Wolfish

by Christiane M. Andrews

The Inquisitor’s Tale  meets The Book of Boy in this adventurous fantasy inspired by the myth of Romulus and Remus.

Twelve-year-old Rae is content as the adopted daughter of shepherds, helping with the flock and reveling in the beauty of her family’s hillside farm. But after a frightening encounter with a wolf—to whom she feels a sudden, peculiar connection—Rae realizes there is much more to her past, and her future, than she could have imagined.

Meanwhile, a young girl named Alba goes about her days as an oracle’s apprentice, a duty that confines her to a distant, watery cave. But when she bestows a troubling prophecy on the rising boy-king, her words unintentionally begin a reign of terror, and send Alba on a desperate mission alongside Rae and the wolf.

Inspired by Roman mythology, this mysterious and uniquely magical adventure explores the intricate roles of nature and fate in our lives, the power of language to shape our world, and the boundless importance of love and kindness.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Retellings, Mythology, Childrens

416 pages, Hardcover

First published November 8, 2022

About the author

Christiane Andrews grew up in rural New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, on the edges of mountains and woods and fields and sometimes even the sea. A writing and literature instructor, she lives with her husband and son and a small clutch of animals on an old New Hampshire hilltop farm. Spindlefish and Stars is her first novel.

Reviews

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!
This is the most surprising middle grade book I’ve read since The Girl Who Drank the Moon. It’s so well written, the story is so well crafted, and it’s not written down to a middle grade level. Instead it just feels like a story that anyone, of any age, could enjoy.
I don’t know the myth Wolfish is based on, so to me the story, characters, etc. were all new. Each character is their own with eccentricities and personality unique to them. I really appreciate the work Christiane M. Andrew’s put into each of her core characters.
This story is so much more than the illustrations and cover do justice. I’d put it as sophisticated enough to entertain and give pause to any one of any age. Not unlike the appeal of books like Harry Potter, Little Prince or Percy Jackson. Universal stories that everyone can appreciate.

The writing and story itself can be interpreted at so many levels. For a child it might tell a story of family, for a teen it might teach appreciating life for what it is, and for an adult it might cause reflection on decisions and overall life goals. It’s truly wondrous how Andrew’s has brought so many ideals together and given the narrative a familiar, beautifully lyrical tone (without being obnoxious or too flower-y). Oh the songs!! I want this to be a movie or tv show just so someone can put the amazing songs to real music. I can almost hear in my head what they might sound like; that’s how well cadenced the lyrics are.

Honestly I could go on and on about so many aspects of Wolfish. From the divinity of the oracle, the suffering of the children, the emphasis on food, and the focus on created family (not bloodlines) Andrew’s has considered every aspect of this story and enhanced it in so many ways. And none of that even begins to touch on the morals and lessons about: helping others, doing right whenever possible (or finding a compromise), and ultimately loving life in a way that it takes so many of us far too long to realize and understand. Do yourself, a friend, a child, really anyone, a favour and read Wolfish. Then gift it, buy it, and love it. Share it with everyone. It’s the kind of book I would gift to anyone at any time. I’m confident enough you will enjoy it that if I had any kind of ‘clout’ (or cash, lol) I’d make it a guaranteed good read.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can speaking something call it into being?

This was a really well done retelling of the myth of Romulus and Remus, with a few twists and departures from the original story. I was engaged reading it as an adult but the book would be good for middle grade readers and above. (If you or your child loved "The Girl Who Drank the Moon", this one has a similar feel and rhythm.)

The novel alternates between the stories of the child-king and his cohorts; Alba, who is an apprentice to the Oracle and who feels the weight of having set things in motion with her prophesy to the child-king; and the twins who are supposed to be killed but instead left in the woods as babies: one of whom is found by a shepherd couple who raise her as their own, and the other one is found by a wolf mother. Eventually their paths and destinies connect.

The author has a poet's feel for language and song and I loved the underlying idea of the power of words and writing woven throughout the story.

[ey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for everyone who loves Roman Myth.

(Personal Thoughts on this book)
This book gave you that chills, confused, and mysterious vibes at first. It was a slow-paced that you can't help but keep wondering where will the story go. Yes, it's that kind of book.

I love how Christiane could keep up over 3 POV in this book and how it keeps colliding with each other throughout the book. Might get you a bit confused at first, but trust the process everyone, it'll be worth it.

[Deedi Brown (DeediReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.

TL;DR REVIEW:

Wolfish, inspired by Romulus and Remus, is a lovely, gorgeously written book that I only wish had been a bit shorter.

For you if: You like lyrical prose and timeless stories.

FULL REVIEW:

Wolfish found its way to the top of my TBR because it was shortlisted for the 2023 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize. In fact, I hadn’t even heard of it before that, although I’m definitely not up to date on middle-grade releases. Anyway, this was a lovely, gorgeously written book that I only wish had been a bit shorter.

Wolfish is inspired by the Roman myth of Romulus and Remus, but you don’t need to know anything about that to enjoy this book. There are a few main characters: Rae, a wild young girl raised by shepherds who found her in the mountains; Alba, apprentice to the oracle; and (more of a tertiary character) the king, who ascended the throne as a boy.

Ultimately, this was a beautiful story told with really beautiful prose. True to form for middle grade, it has plenty of layers and interpretations that readers of all ages will enjoy. But it doesn’t ever feel simplistic or written down. However, I found myself struggling with the slow pace; Rae and Alba don’t even wind up in the same place until halfway through this 400-page book. I think if it had been a bit more tightly edited, it would have shone even brighter in my mind.

Still, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this one to young readers (or anyone). Glad I read it!



CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Abandonment; Confinement; Infertility (minor)

[Kathrin Passig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es fing elegant an, ging aber nicht so weiter. Im Mittelteil sehr ausschweifende Beschreibungen des romantischen Lebens in der kleinen Schäferhütte, dann "so, jetzt müssen wir aber mal irgendwie zu einem Ende kommen hier"-Schluss.

[jujuᝰ.ᐟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh wow.
this book is so wonderfully written. its beautiful, and the storyline is amazing. the beginning is a bit slow, but once you start getting into it and seeing how each characters story aligns into one big plot, it is so so so good. i loved this book so much, when i finished it was a feeling like ‘well crap i’m back on earth now’, it was utter disappointment because I had gotten so sucked into this book. i could not put it down. the characters are great and the way it speaks of nature is just, again, beautiful. this book is lovely overall, but it is definitely slow paced and might be hard to read for some people. the old-times setting with the king and farms really makes it all the better, and the book is amazing, even though sometimes it leaves you questioning what on earth just happened.
the only issue i have with the book is that the ending is a bit iffy. otherwise though, lovely book, definitely one of my many favorites.

[Aggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most amazing books I’ve read this year. Highly engaging. The way this author writes is different from most other authors. She even made me feel for the villain character. The ending was very satisfying & a relief when it came.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quite lovely and written almost like a poem, or song. I really enjoyed the styling but at the same time it started to get strangely repetitive, maybe purposely so. I wondered by the end how much more I would have loved the style as a short story or novella.

The most important thing about it—to me—is that it’s the closest thing I’ve found to what I’ve been working on. It shares some themes and ideas but not really style. And yet somehow it feels like it shares a heritage with my own story. It gave me some hope that there is space for stories like these, which I haven’t felt sure of as I’ve been writing mine.

It also reminded me of Girl Who Drank the Moon. More poetic, better language, and I’d say more imaginative. But somehow I think I still prefer Girl Who Drank the Moon.

[Aniko Nagyne vig · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very unique storytelling style and a unique story. A bit of everything mixed: magic twin bonds, mythological references, friendship, trust, basic bonds, human soul as animals and so on told in a slow, but captivating spiral of events through different characters.
A very captivating read for all ages. My 12 year old recommended it to me, as he loved the book.

[Jessica Lerbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was quite a bit darker than I was expecting, although it didn't end nearly as terribly as I feared. Weird.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know anything about what Roman myth this story is based on, so I didn’t have that background knowledge. It took a very long time for me to feel invested in the story. Told from different time periods and points of view, the plot took some time to develop before any actual action happened. Rae is a baby left on the mountaintop to die, Wolf is her brother/wolf knit together by worms and grubs, and Alba is the Oracle’s assistant who sees the future unfold. The writing is lovely. I am not sure many of my middle school students will put in the effort to read past all the pretty descriptions and repetitive, poetry like, long sentences to stick with the story. I didn’t understand some of the descriptions like “cream pudding face” (or however the king was described) and a “worm moving on his lip”. Maybe this is part of the Roman myth. No swears, no romance, and some violence including killing of animals. 6th grade and up.

[Karen Trostle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book by request from an admired fellow book lover who volunteers at our local middle school. She is doing a Bookclub with these students and requested help in getting some books “ pre- read”
In my opinion, this book is DARK! Very dark!
Misused power, abandonment, poverty, starvation, manipulation, child abuse, elder abuse, torture… terrible torture.. the book has its moments of profound insight, and the love of the land..but the darkness far outweighs those sweet moments.
Confusing prose, the ending, in all its violence before its resolution is quite confusing.. I’m still not sure WHO or WHAT does the murdering..
I can’t imagine letting a young mind, with impressionable emotions , read this book.
I’m 68 and I struggled with it.
There are some wonderful poems , “songs” and descriptions of the love of land. It has kind resolution at the end.

[rixx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle grade, close to YA. Told as a mix of a fairytale, a straightforward story, and notes found by archivists in a later age (which was nicely done, and I'd have loved that as a kid!). A sweet story with everything a fairytale needs: Prophecies, evil kings, worse advisors, children growing up, loving parents (or step-parents), weird non-human magic that can transform people into wolves, and a bond between twins. Bravery and goodness and songs and much more. Sweet and enjoyable. Three stars because I find that middle-grade books just aren't great for me anymore, but it's a really good book – I was particularly surprised by the adoptive father of the protagonist having a stoke, and the consequences being shown empathetically but clearly.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eloquent exploration of identity and language in a mythical setting where prophecies are real, people may communicate through dreams, and humans can become wolves. Andrews reworks the Roman legend of Romulus and Remus with poetic writing and pastoral values. The story centers on an oracle-apprentice, a stubbornly naive king, and his younger twin siblings, who are abandoned and left for dead as infants only to find separate, simple lives, unaware of their beginnings until destiny intervenes. It's a beguiling tale, hampered only by a hint of narrative detachment due to the long periods of time that pass during the telling. Lovely.

[Craig Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely done YA reworking of fairy tale motifs echoing Clarissa Pinkola Estes's Women Who Run with the Wolves. As I read through the short list for the second Le Guinn prize, I'm thinking that it would make sense to dive the prize into YA and an "Adult" categories, though I'm aware Le Guinn would probably have resisted the distindtion. Anyway, my choice for the first prize would have been a "YA" title (Summer in the City of Roses) and this year, again, I'll have trouble choosing between books with very different audiendes. Anyway, Wolfish held me and, as a card carrying Jungian, it rang true on many psychological levels.

[Rachel Hankinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️s
In this Romulus and Remus retelling, the abandoned twins are paralleled with two other children who face neglect and isolation; all four children have coping and survival mechanisms, some positive and others negative, some developed and some given by nature. Andrews emphasizes found family tropes, the benevolence of nature and animals, and the healing and knowledge that can come from spending time in nature. Like the classical tale it stems from, there are a myriad of angles in which to view the tale and metaphors to be drawn, all contained in a lyrical tone that almost sings through the pages.
This book genuinely blew my mind! I loved everything about it. Highly recommend.

[Caitlin Waits · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough good things about this book-- I LOVED it! Following two strong protagonists, the story pulled me in, made me fret over the characters when I couldn't be reading, and told a creative and imaginative story. The writing was more literary but still featured plenty of dialogue and action. The book itself reminded me of Lloyd Alexander's "The Arkadians" -- with the setting, the action, and several plot points, or Shakespeare's "Winter Tale" for the setting and the magical realism. I loved this book and will be watching for more from Andrews!

[Wendolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out because it was on the Ursula LeGuin list for 2023. So glad I did. I love books that have characters with a strong connection to nature. This is that book. Creatively told in a storytelling style where when you get to the bad guy, there is a repeated description. It is in our library as Juvenile Fiction. It is so well written that it could be in any part -- YA, adult fantasy too. I wish it had been out when my boys were growing up. We would've loved it as a family. One of my best reads of the year. The Bear is another stand out for me.

[Goran Lowie · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOMINATED FOR THE 2023 URSULA K. LE GUIN PRIZE FOR FICTION

A delightful and well-written re-telling of the Romulus and Remus story. I liked it enough at the beginning, but about halfway through something clicked that made me love it. Yes; this is reminiscent of Le Guin. A simple story hiding much behind it, compact prose revealing beauties. An almost mythological feeling, myth turned into story. Lovely stuff.

[Aura Nizharu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what I just read because the plot is so sparse that it looks worse than a FromSoft game.
The purple prose didn't help at all, and it look like a pourporseless mess.
Also, it needs more scenes narrated by the wolf.
And I didn't like the weird transformation death-like theme, like at all.

[Roxy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first read it, I rated this five stars. Now that a few months have past, I have realized that I can hardly remember this book at all. I can only remember that it is based off of the story of Romulus and Remus, the twins that supposedly founded Rome according to myths. I would still recommend it to anyone who likes Roman mythology.

[Scarlett Monroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

spiritually connected girl and wolf face trauma (girl loses family and wolf gets decomposed halfway before coming back to life). i really liked the ending though and it was sort of like the things i half dream half hallucinate when im ill. pretty cool book would recommend especially to young fantasy readers

[Mo A · Rating 1 out of 5]

( 1.5 ★ )

So many words… and for what?? I swear this could’ve been a novella, or better yet, a really long tweet. Felt like I was waiting for something to happen the whole time, and spoiler alert: it didn’t. The plot was weak, the characters were dry, and by page 200 I was just reading out of spite and curiosity (not the good kind though).

[Rachel Holtzclaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

at the beginning this had the makings to be a book that really hit it out of the park for me, but unfortunately it veered off that path at about a third of the way in. i felt like details got murkier as we went on. the ending felt kind of rushed.... i didn't feel like loose ends were fully tied up. just missed the mark for me!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

8-12. Good vocabulary, some repetitive turns of phrase, which might help younger readers. Draws from Roman mythology in ways that might spark historical interest, but plot is independent enough for readers without pre-existing knowledge.

Fun. Pacing a little off.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lyrical, mythology-tinged novel from the immensely talented Andrews, ostensibly for younger readers, but with much to offer adults who were once bookish children themselves. Especially the ones who know their Vergil.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3 POV plot was much fun, but what made me love this book was the nature-ful lyricism of the writing and how every page uplifted goodness and kindness. This story felt like an exploration of the ripples we make when we choose to be compassionate or to be selfish.

[Isla MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ADORED this book!!!! The writing style was SO intriguing and interesting and just so flowy.... The story was wonderful and just weird enough to scare away the wrong audience and draw in the right one!!!! MUST READ!!!

[Savannah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very magical read!! I loved this book.

[ella beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

write a short story and stop world building. i liked the ending and the songs. :)