a heck of a debut. C.F. Barrington knocks it out of the park.
The Wolf Mile is a thrilling ride and a heck of a debut. C.F. Barrington knocks it out of the park.
July 10, 2021
A fun read, a kind of Hunger Games Game Of Thrones mash up that is very engaging.
Featuring Edinburgh in a way you probably haven't seen before, The Wolf Mile is highly imaginative and lots of fun with some great characters and a great page turning quality.
Perhaps could do with a more cohesive character approach, it's a little busy in its early parts but overall a great read.
Featuring Edinburgh in a way you probably haven't seen before, The Wolf Mile is highly imaginative and lots of fun with some great characters and a great page turning quality.
Perhaps could do with a more cohesive character approach, it's a little busy in its early parts but overall a great read.
May 5, 2021
Here is the first book in an exciting trilogy, that will be published between now and May 2022, so not a long drawn out wait. If the following two books are anything like this, it could well be a big-screen series, because someone will snap it up!
The story takes place around Edinburgh, where all the action happens. Everyday life is very similar to ours, but with one addition, The Pantheon Games, which occur in the city. A blind eye is turned, with authorities as huge betting is placed on which side will be victorious.
The story follows the life of Tyler Maitland, whose sister had disappeared some years before. When Tyler is abducted along with a group of others, they are told that they have been chosen to train for the games. They can walk away, but if they stay, they will have riches beyond their dreams. They are each given a silver amulet which has the Triple Horn of Odin. If they succeed through training, they will become part of the Valhalla Horde. Another character emerges as a key player through the story, Lana Cameron, she has her reasons for wanting to take part.
The story takes you through training of them before a couple of wild cards in thrown in. Now the story heats up. There is a lot of characters to remember, but believe me, they get thinned out as time goes on. You soon have your love them or hate them lists. Each chapter builds up for the battle that is coming.
There have already been some unexpected shocks at the games, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Roll on Book 2.
I wish to thank the author for inviting me to read and review his book via a Net Galley link and to the publisher for approving the e-book.
The story takes place around Edinburgh, where all the action happens. Everyday life is very similar to ours, but with one addition, The Pantheon Games, which occur in the city. A blind eye is turned, with authorities as huge betting is placed on which side will be victorious.
The story follows the life of Tyler Maitland, whose sister had disappeared some years before. When Tyler is abducted along with a group of others, they are told that they have been chosen to train for the games. They can walk away, but if they stay, they will have riches beyond their dreams. They are each given a silver amulet which has the Triple Horn of Odin. If they succeed through training, they will become part of the Valhalla Horde. Another character emerges as a key player through the story, Lana Cameron, she has her reasons for wanting to take part.
The story takes you through training of them before a couple of wild cards in thrown in. Now the story heats up. There is a lot of characters to remember, but believe me, they get thinned out as time goes on. You soon have your love them or hate them lists. Each chapter builds up for the battle that is coming.
There have already been some unexpected shocks at the games, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Roll on Book 2.
I wish to thank the author for inviting me to read and review his book via a Net Galley link and to the publisher for approving the e-book.
July 16, 2023
An interesting premise of old meets new. I enjoyed the modern day setting in which factions of recruited soldiers play ancient death games. A fan of mythology and ancient history I loved this mix. I'm onto book 2 at the moment and am really enjoying this series.
April 12, 2022
*I voluntarily reviewed this series from the Publisher.
An action-packed, vicious battle to the death, The Pantheon Series packs a punch. Starting with THE WOLF MILE, we learn about an underground event that is followed by millions around the world, as contestants leave the current world behind and fight to the death. As the season begins we meet Tyler Maitland and Lana Cameron who will push themselves beyond anything they thought possible to survive.
The idea of this book intrigued me but I wasn't sure if I would enjoy how it played out on the page, but I was not disappointed. With their own reasons to throw themselves into this vicious game, my heart was racing alongside Tyler and Lana as the game developed and they had to use their wits, talents, and strengths to make it to another day. And the ending certainly left me wanting more.
Book two of The Pantheon Series comes back with a bang, and you better clear your schedules because THE BLOOD ISLES will need your undivided attention from beginning to end!
Tyler and Lana are back in the ultimate game of survival of the fittest and this time there is even more on the line. Picking up where the first book in the series left off, we are thrown back into the game where previous relationships become deeper and I got to know the characters at a deeper level, as I learned more about who they are and what their lives were like before. With plenty of plot twists, mysteries, and fighting, this pacy novel didn't hold anything back.
As in the previous book, there is action, battles, intrigue, and dark evilness that overshadows it all but THE BLOOD ISLES has managed to somehow step it up even more since the first book, and I could not put it down.
If you are looking for a thrilling story with an intense edge, then The Pantheon Series is a must for you. An addictive series by a talented writer!
An action-packed, vicious battle to the death, The Pantheon Series packs a punch. Starting with THE WOLF MILE, we learn about an underground event that is followed by millions around the world, as contestants leave the current world behind and fight to the death. As the season begins we meet Tyler Maitland and Lana Cameron who will push themselves beyond anything they thought possible to survive.
The idea of this book intrigued me but I wasn't sure if I would enjoy how it played out on the page, but I was not disappointed. With their own reasons to throw themselves into this vicious game, my heart was racing alongside Tyler and Lana as the game developed and they had to use their wits, talents, and strengths to make it to another day. And the ending certainly left me wanting more.
Book two of The Pantheon Series comes back with a bang, and you better clear your schedules because THE BLOOD ISLES will need your undivided attention from beginning to end!
Tyler and Lana are back in the ultimate game of survival of the fittest and this time there is even more on the line. Picking up where the first book in the series left off, we are thrown back into the game where previous relationships become deeper and I got to know the characters at a deeper level, as I learned more about who they are and what their lives were like before. With plenty of plot twists, mysteries, and fighting, this pacy novel didn't hold anything back.
As in the previous book, there is action, battles, intrigue, and dark evilness that overshadows it all but THE BLOOD ISLES has managed to somehow step it up even more since the first book, and I could not put it down.
If you are looking for a thrilling story with an intense edge, then The Pantheon Series is a must for you. An addictive series by a talented writer!
April 5, 2021
I'd like to thank Aria & Aries and NetGelley for an ARC of this book to read and review.
Synopsis
Tyler Maitland and Lana Cameron are recruited by The Horde, one of two teams of warriors in Edinburgh and based on ancient civilizations who are pitted against each other for the amusement of the ultra-wealthy. Each recruit has their own reasons for joining the Horde. Maitland is searching for his missing sister who he believes joined the Horde. Cameron is trying to fill the void left in her life after the death of her child. Both will face dangerous challenges both seen and unseen as they navigate their way through the Pantheon's Games.
Review
If you didn't find that the synopsis gave you a whole lot to go on other than some people are recruited onto some kind of team that fights another team, then you are exactly where I was for a good portion of this book.
The book follows (mostly) the overwhelmingly well-named Tyler Maitland and co-protagonist Lana Cameron as they are offered spots on one of Edinburgh's Pantheon teams, The Horde. Almost the entirety of the book is about the training to be among the seven final recruits who actually are fully accepted into the Horde.
I went through a lot of this book with questions. Why are there these teams? What do the people on the teams get out of it? Who watches the events between the two teams? Some of the questions were quasi answered, but often I became more confused when the questions were somewhat explained. For instance, it is made clear that the teams have many fans, much like sports teams. There are always cameras to record the events of the “games” or “seasons” between the two teams. But when any footage of the games is broadcast on TV it is treated as something that shouldn't have happened or a leak. They want to keep the games a secret. When ordinary citizens of Edinburgh take video with their cell phones it is stated several times that their phones should be taken away and destroyed or confiscated to get rid of the video. The video of the events that are... being videotaped and apparently streamed for anyone to watch. From the description on C.F. Barrington's website “Bankrolled by the world’s wealthy elite and watched online by thousands,” Do you see what I find confusing? Maybe its only thousands of ultra-rich billionaires who it streams too but then that doesn't explain all the everyday fans.
I also spent much of the book wondering why Maitland and Cameron were putting up with the dangers and trials of joining the horde. Their motivations (especially Lana's) were not given until very late in the story which kept me wondering what the point was for quite a while. Once their motivations were established however I found reading the book went much smoother.
For me, the book really didn't start to feel like it got moving until the very end. And then it just ended. I understand this is the first book in a series but where the book ends, to me, felt like the author just decided to stop mid-paragraph. It didn't feel like a dropping-off point and it left me feeling a little annoyed. I would like to go into more detail about the end but again, I want to avoid spoilers.
Ok, so I've mostly bashed the book so far. There are for sure things I did not enjoy. But hold your horses on thinking this was a bad book or that I hated it. First of all, this is someone's premiere novel. I wish I was half as talented at writing as this author is. Second of all, there were things I really liked about this book and I am very interested to see what happens next.
The development of Maitland, Cameron, and other recruits is interesting and though there are a couple of unanswered questions (maybe I missed some passage clarifying my own questions here though) I have grown to appreciate the characters and look forward to seeing their development. Barrington does a good job of making you care about or really dislike a character to the point of being uncomfortably anxious when one of the characters you are rooting for is in danger. And there is a lot of danger in this book. And though for the most part the story lacks a main antagonist, once you get one, you immediately feel the impact of how bad this person or persons is/are.
I did feel the book lagged on with the training but it did pick up and I am really looking forward to the next book which I am expecting to have a whole lot of action. Now don't get me wrong, there was a lot of action in this book too, but I'm looking forward to seeing action from more experienced characters as the story progresses as opposed to training scenes. You want to see the Karate Kid do a crane kick to a guy's face, not watch him wax a car.
I really liked the mythology of the Pantheon. I am really hoping that there is a more in-depth description or revelations about how it works. Who is in it? More about the other teams. How it is run, etc? It is a very cool idea and I think if done right will become one of my favorite secret societies. I have my own ideas of what will happen with the two Edinburgh teams(the Horde and the Titans) and I'm very happy to see that the first trilogy (including this book) is set to be published between now and May 2022. Which means there shouldn't be a very long wait for the next book.
The descriptions of fights and larger-scale battles are very well done. You can feel the impacts of each blow. The fact that other than a bow and arrow all the weapons are handheld melee weapons makes everything feel so much more personal and dangerous.
I am a little torn on this final point. This could be considered differently from your own point of view as a good or bad thing. The more I reflect on this book the more it seems to me as a kind of teaser or preview book. The hint of big things keeps appearing but never quite gets as out of control as you hope or expect which in some ways annoys me but also hooked me into needing to know what happens next.
So despite some issues I have with the book I would recommend it and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Synopsis
Tyler Maitland and Lana Cameron are recruited by The Horde, one of two teams of warriors in Edinburgh and based on ancient civilizations who are pitted against each other for the amusement of the ultra-wealthy. Each recruit has their own reasons for joining the Horde. Maitland is searching for his missing sister who he believes joined the Horde. Cameron is trying to fill the void left in her life after the death of her child. Both will face dangerous challenges both seen and unseen as they navigate their way through the Pantheon's Games.
Review
If you didn't find that the synopsis gave you a whole lot to go on other than some people are recruited onto some kind of team that fights another team, then you are exactly where I was for a good portion of this book.
The book follows (mostly) the overwhelmingly well-named Tyler Maitland and co-protagonist Lana Cameron as they are offered spots on one of Edinburgh's Pantheon teams, The Horde. Almost the entirety of the book is about the training to be among the seven final recruits who actually are fully accepted into the Horde.
I went through a lot of this book with questions. Why are there these teams? What do the people on the teams get out of it? Who watches the events between the two teams? Some of the questions were quasi answered, but often I became more confused when the questions were somewhat explained. For instance, it is made clear that the teams have many fans, much like sports teams. There are always cameras to record the events of the “games” or “seasons” between the two teams. But when any footage of the games is broadcast on TV it is treated as something that shouldn't have happened or a leak. They want to keep the games a secret. When ordinary citizens of Edinburgh take video with their cell phones it is stated several times that their phones should be taken away and destroyed or confiscated to get rid of the video. The video of the events that are... being videotaped and apparently streamed for anyone to watch. From the description on C.F. Barrington's website “Bankrolled by the world’s wealthy elite and watched online by thousands,” Do you see what I find confusing? Maybe its only thousands of ultra-rich billionaires who it streams too but then that doesn't explain all the everyday fans.
I also spent much of the book wondering why Maitland and Cameron were putting up with the dangers and trials of joining the horde. Their motivations (especially Lana's) were not given until very late in the story which kept me wondering what the point was for quite a while. Once their motivations were established however I found reading the book went much smoother.
For me, the book really didn't start to feel like it got moving until the very end. And then it just ended. I understand this is the first book in a series but where the book ends, to me, felt like the author just decided to stop mid-paragraph. It didn't feel like a dropping-off point and it left me feeling a little annoyed. I would like to go into more detail about the end but again, I want to avoid spoilers.
Ok, so I've mostly bashed the book so far. There are for sure things I did not enjoy. But hold your horses on thinking this was a bad book or that I hated it. First of all, this is someone's premiere novel. I wish I was half as talented at writing as this author is. Second of all, there were things I really liked about this book and I am very interested to see what happens next.
The development of Maitland, Cameron, and other recruits is interesting and though there are a couple of unanswered questions (maybe I missed some passage clarifying my own questions here though) I have grown to appreciate the characters and look forward to seeing their development. Barrington does a good job of making you care about or really dislike a character to the point of being uncomfortably anxious when one of the characters you are rooting for is in danger. And there is a lot of danger in this book. And though for the most part the story lacks a main antagonist, once you get one, you immediately feel the impact of how bad this person or persons is/are.
I did feel the book lagged on with the training but it did pick up and I am really looking forward to the next book which I am expecting to have a whole lot of action. Now don't get me wrong, there was a lot of action in this book too, but I'm looking forward to seeing action from more experienced characters as the story progresses as opposed to training scenes. You want to see the Karate Kid do a crane kick to a guy's face, not watch him wax a car.
I really liked the mythology of the Pantheon. I am really hoping that there is a more in-depth description or revelations about how it works. Who is in it? More about the other teams. How it is run, etc? It is a very cool idea and I think if done right will become one of my favorite secret societies. I have my own ideas of what will happen with the two Edinburgh teams(the Horde and the Titans) and I'm very happy to see that the first trilogy (including this book) is set to be published between now and May 2022. Which means there shouldn't be a very long wait for the next book.
The descriptions of fights and larger-scale battles are very well done. You can feel the impacts of each blow. The fact that other than a bow and arrow all the weapons are handheld melee weapons makes everything feel so much more personal and dangerous.
I am a little torn on this final point. This could be considered differently from your own point of view as a good or bad thing. The more I reflect on this book the more it seems to me as a kind of teaser or preview book. The hint of big things keeps appearing but never quite gets as out of control as you hope or expect which in some ways annoys me but also hooked me into needing to know what happens next.
So despite some issues I have with the book I would recommend it and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 2, 2022
4/5
I really loved this book - not like anything I have read before it was inventive and kept me hooked from beginning to end.
Most of the story was told from Tyler's POV but we do get a couple of extra parts from other perspectives which I loved as it gave the story a more rounded feel. Our main characters were flawed but likeable and by the end I was so invested in their stories I kept turning pages to make sure they were alright.
I did find the bigger reveals towards the end of the book a little predictable but they felt right for the story so did not massively put me off.
Will absolutely be picking up book 2!
I really loved this book - not like anything I have read before it was inventive and kept me hooked from beginning to end.
Most of the story was told from Tyler's POV but we do get a couple of extra parts from other perspectives which I loved as it gave the story a more rounded feel. Our main characters were flawed but likeable and by the end I was so invested in their stories I kept turning pages to make sure they were alright.
I did find the bigger reveals towards the end of the book a little predictable but they felt right for the story so did not massively put me off.
Will absolutely be picking up book 2!
July 26, 2021
This is a lot of fun and shows Edinburgh in a whole new light! It's action-packed and thrilling and I loved the story and concept. Its female characters aren't especially convincing but otherwise a very enjoyable and fast thriller and I really liked the main male character. I'm looking forward to book 2! Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
April 2, 2021
Through Net Galley, I reviewed an advance copy of The Wolf Mile by C.F. Barrington. Part Hunger Games, part The Running Man, this book introduces us to The Pantheon, an underground game to the death in the streets of Edinburgh. The rich are betting, the masses are following online and the government/police have been paid to turn a blind eye.
Featuring two compelling yet flawed lead characters, an intriguing mystery and unrelenting action, I enjoyed The Wolf Mile immensely. The first of a planned series, I can’t wait to see where Mr. Barrington takes us in the future. 5 big stars from this reader.
My thanks to @Aria_Fiction,@HOZ_Fictio and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Featuring two compelling yet flawed lead characters, an intriguing mystery and unrelenting action, I enjoyed The Wolf Mile immensely. The first of a planned series, I can’t wait to see where Mr. Barrington takes us in the future. 5 big stars from this reader.
My thanks to @Aria_Fiction,@HOZ_Fictio and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 17, 2021
I was intrigued by The Wolf Mile by C F Barrington as soon as I read the book blurb. Viking berserkers and Greek Hoplite clans facing off against one another on modern city streets. To the winner goes all the trapping of fortune and glory. Sounds pretty brilliant doesn’t it? Guess what? It is.
The clandestine nature of the Pantheon, specifically the Viking warriors of the Valhalla Horde, is revealed through the eyes of two new recruits – Tyler and Lana. We follow them as they train to become elite warriors. The trials they are forced to endure are brutal, designed to strip away the thin veneer of modern living and reshape participants into skilled soldiers. Both characters have very personal reasons for seeking out The Pantheon, but it’s riveting to see how these reasons evolve as life in a secret army becomes more and more appealing. Tyler and Lana are broken souls, lost in their own lives. To suddenly have something far bigger than themselves gives them both a sense of purpose.
The setting for The Wolf Mile raised a smile. Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities on the planet. I know, a shocking revelation from a Glaswegian, but there you go. In Edinburgh, the historic and modern exist together in a weird amalgam of old and new. I can’t think of a better place for two Pantheon forces to meet.
One of the things I like most about this novel is the endless possibility that lies at its heart. In a handful of throwaway lines, Barrington mentions the other members of the Pantheon dotted around the globe. Much as I love Edinburgh, and I really do, I need to know more. How are the other armies that take part structured? What rivalries exist? You can’t just tease us with the Mongol hordes and the Huns and leave it like that. There is a whole mythology that has only been hinted at. I must know more!
I devoured this novel, relishing each new chapter. Sitting alongside all-time favourites like Roofworld by Christopher Fowler and The Race novels by Joan De La Haye, The Wolf Mile dangles the tantalising premise of hidden sub-cultures. The idea of secret worlds existing in parallel with our own has always fascinated me. The next time I’m in Scotland’s capital I think I’ll need to spend a bit more time watching what is going on around me. Perhaps I’ll take a walk around the Old Town in the wee small hours of the night. You know, just to check there are no pitched battles between Greek and Viking forces kicking off that I might be missing out on.
Barrington has a keen eye for action. The Hoplites engage with a near clinical efficiency, while the Valhalla Horde have a far more organic approach to violence. It’s breathtaking stuff when they clash with one another. Partnered with all the frenetic chaos is some well-executed world-building. The Pantheon is governed by sets of rules and rituals. The attention to the smallest details elevate this story, fleshing out the complex society the author has crafted.
I keep asking myself how in the name of Hel did I let the release of The Wolf Mile slip me by? It ticks all the boxes I’m looking for when it comes to thrillers. There are secret societies, lashings of intrigue, bloody battles and some Machievllian politics to boot. Hardly a surprise Tyler and Lana have no idea who to trust. As is always the case when it comes to books I really enjoy, I could waffle on endlessly. Let me attempt to summarise. C F Barrington’s debut has bucketloads of action, plenty of great characters (Halvar for the win!) and a plot that I couldn’t get enough of. The Wolf Mile is pure, unadulterated escapism and I loved every word.
The clandestine nature of the Pantheon, specifically the Viking warriors of the Valhalla Horde, is revealed through the eyes of two new recruits – Tyler and Lana. We follow them as they train to become elite warriors. The trials they are forced to endure are brutal, designed to strip away the thin veneer of modern living and reshape participants into skilled soldiers. Both characters have very personal reasons for seeking out The Pantheon, but it’s riveting to see how these reasons evolve as life in a secret army becomes more and more appealing. Tyler and Lana are broken souls, lost in their own lives. To suddenly have something far bigger than themselves gives them both a sense of purpose.
The setting for The Wolf Mile raised a smile. Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities on the planet. I know, a shocking revelation from a Glaswegian, but there you go. In Edinburgh, the historic and modern exist together in a weird amalgam of old and new. I can’t think of a better place for two Pantheon forces to meet.
One of the things I like most about this novel is the endless possibility that lies at its heart. In a handful of throwaway lines, Barrington mentions the other members of the Pantheon dotted around the globe. Much as I love Edinburgh, and I really do, I need to know more. How are the other armies that take part structured? What rivalries exist? You can’t just tease us with the Mongol hordes and the Huns and leave it like that. There is a whole mythology that has only been hinted at. I must know more!
I devoured this novel, relishing each new chapter. Sitting alongside all-time favourites like Roofworld by Christopher Fowler and The Race novels by Joan De La Haye, The Wolf Mile dangles the tantalising premise of hidden sub-cultures. The idea of secret worlds existing in parallel with our own has always fascinated me. The next time I’m in Scotland’s capital I think I’ll need to spend a bit more time watching what is going on around me. Perhaps I’ll take a walk around the Old Town in the wee small hours of the night. You know, just to check there are no pitched battles between Greek and Viking forces kicking off that I might be missing out on.
Barrington has a keen eye for action. The Hoplites engage with a near clinical efficiency, while the Valhalla Horde have a far more organic approach to violence. It’s breathtaking stuff when they clash with one another. Partnered with all the frenetic chaos is some well-executed world-building. The Pantheon is governed by sets of rules and rituals. The attention to the smallest details elevate this story, fleshing out the complex society the author has crafted.
I keep asking myself how in the name of Hel did I let the release of The Wolf Mile slip me by? It ticks all the boxes I’m looking for when it comes to thrillers. There are secret societies, lashings of intrigue, bloody battles and some Machievllian politics to boot. Hardly a surprise Tyler and Lana have no idea who to trust. As is always the case when it comes to books I really enjoy, I could waffle on endlessly. Let me attempt to summarise. C F Barrington’s debut has bucketloads of action, plenty of great characters (Halvar for the win!) and a plot that I couldn’t get enough of. The Wolf Mile is pure, unadulterated escapism and I loved every word.
May 8, 2021
The Wolf Mile is a fast-paced mashup of The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones!
Tyler is looking for his missing sister, Morgan. Lana is looking to heal after an assault at a college party. Both believe their answer lies within the Pantheon. The Pantheon is a collection of seven houses of people vying for victory by physically battling within the modern-day world. At stake is fame and fortune but also the risk of death. For rich subscribers, no sum is too great to pay to watch the fights—or to bet upon the victors.
In Edinburgh, Tyler and Lana are recruited to the tunnel-dwelling Hordes. First, they must fight their way through a grueling boot camp before participating in fighting the Hordes mortal enemy, the Titans.
I loved the training portion of the book. Who wouldn’t be intrigued by this description?
“It seems we all live in a soulless world. A place of routine and debt. Where every week is the same as the next. We offer the glamour of the unknown. The thrill of the enigma. The blank canvas on which everyone can paint their dreams.“
However, by the end of the book, I was enthralled by the different houses. I am hoping that subsequent books move beyond Edinburgh to visit other houses, especially the enemy free Huns.
If you like fantasy or either of the two series I mentioned in the intro, I believe you will enjoy The Wolf Mile too. 4 stars! I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
Thanks to Head of Zeus, Aries Books, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Tyler is looking for his missing sister, Morgan. Lana is looking to heal after an assault at a college party. Both believe their answer lies within the Pantheon. The Pantheon is a collection of seven houses of people vying for victory by physically battling within the modern-day world. At stake is fame and fortune but also the risk of death. For rich subscribers, no sum is too great to pay to watch the fights—or to bet upon the victors.
In Edinburgh, Tyler and Lana are recruited to the tunnel-dwelling Hordes. First, they must fight their way through a grueling boot camp before participating in fighting the Hordes mortal enemy, the Titans.
I loved the training portion of the book. Who wouldn’t be intrigued by this description?
“It seems we all live in a soulless world. A place of routine and debt. Where every week is the same as the next. We offer the glamour of the unknown. The thrill of the enigma. The blank canvas on which everyone can paint their dreams.“
However, by the end of the book, I was enthralled by the different houses. I am hoping that subsequent books move beyond Edinburgh to visit other houses, especially the enemy free Huns.
If you like fantasy or either of the two series I mentioned in the intro, I believe you will enjoy The Wolf Mile too. 4 stars! I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
Thanks to Head of Zeus, Aries Books, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 28, 2021
Welcome to Edinburgh, a city very like the one that many of us are familiar with, and yet there is something not quite as we know it about what happens on these streets - for every year blood is spilt on these cobblestones as part of the biggest underground games of them all, the Pantheon Games.
No one knows exactly who devised the Games, and the shadowy figures at the helm prefer to stay hidden behind the anonymity that enormous wealth and political heft can buy, gambling their fortunes on the results of the battles they control each season from on high. The Games have become an urban legend and the silent obsession of millions who dream of becoming part of the warring factions that fight for dominance - even if this means it costs them their lives.
For reasons unclear, Edinburgh is now home to two of the seven secretive factions that take part in the Games - the Horde, that follow Viking traditions, and inhabit the ancient tunnels below the city; and their sworn enemies the Titan's, who have ties to the history of Alexander of Macedon and are guardians of the city's rooftops.
The story is primarily told through the eyes of Tyler, an ex-addict, and Lana, a woman struggling with the legacy of abuse and loss, both of whom are among those offered the chance to find redemption by becoming part of the new cohort of recruits for the Horde. We are at their sides as they undergo the arduous training they must endure if they want to be accepted into the Horde as warriors, and accrue the rewards that come hand in hand with the danger they will have to face during the Games - and it's no walk in the park. This is the kind of training that will take them to breaking point, but they both have their own reasons for pushing themselves to succeed - Lana to recapture the spirit of her youth, and Tyler to find his missing sister...
I absolutely love the concept of this novel, the first part of a debut trilogy from C.F. Barrington, and the way it twists contemporary and historical themes together into a cracking adventure story like nothing I have read before. Described as 'Fight Club, with swords' I could not resist delving into the world of the illicit Pantheon Games and it was quite a ride!
There is something so compelling about the way the Game takes place in the shadows, and while everyone knows on some level that it is happening, only those sworn to secrecy are aware of the whole truth. During the day, these secret combatants seem to be ordinary folk, but at night they fully immerse themselves into the traditions and duties required of them as warriors. Of course, something that is based on the premise of secrecy and lies is also open to corruption and backstabbing - not just in the form of the authorities that seem to condemn its illegal activities with one hand, while accepting very bloody hush money with the other - but also from within, and the notion of games within games muddies the waters beautifully as events play out.
The whole story is fast paced, on the edge of your seat stuff, with a big dollop of gritty, emotional impact from the individual stories of the central characters, and Barrington uses the location of Edinburgh very cleverly throughout - if you know Edinburgh at all, you will find this very enjoyable. Fear of spoilers prevents me from getting into the real nitty gritty of the adventure, but be assured that this is a cracking tale, that kept me hooked from the first page to the last - and promises great things for the next instalment. I can't wait...
No one knows exactly who devised the Games, and the shadowy figures at the helm prefer to stay hidden behind the anonymity that enormous wealth and political heft can buy, gambling their fortunes on the results of the battles they control each season from on high. The Games have become an urban legend and the silent obsession of millions who dream of becoming part of the warring factions that fight for dominance - even if this means it costs them their lives.
For reasons unclear, Edinburgh is now home to two of the seven secretive factions that take part in the Games - the Horde, that follow Viking traditions, and inhabit the ancient tunnels below the city; and their sworn enemies the Titan's, who have ties to the history of Alexander of Macedon and are guardians of the city's rooftops.
The story is primarily told through the eyes of Tyler, an ex-addict, and Lana, a woman struggling with the legacy of abuse and loss, both of whom are among those offered the chance to find redemption by becoming part of the new cohort of recruits for the Horde. We are at their sides as they undergo the arduous training they must endure if they want to be accepted into the Horde as warriors, and accrue the rewards that come hand in hand with the danger they will have to face during the Games - and it's no walk in the park. This is the kind of training that will take them to breaking point, but they both have their own reasons for pushing themselves to succeed - Lana to recapture the spirit of her youth, and Tyler to find his missing sister...
I absolutely love the concept of this novel, the first part of a debut trilogy from C.F. Barrington, and the way it twists contemporary and historical themes together into a cracking adventure story like nothing I have read before. Described as 'Fight Club, with swords' I could not resist delving into the world of the illicit Pantheon Games and it was quite a ride!
There is something so compelling about the way the Game takes place in the shadows, and while everyone knows on some level that it is happening, only those sworn to secrecy are aware of the whole truth. During the day, these secret combatants seem to be ordinary folk, but at night they fully immerse themselves into the traditions and duties required of them as warriors. Of course, something that is based on the premise of secrecy and lies is also open to corruption and backstabbing - not just in the form of the authorities that seem to condemn its illegal activities with one hand, while accepting very bloody hush money with the other - but also from within, and the notion of games within games muddies the waters beautifully as events play out.
The whole story is fast paced, on the edge of your seat stuff, with a big dollop of gritty, emotional impact from the individual stories of the central characters, and Barrington uses the location of Edinburgh very cleverly throughout - if you know Edinburgh at all, you will find this very enjoyable. Fear of spoilers prevents me from getting into the real nitty gritty of the adventure, but be assured that this is a cracking tale, that kept me hooked from the first page to the last - and promises great things for the next instalment. I can't wait...
March 4, 2022
I received a review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour. It has not affected my opinions.
DNF at 50%
I hate DNFing books, even more so when it's a book for a tour. But I'd been struggling to pick this one up and get into it, forcing myself to pick it up in little chunks (hence I got so far.) Eventually I had to sit down and ask myself why I was struggling, and it came down to the characters.
Let's start with the female characters. This book is really not good for female characters, and one is the secondary POV (Lana.)
Lana is taking part in the Panetheon because she was sexually assaulted (I think - this book isn't great at spelling out motivation - see later on. But the first thing we learn about Lana is that she was raped, and got pregnant from it. Later we learn she had a miscarriage.) I honestly know nothing else about her life halfway into the book beyond the fact she's a victim of sexual assault. And she's the secondary POV.
Tyler, the primary POV, comes from a family of domestic violence - and the first POV at the very start of the book (never comes again) also stresses the domestic violence happening at home. The female trainer joined because she lost her fiancé. And in some respects, Tyler's mother was fridged - her murder setting him on the path to the Pantheon. All I know about Tyler's sister is that she had a relationship that changed her and then she left for the Panethon. And I don't think there was another woman in the book.
It was just so frustrating that all the women were defined by their relationships and sexual experiences. There was no breadth of character motivation or complexity like the men got, they were instead reduced down to their relationship to men (either specific men or men as a whole.)
Then there was the lack of character motivations spelt out clearly. Why is Tyler trying to go for the Pantheon? There are a lot of hints that it's to do with his very dysfunctional family, and his sister going, as we get glimpses of his past throughout the book. But it's never spelt out WHY he wants this. Is it to find her? Is it for money? Violence? Does he want an answer to the hint of a mystery about his mother dropped about 30% through? Without that, I had no reason to root for him. No reason to care.
We also didn't get to see "normal" life pre-Pantheon for any of the characters, what they were doing just before they got invited. That probably would have helped, to see the "void" in their life clearly to then understand how the Pantheon fill it. Without that, they were just a bunch of characters (confusing with three sets of names!) who were training in a concrete bunker.
DNF at 50%
I hate DNFing books, even more so when it's a book for a tour. But I'd been struggling to pick this one up and get into it, forcing myself to pick it up in little chunks (hence I got so far.) Eventually I had to sit down and ask myself why I was struggling, and it came down to the characters.
Let's start with the female characters. This book is really not good for female characters, and one is the secondary POV (Lana.)
Lana is taking part in the Panetheon because she was sexually assaulted (I think - this book isn't great at spelling out motivation - see later on. But the first thing we learn about Lana is that she was raped, and got pregnant from it. Later we learn she had a miscarriage.) I honestly know nothing else about her life halfway into the book beyond the fact she's a victim of sexual assault. And she's the secondary POV.
Tyler, the primary POV, comes from a family of domestic violence - and the first POV at the very start of the book (never comes again) also stresses the domestic violence happening at home. The female trainer joined because she lost her fiancé. And in some respects, Tyler's mother was fridged - her murder setting him on the path to the Pantheon. All I know about Tyler's sister is that she had a relationship that changed her and then she left for the Panethon. And I don't think there was another woman in the book.
It was just so frustrating that all the women were defined by their relationships and sexual experiences. There was no breadth of character motivation or complexity like the men got, they were instead reduced down to their relationship to men (either specific men or men as a whole.)
Then there was the lack of character motivations spelt out clearly. Why is Tyler trying to go for the Pantheon? There are a lot of hints that it's to do with his very dysfunctional family, and his sister going, as we get glimpses of his past throughout the book. But it's never spelt out WHY he wants this. Is it to find her? Is it for money? Violence? Does he want an answer to the hint of a mystery about his mother dropped about 30% through? Without that, I had no reason to root for him. No reason to care.
We also didn't get to see "normal" life pre-Pantheon for any of the characters, what they were doing just before they got invited. That probably would have helped, to see the "void" in their life clearly to then understand how the Pantheon fill it. Without that, they were just a bunch of characters (confusing with three sets of names!) who were training in a concrete bunker.
May 25, 2021
Originally posted on Just Geeking By.
I was provided with a free copy of The Wolf Mile by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Wolf Mile was a book that surprised me. For the first 20%, I honestly wondered if I was even going to finish the book, I certainly didn't expect to get thoroughly involved in the story or get frustrated when the book ended on a slight cliffhanger leaving me with more questions than answers. It is a very slow burner, and the first part of the book is a slog through military training and battle terminology which I admit I really don't care for. But once The Wolf Mile got to the point where you started to know the protagonists and started to feel something for the unnamed characters training alongside them I began to get emotionally invested.
At the start of the book is a list of the Pantheon and the Palatinates (in basic terms the teams taking part) alongside the locations of their headquarters. All of the Palatinates are named after great conquerors and their armies, and their geographical headquarters corresponds to their historical record, for example, Caesar Imperator's Legion has its HQ is in Rome and Zheng, Lord of Qin's The Warring States HQ is in Beijing. It's mentioned in the book that Alexander of Macedon and The Titans had previously been located elsewhere before being relocated to Edinburgh, so that explains their HQ not matching historically. What I couldn't work out was why a Viking horde was located in Edinburgh when the Vikings had never conquered Scotland (a fact that is repeated in the book by one of the characters). I found out why when I went fact-checking for this review and couldn't find mention of "Sveinn the Red" the leader of The Horde. I did find mention of Sveinn Ásleifarson who appears in the Orkneyinga Saga, a narrative history of the Orkney and Shetland Islands. I don't know for sure if this is the basis for Sveinn the Red, but that at least makes some sense. It also fits with the high level of research that I noticed throughout The Wolf Mile especially when it came to Viking traditions.
What really lets this book down, at least for me, is the lack of diversity in it. Right from the start, I was acutely aware that the 'they' mentioned in the synopsis was really a 'he' with Lana taking a distinct back seat to not just Tyler but all the other male characters in the book. Around about 70% of the book is about Tyler and mostly from his point of view. Another 10% was other male characters, and the final 20% was Lana. I have nothing against male protagonists and read them just as much as female ones, however, the book is advertised as being about both of them and then fails to live up to that. It's also worth mentioning that all the Palatinates are named after male conquerors/historical figures. While female conquerors were a minority in comparison to their male counterparts they still existed and since The Wolf Mile is set in the UK, why not Boudica instead of Alexander of Macedon?
I also found Tyler a difficult protagonist to like, whereas Lana was someone I could identify with on many levels. As a disabled woman, I didn't appreciate how Tyler was cast into the position of a disabled and disadvantaged underdog when his injuries were the result of his own stupidity; he was caught selling drugs by the local gang on their turf despite knowing the dangers. Tyler could have quite as easily have just been a disabled person rather than having a highly sensationalized background.
At the same time, while I identified with Lana, she's also an extremely stereotypical female character; the wounded woman who was was dealing with the loss of a child and other trauma. The writer isn't oblivious to this because at one point Lana calls the organises of the games out on it, on how they have chosen a woman like her because she was easy prey for their call to arms.
Other than the gender in balance, there's not just a complete lack of LGBTQ+ characters or relationships; it's as if they don't even exist. A perfect example is when the author reflects on Tyler not noticing how he's seen by the students as a handsome blue-eyed man of mystery; it's only the female students that are mentioned. There's also a tokenistic racial character, Freyja, who at first I silently celebrated. Then no other non-white characters were introduced and points were drawn to her attractive physical features, such as her hazel eyes, repeatedly. While Edinburgh is a predominantly white city and has a smaller ethnic minority community than Glasgow, there still shouldn't be just one non-white character.
Overall The Wolf Mile has an intriguing mystery that will grab your attention, but in my opinion, it needs some polishing up in other areas. There was a sneak peek at the end of the book for book two and it seems as though an important female character will play a prominent part in it. I just hope that she actually gets the screen time she deserves and isn't sidelined like Lana was in this one.
I was provided with a free copy of The Wolf Mile by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Wolf Mile was a book that surprised me. For the first 20%, I honestly wondered if I was even going to finish the book, I certainly didn't expect to get thoroughly involved in the story or get frustrated when the book ended on a slight cliffhanger leaving me with more questions than answers. It is a very slow burner, and the first part of the book is a slog through military training and battle terminology which I admit I really don't care for. But once The Wolf Mile got to the point where you started to know the protagonists and started to feel something for the unnamed characters training alongside them I began to get emotionally invested.
At the start of the book is a list of the Pantheon and the Palatinates (in basic terms the teams taking part) alongside the locations of their headquarters. All of the Palatinates are named after great conquerors and their armies, and their geographical headquarters corresponds to their historical record, for example, Caesar Imperator's Legion has its HQ is in Rome and Zheng, Lord of Qin's The Warring States HQ is in Beijing. It's mentioned in the book that Alexander of Macedon and The Titans had previously been located elsewhere before being relocated to Edinburgh, so that explains their HQ not matching historically. What I couldn't work out was why a Viking horde was located in Edinburgh when the Vikings had never conquered Scotland (a fact that is repeated in the book by one of the characters). I found out why when I went fact-checking for this review and couldn't find mention of "Sveinn the Red" the leader of The Horde. I did find mention of Sveinn Ásleifarson who appears in the Orkneyinga Saga, a narrative history of the Orkney and Shetland Islands. I don't know for sure if this is the basis for Sveinn the Red, but that at least makes some sense. It also fits with the high level of research that I noticed throughout The Wolf Mile especially when it came to Viking traditions.
What really lets this book down, at least for me, is the lack of diversity in it. Right from the start, I was acutely aware that the 'they' mentioned in the synopsis was really a 'he' with Lana taking a distinct back seat to not just Tyler but all the other male characters in the book. Around about 70% of the book is about Tyler and mostly from his point of view. Another 10% was other male characters, and the final 20% was Lana. I have nothing against male protagonists and read them just as much as female ones, however, the book is advertised as being about both of them and then fails to live up to that. It's also worth mentioning that all the Palatinates are named after male conquerors/historical figures. While female conquerors were a minority in comparison to their male counterparts they still existed and since The Wolf Mile is set in the UK, why not Boudica instead of Alexander of Macedon?
I also found Tyler a difficult protagonist to like, whereas Lana was someone I could identify with on many levels. As a disabled woman, I didn't appreciate how Tyler was cast into the position of a disabled and disadvantaged underdog when his injuries were the result of his own stupidity; he was caught selling drugs by the local gang on their turf despite knowing the dangers. Tyler could have quite as easily have just been a disabled person rather than having a highly sensationalized background.
At the same time, while I identified with Lana, she's also an extremely stereotypical female character; the wounded woman who was was dealing with the loss of a child and other trauma. The writer isn't oblivious to this because at one point Lana calls the organises of the games out on it, on how they have chosen a woman like her because she was easy prey for their call to arms.
Other than the gender in balance, there's not just a complete lack of LGBTQ+ characters or relationships; it's as if they don't even exist. A perfect example is when the author reflects on Tyler not noticing how he's seen by the students as a handsome blue-eyed man of mystery; it's only the female students that are mentioned. There's also a tokenistic racial character, Freyja, who at first I silently celebrated. Then no other non-white characters were introduced and points were drawn to her attractive physical features, such as her hazel eyes, repeatedly. While Edinburgh is a predominantly white city and has a smaller ethnic minority community than Glasgow, there still shouldn't be just one non-white character.
Overall The Wolf Mile has an intriguing mystery that will grab your attention, but in my opinion, it needs some polishing up in other areas. There was a sneak peek at the end of the book for book two and it seems as though an important female character will play a prominent part in it. I just hope that she actually gets the screen time she deserves and isn't sidelined like Lana was in this one.
August 13, 2021
The Wolf 🐺 Mile - CF Barrington
Well I have to say I raced through this book, it’s exhilarating, gripping and I can’t believe it’s a debut!
Set in the real world but crossed with Roman Gladiators, The Sealed Knot, The Hunger Games and a medieval reality show it’s a humdinger of an adventure.
The Pantheon Games are the biggest underground event in the world, followed online by millions. New recruits leave their lives behind and battle with ancient weapons and their wits.
Tyler and Lana join and we follow them, learning why they have decided to risk their lives, testing them to their breaking point. They are given new names Punnr and Calder, they make new friends who will stand by them or not.
I really loved this, it took a little bit of bedding in but once you are in, you are sucked right in. I loved the fact that the characters are given new names from the start to separate them from reality but I also liked the fact that humans will always kick back and rebel even in small ways. It is brutal, exciting and totally addictive!
‘𝐁𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨.’
Although exciting, it is still something made for the entertainment of the super wealthy. There is something a little unnerving and dystopian about this and that the power of money controls all. This gives rise to an unrelenting tension as you read, wondering what will happen. It is soon apparent that there is some higher hand at work, changing rules and making decisions. Yet they must fight to win assets and defend themselves. I have a sneaking suspicion that Tyler/Punnr’s family may have more to do with the Pantheon than first meet the eye and that this could well run and run!
The action is unrelenting, bloody and just brilliant. When you think you know what is going to happen there are twists and turns to fool you. And the ending……I need to read The Blood Isles immediately!!
✩✩✩✩✩
[AD-PR PRODUCT]
Many thanks to CF Barrington and Head of Zeus for my copy of this book and place on the upcoming blog tour!
Well I have to say I raced through this book, it’s exhilarating, gripping and I can’t believe it’s a debut!
Set in the real world but crossed with Roman Gladiators, The Sealed Knot, The Hunger Games and a medieval reality show it’s a humdinger of an adventure.
The Pantheon Games are the biggest underground event in the world, followed online by millions. New recruits leave their lives behind and battle with ancient weapons and their wits.
Tyler and Lana join and we follow them, learning why they have decided to risk their lives, testing them to their breaking point. They are given new names Punnr and Calder, they make new friends who will stand by them or not.
I really loved this, it took a little bit of bedding in but once you are in, you are sucked right in. I loved the fact that the characters are given new names from the start to separate them from reality but I also liked the fact that humans will always kick back and rebel even in small ways. It is brutal, exciting and totally addictive!
‘𝐁𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨.’
Although exciting, it is still something made for the entertainment of the super wealthy. There is something a little unnerving and dystopian about this and that the power of money controls all. This gives rise to an unrelenting tension as you read, wondering what will happen. It is soon apparent that there is some higher hand at work, changing rules and making decisions. Yet they must fight to win assets and defend themselves. I have a sneaking suspicion that Tyler/Punnr’s family may have more to do with the Pantheon than first meet the eye and that this could well run and run!
The action is unrelenting, bloody and just brilliant. When you think you know what is going to happen there are twists and turns to fool you. And the ending……I need to read The Blood Isles immediately!!
✩✩✩✩✩
[AD-PR PRODUCT]
Many thanks to CF Barrington and Head of Zeus for my copy of this book and place on the upcoming blog tour!
March 21, 2022
Vikings and Hoplites clashing on the streets of modern day Edinburgh. A secret Pantheon, financed by the elite, watching on as warriors fight to the death – count me in!
I was intrigued by the concept of this story, a real world based fantasy where an underground warrior sect are funded by the wealthiest people in the world, and the members of each group must fight each other to the death, with the ultimate aim of killing the rival king.
Into this world enter Tyler and Lana, both looking to enter the Pantheon and leave their pasts behind them. Tyler was a street kid, devoted to his older sister, who disappeared on him a few years ago. He has strong suspicions she joined the Pantheon, and is therefore determined to join himself when given the opportunity. Lana is running from the heartbreak of a lost child, and seems to want nothing more than to try and bury her feelings.
The plot is very fast paced, the story told in just a few short months. Because of this there isn’t a great deal of character development, though we do learn more about the two main POV’s and their respective pasts as their involvement in the Pantheon develops.
We see our two heroes go through the selection process and training to join The Horde, the Viking war band in the Pantheon. Together, Tyler and Lana are thrust into the life of warriors, leading their normal lives by day, and by night covering themselves in mail and braving battle against Alexander’s hoplites. A large portion of the book is given to the training and recruitment process. As I said further up, the book takes place over a very short time period and it doesn’t seem to skip at any time, meaning we see the characters go through every stage.
The book ends just as the action is at its thickest, leaving me desperate to get straight onto book two! It leaves some questions unanswered, which isn’t a bad thing for the first book in a series.
I was intrigued by the concept of this story, a real world based fantasy where an underground warrior sect are funded by the wealthiest people in the world, and the members of each group must fight each other to the death, with the ultimate aim of killing the rival king.
Into this world enter Tyler and Lana, both looking to enter the Pantheon and leave their pasts behind them. Tyler was a street kid, devoted to his older sister, who disappeared on him a few years ago. He has strong suspicions she joined the Pantheon, and is therefore determined to join himself when given the opportunity. Lana is running from the heartbreak of a lost child, and seems to want nothing more than to try and bury her feelings.
The plot is very fast paced, the story told in just a few short months. Because of this there isn’t a great deal of character development, though we do learn more about the two main POV’s and their respective pasts as their involvement in the Pantheon develops.
We see our two heroes go through the selection process and training to join The Horde, the Viking war band in the Pantheon. Together, Tyler and Lana are thrust into the life of warriors, leading their normal lives by day, and by night covering themselves in mail and braving battle against Alexander’s hoplites. A large portion of the book is given to the training and recruitment process. As I said further up, the book takes place over a very short time period and it doesn’t seem to skip at any time, meaning we see the characters go through every stage.
The book ends just as the action is at its thickest, leaving me desperate to get straight onto book two! It leaves some questions unanswered, which isn’t a bad thing for the first book in a series.
March 23, 2022
The Wolf Mile is Book 1 in The Pantheon Series set-in modern-day Edinburgh, but not as we know it. It’s a dystopian-but-not/fantasy/adventure/suspense fusion story. A hybrid, if you will!
Not gonna lie, peeps. It took me roughly ten chapters (20%) to get into the book. There is a lot of information to process as we learn all about this secret underworld and its customs. I was also undecided about our main protagonists, Tyler, and Lana. Did I like them? Did I not?
Well, I have four words for you… my nerves are shot!
*blows out breath*
What an adrenaline-fuelled ride that was!!
I was left floundering at the end with my mouth agape (ironic – IYKYK!). I have. All. The. Questions. *wails*
As I got to know Tyler and Lana more, including glimpses into their individual back stories, I found myself unable to put the book down. What would possess anyone to sign up to participate in this warrior world where your life is in danger every season of the games?
If you can’t already tell, I was gripped and can admit to experiencing my own version of berserker rage when certain facts came to light. I confess I’m currently sitting with a ‘Hit List’ of characters that had better get their comeuppance before the trilogy is over or I shall not be amused *snorts*. Blood thirsty?! Moi?
I also have a theory *taps chin*. I can elaborate no further at this point. Time will tell if I’m barking up the right tree or not.
I’ll tell you one thing though… I’ll never look at the streets and rooftops of Edinburgh the same again without wondering what’s happening above or below me.
Now, hark, the Blood Season is upon me. I’ll report back with my findings. Pray for my blood pressure meantime, eh?
Not gonna lie, peeps. It took me roughly ten chapters (20%) to get into the book. There is a lot of information to process as we learn all about this secret underworld and its customs. I was also undecided about our main protagonists, Tyler, and Lana. Did I like them? Did I not?
Well, I have four words for you… my nerves are shot!
*blows out breath*
What an adrenaline-fuelled ride that was!!
I was left floundering at the end with my mouth agape (ironic – IYKYK!). I have. All. The. Questions. *wails*
As I got to know Tyler and Lana more, including glimpses into their individual back stories, I found myself unable to put the book down. What would possess anyone to sign up to participate in this warrior world where your life is in danger every season of the games?
If you can’t already tell, I was gripped and can admit to experiencing my own version of berserker rage when certain facts came to light. I confess I’m currently sitting with a ‘Hit List’ of characters that had better get their comeuppance before the trilogy is over or I shall not be amused *snorts*. Blood thirsty?! Moi?
I also have a theory *taps chin*. I can elaborate no further at this point. Time will tell if I’m barking up the right tree or not.
I’ll tell you one thing though… I’ll never look at the streets and rooftops of Edinburgh the same again without wondering what’s happening above or below me.
Now, hark, the Blood Season is upon me. I’ll report back with my findings. Pray for my blood pressure meantime, eh?
August 25, 2021
The streets of Edinburgh will be their fighting ground . . . and they will run with the blood of warriors.
The Wolf Mile is the first in an addictive new series. This is a book that's out of my comfort zone but I was drawn to it as the synopsis reminded me of The Hunger Games, which I loved. And while it did take a little time for me to get into the story, I was soon on the edge of my seat, turning the pages furiously as I awaited Tyler and Lana's fate.
Expertly merging fantasy and reality, the author brings the city of Edinburgh to life with his vivid imagery. And with slow, comprehensive world-building he also brings the Pantheon to life, making these brutal games feel real. By the end, I truly believed there was an underground battle raging between these seven groups and was rooting for the Horde to emerge victorious.
Tyler and Lana are great protagonists. They have rich backstories, are likeable and fascinating. I wanted them to succeed in every way and loved the twists and turns the story took us on as the author merged their real lives with that of Vahalla. The story is also filled with some great background characters, both hero and villain, who I'm hoping we learn more about in subsequent installments of the series.
The Wolf Mile is a thrilling and compelling debut that even those who don't usually read the genre, like me, will love. I could have cried in frustration when it ended as I was so immersed in the story and am relieved that the follow up has already been announced for October. I need to know what happens next!
The Wolf Mile is the first in an addictive new series. This is a book that's out of my comfort zone but I was drawn to it as the synopsis reminded me of The Hunger Games, which I loved. And while it did take a little time for me to get into the story, I was soon on the edge of my seat, turning the pages furiously as I awaited Tyler and Lana's fate.
Expertly merging fantasy and reality, the author brings the city of Edinburgh to life with his vivid imagery. And with slow, comprehensive world-building he also brings the Pantheon to life, making these brutal games feel real. By the end, I truly believed there was an underground battle raging between these seven groups and was rooting for the Horde to emerge victorious.
Tyler and Lana are great protagonists. They have rich backstories, are likeable and fascinating. I wanted them to succeed in every way and loved the twists and turns the story took us on as the author merged their real lives with that of Vahalla. The story is also filled with some great background characters, both hero and villain, who I'm hoping we learn more about in subsequent installments of the series.
The Wolf Mile is a thrilling and compelling debut that even those who don't usually read the genre, like me, will love. I could have cried in frustration when it ended as I was so immersed in the story and am relieved that the follow up has already been announced for October. I need to know what happens next!
May 24, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Aria & Aries for an advanced copy of The wolf mile by C.F. Barrington.
Bankrolled by the world's wealthy elite and followed by thousands online, two teams of warriors vie for dominance ... and the streets of Edinburgh run with blood. Now a small team are being introduced into the game called The Pantheon including Tyler Maitland, seeking his lost sister, and Lana Cameron, grieving her dead child. When they are accosted by figures in black hoodies and each handed a silver amulet, they recognize the Triple Horn of Odin – the talisman of the Valhalla Horde. Now they must risk their lives and join the ranks of seven ancient warrior teams which inhabit this illicit world. The journey will test them to breaking point as they search for loved ones and for the meaning in their lives.
Definitely for fans of Hunger games and Games of thrones. While I enjoyed it, I found The wolf mile spent most of the book on the training aspects rather than the actual game. The last part of the book definitely picked up.
Bankrolled by the world's wealthy elite and followed by thousands online, two teams of warriors vie for dominance ... and the streets of Edinburgh run with blood. Now a small team are being introduced into the game called The Pantheon including Tyler Maitland, seeking his lost sister, and Lana Cameron, grieving her dead child. When they are accosted by figures in black hoodies and each handed a silver amulet, they recognize the Triple Horn of Odin – the talisman of the Valhalla Horde. Now they must risk their lives and join the ranks of seven ancient warrior teams which inhabit this illicit world. The journey will test them to breaking point as they search for loved ones and for the meaning in their lives.
Definitely for fans of Hunger games and Games of thrones. While I enjoyed it, I found The wolf mile spent most of the book on the training aspects rather than the actual game. The last part of the book definitely picked up.
May 9, 2023
This one didn't engage me at all. I didn't feel invested in the characters as there was barely any chance to know them before the ordeal (at which point characters end up with multiple names, some of which switch within the same chapter or paragraph); the fatal flaw for me was the whole premise of the Games the book is centres around remained unexplained to the point where it just felt too preposterous to take seriously. Mixing this with contemporary life was the wrong choice; I felt this was going to be some kind of post-apoc thriller but it didn't deliver. Most of the book was bleak, gruff training after training.
I struggled to keep engaged and, by the end, was so apathetic to the situation and the characters I coasted to the conclusion.
I struggled to keep engaged and, by the end, was so apathetic to the situation and the characters I coasted to the conclusion.
April 21, 2023
A secret society consisting of seven (?) "armies" battle each other, across the continents, two of which happen to be in Edinburgh. Each army is shaped by a different historical fighting group such as the Vikings etc. and carry weapons such as spears, broadswords and bows. Unfortunately placing these games in the 21st century in a modern day Edinburgh just did not convince me what I was reading could possibly be happening.
December 18, 2025
Another fairly highly-rated book that kinda left me cold. That being said, the second book in thr series is rated significantly better than the first, so I'll continue reading for now.
What left me cold? I suppose I couldn't suspend disbelief enough that an organization this bold and elabotate could go under the radar like it does. Cities have a thousand eyes, even in the wee hours of the morning.
What left me cold? I suppose I couldn't suspend disbelief enough that an organization this bold and elabotate could go under the radar like it does. Cities have a thousand eyes, even in the wee hours of the morning.
March 5, 2022
High action in a wildly inventive setting
Loved this. The juxtaposition of modern Edinburgh with the tactics and brutalities of ancient warfare as Vikings and hoplites face off! The insane setting of the Pantheon, where violence and adventure are subsidised by secretive cash flow and mysterious backers, is a delight. An absolute joy of action and intrigue
Loved this. The juxtaposition of modern Edinburgh with the tactics and brutalities of ancient warfare as Vikings and hoplites face off! The insane setting of the Pantheon, where violence and adventure are subsidised by secretive cash flow and mysterious backers, is a delight. An absolute joy of action and intrigue
April 9, 2024
It took a while for me to piece together what was going on. It's action-packed and entertaining but I feel that it's lacking in emotional depth. I liked the characters but felt like I didn't really know them well as they'd often do things that surprised me. I toyed with giving this three stars but I just don't think I could say I enjoyed it as much as other books I've given a three star rating.
November 20, 2025
Argh! What a cliffhanger to end on- I was enjoying this rather preposterous urban fantasy with no magic tale mainly for the description of Edinburgh and the mention of places I know and love, while the plot line ticked away until the last few chapters when it really drove the narrative and then…it ends! Way to hook the reader into the series!
November 15, 2021
Modern Edinburgh playing host to fights between two teams, the Vikings and the Greeks. Both teams are trained in the ancient ways and are to given quests to be proclaimed as the winner in the tournament. This book is part one of the series and it was definitely interesting enough for me to be ready for the next ones release.
June 27, 2021
Rather risible concept, but if you can suspend disbelief quite a good YA read
January 23, 2022
This is a cracking read. It is part one of a trilogy and I can't wait for the other two volumes to come out. The author is new to me but I will be watching him.
March 13, 2024
Good read
The first I have read of this author . I did enjoy the book even though it is not my usual genre
The first I have read of this author . I did enjoy the book even though it is not my usual genre
October 5, 2024
Was given this by a work mate to read and once he explained the concept I was very intrigued.
Overall very cool concept and great story, I look forward to reading the rest of the series
Overall very cool concept and great story, I look forward to reading the rest of the series
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