Thank you Random House Children's and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review this title.

A Wolf for a Spell spins Russian folklore around Baba Yaga into a fun new middle grade book. It follows a number of strong characters: Zima, a young wolf desperate for respect from her pack; Nadya, a young orphan who is sad her dear friend is marrying the tsar and yearns for a family of her own; and Baba Yaga, the magic-wielding old woman who is trying to save the woods before all is lost. The illustrations match the story perfectly.

I did feel the development of certain characters was lacking a bit. By the end, I knew Zima and Nadya and even Katerina quite well. I never quite felt the same way about Baba Yaga; I wanted to know more about her. But the lack of development was most noticeable in the villain, Tsar Aleksander. He feels flat and just evil for the sake of being evil. I never got a good idea of his motivations. This didn't bother me too much because it is in keeping with the fairy tale feel of the novel, but I would have liked to see a little more.

This is the 2nd Middle School book I’ve read as an adult (and both just in this month alone) and I must say, I think I’ve been missing out on some really great reads. Where were these awesome books when I was in Middle School, I wonder?

As a child in school, I remember watching a short film that took place in snowy Russia, had a wolf and a boy as the main characters, fighting against some evil villain. I remember I really liked the short film, I can recall a few images in my mind, but that’s about it. I’m guessing now, that was probably a popular Russian fable and I think A Wolf for a Spell may loosely be based off of that particular fable, sort of like the reimagining of Fairy Tales that have gained popularity over the past several years. Like those, this book is so much fun!

And the cover! It is just simply beautiful. It’s like a piece of art that I want to have on my bookshelf, immediately!

A Wolf for a Spell is a beautifully written, magical tale that begins with a classic good vs evil scenario. Zima, the (good) wolf and Baba Yaga, the (evil) witch are both in need of life-altering assistance that only the other can provide.

“A crack and a snap split the air. And then the witch was before her. Baba Yaga. Zima had never seen her, but there was no mistaking the cane in her bony hand and the smell of magic clinging to her like smoke. Her skin was as rough and wrinkled as the bark of a pine, and what little gray hair she had stuck out in all directions from her head like many twigs forming a crown. Stone-gray teeth punctured shriveled gums.”
Zima has always been told by her pack to stay away from Baba Yaga and her evil magic as previous interactions with the witch have left other wolves forever cursed.

“Humans lie. The witch lies. Wolves do not lie.”
But when Zima’s family is in danger, Baba Yaga is the only source she can turn to for help.

Baba Yaga has never had the inclination to care about anyone or anything except her hut and her woods (and maybe her raven). But now an evil threatens to impose its will over her woods and the winds have whispered that she must find the grey wolf before it’s too late.

“For so long she’d been content to stay in her hut and let the problems of the outside world pass her by as though they didn’t concern her. But they did. The forest was now in danger because of her mistake – no, her choice. Of all the evils in the world, the greatest was the temptation of the easy path over the right one.”
Add to this interesting plot, 2 girls from the orphanage who will play very important roles in this story and you have a large female cast of characters that will have the ability to shape the future of their land. Go girl power!! The roller coaster of events will take you on an adventure that will definitely keep you up late at night (yes – I’m very sleep deprived this morning) to find out what happens.

There are some moments in the story with strong themes of family (both family chosen for you and family you chose) that will sufficiently warm your heart and keep you cozy on these long winter nights.

And don’t let the Young Adults label keep you away from these great stories. This is definitely worth the read, whether you are a YA or an Adult!

I would like to thank PRH International for providing a digital copy in exchanged of an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I always, always love reading middle grade books. Every story is just cozy, warm, and refreshing. The heart is also always present in it. I wouldn't deny that I picked this book because of its beautiful cover. Who wouldn't, right? What I didn't expect is how I would love the story so much. A Wolf for a Spell is an enchanting middle grade novel that is heavily woven with Russian folklores. The story is unique and original. Plus, it has strong yet lovable characters.

It followed the three main characters: Zima, Nadya and Baba Yaga. Zima was a wolf who dedicated her life protecting her pack and home. Nadya was a young girl who often went to the forest to find somewhere which she belonged. Baba Yaga was the forest witch who had a bad reputation among wolves and humans. When the forest which the three of them loved was threatened to be destroyed, the unlikely trio teamed up to face a common enemy. Upon reading the synopsis, the plot was pretty straightforward, but there were some twists and turns that I didn't see coming. It was told through the alternating POVs of the three protagonists. The pacing was good, and the author did a great job describing the overall atmosphere and setting of the book. Lastly, did I mention that this novel also has gorgeous illustrations? They really complimented and highlighted the story telling.

The things that made this book standout for me were the Russian folklores and fairy tale elements. To people like me who weren't familiar with Russian folklores, you wouldn't be lost and confused. Instead, it was a great introduction to Russian folklores. I was amazed with the uniqueness and quirkiness of these elements. I only knew Baba Yaga and her character was often viewed as a villain. That was why I really liked how she was portrayed as one of the protagonists instead.

Overall, A Wolf for a Spell is a delightful tale both young readers and adults will surely enjoy. It talks about finding your home, unlikely friendships, and understanding oneself. I highly recommend this novel.

5/5 stars!

I really enjoyed this fantasy based around wolves and Slavic folklore. It was wintry, witchy, and very good.

I am an admirer of Russian mythology. I wanted to read this book because it had Baba Yaga, a new witch in the making, a wolf, and an evil Tsar. The characters gave me enough motivation to choose this book on Netgalley.

The book is narrated from the point of view of Zima, the wolf, Baba Yaga, Nadya, a friend of the girl who will marry the Tsar. Zima wants to keep her wolf family safe. Baba Yaga wants to keep the forest safe from the evil Tsar. Nadya wants to accompany her friend to the Tsar’s castle, away from her orphanage. All their wishes lead them to seek each other out and work for a common goal.

I liked the point of view of Zima, the wolf, how her opinion of humans changes with time. There are many elements of magic in this novel, the house with the chicken legs, the talking raven, and a few more. I felt the points of view of the characters could be less spaced out. In a few chapters, Nadya completely disappeared and sometimes it was Baba Yaga. On the whole, it was an engaging read.

This was such a great story! It’s fast paced and I loved their adventure. I adore Baba Yaga , what a unique character! This is a middle grade novel which is packed with everything I wanted and so much more! It has wolves, a strong heroine, magic and fairy tales!

“I am the forest. It flows through me. And now, I will flow through it.”

I loved the writing and I would like to read more like this! Such a great story!

This truly felt like an old style fairytale. You can see that the Russian fairytale that the author talks about in her notes really inspired her in this story.

This story follows 3 main characters POVs: Zima, the grey wolf, Baba Yaga, and Nadya, the orphan child. I loved Zima and her willingness to do anything for her pack! She was beyond adorable for me, so curious and full of heart. Baba Yaga was my second favourite character. I haven’t read any story with Baba Yaga in it before, but I loved this interpretation of this well known fairytale character.

At first. I really wasn't sure how the third storyline connected with the other two. It was obvious from the beginning that Zima and Baba storyline were connected and would cross, but I never could see how Nadya was involved. The people around her, yes, but not Nadya herself - not until the halfway point when their stories did cross.

I loved that in each POV we got to see that the character's perceptions were turned on their heads as they learned more and were exposed to their thoughts/beliefs/misunderstanding. The common theme of being alone/wanting to belong was strong throughout this story, but I loved hoe the author managed to take that theme and tell in it such different ways.

I highly recommend this if you enjoy fairytales or tales inspired by fairytales; if you love books written from an animal's POV; or if you love books with Baba Yaga in it!

A Wolf for a Spell was my first time reading a Baba Yaga retelling and I highly enjoyed this book. It's clear this book has been influence by Russian fairy tales and I loved how everything comes together. Karah Sutton created a world I really enjoyed and could really see as I was reading the book. I really appreciated the 3 POVs in this story. For me it really help keep the story going and me wondering how they were all going to come together.

In A Wolf for a Spell we follow Zima (a wolf), Nadya and the witch Baba Yaga. All three of these characters are stronger than they realize and plan on fighting for what they believe in. None of them plan on sitting around doing nothing. My favorite thing about middle grade books are the lessons we often find in them. I really believe A Wolf for a Spell shows us to believe in ourselves and family isn't always blood. In the end our main characters come together to fight evil and it shows that not all is what it seems. Wolves, witches and humans can come together to make everything right.

For me A Wolf for a Spell was a magical adventure that I'll definitely revisit in the future. I really hope Karah Sutton writes more magical middle grade books. Her writing style and imagination made this book a great read. Add some really nice illustrations throughout this book and I was a happy bookworm. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by this author.

A Wolf for a Spell is a middle grade book inspired by Russian folklore. Baba Yaga and Zima, a young wolf, have to switch bodies in order to try and save the forest that they both love from the humans.

I loved the illustrations in between the chapters and in the headers. They were beautiful. The story is well-paced, with lovable characters like Zima, and the cranky but secretly caring Baba Yaga. The characters are well-developed, but I wish that I learned more about Baba Yaga. She’s always been a favorite character of mine, and I love whenever stories have her involved because it’s a chance for me to get to know her better.

Overall, this story is a fun and beautiful fairytale.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Wolf for a Spell is a cute MG about inner strength, and the lengths one will go to help those they love.
I really enjoyed this one! See my blog for a more in-depth (but spoiler free) review!

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Thank you to the publisher and TBR & Beyond Tours for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The wolves do not trust humans or witches. Yet, when her pack is in danger, Zima, a young wolf, is forced to take Baba Yaga’s help. But Baba Yaga does not help for free. She wants something from Zima – her keen sense of smell. The result – Zima switched bodies with Baba Yaga, who flees into the forest to set her secret plan to fruition. Meanwhile, Nadya, an orphan girl, visits Baba Yaga seeking her help. How will Baba Yaga, Zima, and Nadya help each other and help their beloved forest?

Wolves, Witches, forests – my favorite concoction in the world. I am glad to say Karah Sutton’s A Wolf for a Spell brews this concoction perfectly.

A Wolf for a Spell is a story of compassion, finding friends in the unlikeliest of places, and facing your fears. It is lucidly written and poignantly drives home the fact that you do not need to be the biggest, fiercest wolf to lead your pack. Sometimes, you can be the wolf whom no one believes can win. What is important is to believe in yourself and not let fear hold you back.

The book sketches vivid portraits of a pack of wolves running through verdant forests, large and tall gold-decked castles whose turrets touch the sky, and a dangerous but magical and protecting forest. The magic in the book does not overwhelm the plot. The simple illustrations further bolster the strength of the book.

Further, all the characters felt real to me. However, Zima was my favorite. She does not cling to the rigid beliefs of her pack, trusts her instincts, and forms her own opinions. Moreover, the story builds to a tense and bittersweet climax.

A Wolf for a Spell by Karah Sutton is an enchanting Russian folklore retelling. It is a perfect wintry read and will endear itself in no time to the middle-grade audience. Recommended for young readers. Many thanks to the publisher for my digital copy of the book via Netgalley.

While I knew a little about Baba Yaga and some of her attributes, I have never really read a story involving her and I'm so glad this was my first. We follow a few different perspectives in this story with Baba Yaga being one of them, the others being Zima (a wolf) and Nadya (a young girl). At the surface this could certainly be framed as a fairy tale, but I felt it went much deeper than that. The three characters we follow as well as other characters go through transformations. There's a lot of narrative about not taking things at face value and forming their own opinions/decisions. There's also a lot about learning to face your fears or rise above fear when you feel it.

I absolutely flew through this story and was engrossed the entire time I was reading it. I did not want to put it down since I was so absorbed. The style of writing was easy to read and just kept me hooked the whole time.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers

A YA middle grade historical fantasy based in Russia. A Wolf for a Spell featuring my all time favorite perceptive for middle grade books, animal narration.

“I am the forest. It flows through me. And now, I will flow through it.”

A spellbinding Russian inspired tale that is richly detailed.

This story inspired by RussiaA delightful fairy tale told in alternating chapters by three main POV’s. A young orphaned girl Nadya, a female wolf Zima, and the witch Baba Yada... and the woods that must be saved.
These three characters will find their past cross and their destinies enter-woven together in charming middle grade book.
Karah Sutton delivers a compelling, intriguing, and well-written read here with absolutely fantastic characters that I found myself captivated with.
This stunning book that I can’t wait to read more from author.

I highly recommend this middle grade fantasy

I will not be getting to this before the archive date. It does interest me, but I have more pressing ARCS.

The House with Chicken Legs meets a fantastically 'Freaky Friday' situation, glistening with magic, and inspired by Russian folklore.. uhh yes please!

Beautifully bold and enticingly enchanting, A Wolf for a Spell was perfectly-impossible-to-put-down and mirrored the talented likes of Sophie Anderson and Kelly Barnhill.

Plus, Pauliina Hannuniemi's cover and interior black and white illustrations are just beautiful. If there's ever a time to judge a book by its cover this is that book!

This was a fantastic, magical, mystical tale that I want to read again and again. Zima stole my heart as she tried her best to help her pack. All she wanted was for them to be safe, and she would do anything to prove that. I can’t wait to read this story to my kids. It’s a great book, and has amazing lessons for young and old alike!

I am not a big reader of middle grade, but I decided to give this one a try mostly because it’s a retelling of Baba Yaga, a character from Slavic folklore. For those who don’t know me, I come from Romania, which is between a bunch of East European Slavic countries so we do share part of those myths and legends.

I haven’t grown up with stories of Baba Yaga, mostly because my Grandma had her own original stories, that she knew from her grandma and so on. But this book made me go back to those cold winters when I would sneak with my little brother in her room and she will start telling us fantastic stories half asleep after a day of hard work.

The characters are completely amazing and well written, I enjoyed, in particular, Zima’s POV in Baba Yaga’s body and that somehow it gave me exactly the feeling of a wolf experiencing the human world for the first time.

Baba Yaga personifies here one of my favorite tropes, the morally grey character, who’s done some bad, looking to fix it, and you are not sure if you should root from them or not.

I do really have trouble finding any kind of faults to this story, while I had a hard time at the beginning with Zima’s POV, and the fact that you are thrown right into it doesn’t help a bit after I got used to it the story had an amazing flow.

I honesty was caught up completely, this book has that timeless placeless feeling that fairytales usually have. It does also has a very straightforward plot common to the genre, where the good always triumphs at the end. This was not a problem for me, as I expected it, and is honestly part of the charm with fairytales.

In the end, this was a very enjoyable read, and will probably recommend this in the future to middle-grade kids and adults alike.

A Wolf for a Spell by Karah Sutton sounds like your typical fairytale retelling for middle grade readers. Promising intrigue, fun and action. But A Wolf for a Spell is much different. At first I was a little skeptical, as it’s a retelling of the story of Baba Yaga, but as I read, I realized just what a fascinating and beautiful retelling the book really is.
A Wolf for a Spell follows three characters—Zima, a wolf; Baba Yaga, the forest witch; and Nadya, a girl who doesn’t want to be separated from her childhood friend. All three characters meet when Baba Yaga switches bodies with the wolf so that she can hunt down the true heir to the throne, and when the girl comes to Baba Yaga for help, not knowing that the witch isn’t really the witch.
I could try to pick a favorite character but that would be nearly impossible. All three were very interesting, well-rounded characters, each with their own goals that ultimately tied together. I loved the fact that one of the characters was a wolf, as wolves are one of my favorite animals. It was also nice to see an old character as a protagonist, as that’s not done often enough in fiction. I also enjoyed the new twist on the plot and the forest-magic.
There were some moments in the book, however, that I feared things might go a little too far and would be more suited for older readers, but Sutton never described any of the violence or ‘scary’ moments in a way that would be too much for young readers. I can confidently say that my younger sisters, who still read Middle Grade, would be able to enjoy this book without me worrying that something was too much.
Overall, A Wolf for a Spell was a beautiful and unique twist on the tale of Baba Yaga and is perfect for fans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill and the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson and can even be enjoyed by older audiences.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Wolf For a Spell is a middle-grade fantasy based on old fairytales featuring Baba Yaga, from the authors Russian heritage. I have not read many books with Baba Yaga, so this was a real treat!
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This fantasy world is so engaging, I felt pulled in right away! We see the story from different viewpoints: Baba Yaga- the witch of the forest, Zima the wolf, and Nadya the village girl. Each character is full of life, and innate bravery that comes out when they need it the most.
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It's a story of family, born with and found, a story of courage and taking responsibility. It winds these themes together so beautifully that you don't notice the morale until you've realized it yourself. The forest is a lush world of it's own, kind and helpful, yet deadly if you don't watch your step.
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This is a delightful middle-grade book, and even as an adult I was entertained and will definitely be watching this author! I also have to gush about the AMAZING illustrator, Pauliina Hannuniemi, that brought this tale to life with her drawings that were throughout the book.

Thank you Netgalley and TBRandbeyondtours for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful middle grade fantasy. I would gladly recommend this to my younger siblings and friends who love to read fairy tales.