Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long is the story of Sena and Iska, a story of survival against all odds, of trust, of family and friendship found when and where she wasn’t expecting it, A story of greed, betrayal and ruthlessness in another world, one that is colder, ruthless and from where there is no easy way out. But above it all, is a story of HOPE.
This is the story of a girl who doesn’t belong and a wolf born and trained to kill... and the bond between them.

White Fang meets Red Riding Hood sets place at wild, eerie, soul sucking frozen world. Isn’t this intriguing enough to stop what you’re doing and diving into this book?

That’s exactly what I did! I have to summarize my entire feelings about this high tension, intense, compelling, not so easy to read journey.

There are too many amazing qualities of this book that I adored: starting with spectacular, detailed world building: with the ultra vivid descriptions the author gave us, you can easily visualize everything about it in your head. It’s like wearing headset of 3 D Virtual reality and getting transported into a deadly survival game!

I also loved Sena Korhosen: real definition of bad-ass heroine who does what she needs to do for staying alive! She’s quiet outcast, with two mothers represent two other worlds and unfortunately none of the worlds accept who she is. She can not adjust in living at frozen planet. For getting out: she has to win the sled race!

I also loved to read the chapters about the prize fighting wolf Iska and Sena’s intense bounding!

But… even though I was so excited to see the start of sled race, it felt like it would start at another book. Even though I enjoyed the premise of the story, I thought about not finishing and marked this one as my rare I did everything I could but I DNF it books category!
Because the real story started at the second half but till you reach there you’re struggling a lot like you’re sinking in the swamp deeper at each second, it is impossible to move so you are stuck in the same cycle and you’re getting extremely bored!

I think there are lots of chapters needed to edit! If this story gets shorten with less characters ( there are so many but we’re doomed to forget their names , they’re just passing through and without enough background story we just forget their names eventually) and the pacing might be fasten, it would be so much interesting page turner!

I can understand the author’s hard working and enthusiasm to create a brilliant fantasy novels! The plot idea and main characters were great. Only the execution needs a lot of work. But as a debut it is still a promising start! I liked the creative mind of the author and I’d love to read her future works.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of this book, and I really enjoyed it. Even though there is little to no romance, this book has lush world building with great MC . Overall don't sleep on this wonderful book! Out next year!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a unique take on a YA novel. The storyline is full of familiar tropes, like lone-wolf strong female characters, yet the novel feels fresh and interesting. The alien society was interesting and kept me engaged throughout the book.

When I started reading this strange world adventure, I really wasn't sure this was the book for me. It seemed disjointed and too foreign for me to want to delve in to. I kept reading though because it started with action and it never really stopped. Before I knew it I was tied to the main characters and of course, to the wolf. My emotions had been caught.
I won't give a synopsis, the publisher can do that. I can only tell you that this book will draw you in and give your emotions a work out as you travel along with the characters. You will be on the edge of your sled, I mean seat.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange for a honest review.

This book was very different from most books I have read. I enjoyed the pacing of the book and the main character as well. This was a very creative story and I enjoyed it very much!

Balto meets Jack London in this story about a dangerous landscape, a race for escape, and a bond between a girl and a wolf.

The best thing going for this story is definitely the world-building and atmosphere. I loved reading about the cold and barren environment, the need for survival, a scientific expedition participating in a sled race, and all the wolves. It's quite a unique story.

But where I failed to connect is with the writing itself. The pacing is sooo slow. The race doesn't even start until the 55% mark. And there's of lack of urgency and desperation I would expect when it comes to the fight for survival from the elements and personal betrayals. Although the stakes are high, it doesn't feel that way. The way the narrative/description flows is very laid-back.

I understand that this is a debut, so I would be willing to read ML's next book to see if the writing develops, because I do think she has creative and interesting ideas!

3/5
It's a good read! I haven't heard anything about this title, but it caught my attention while browsing titles on NG. I enjoyed reading this one and it was a nice change from my normal reading!

Thank you to Netgalley and Meg Long for this ARC. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pros: great world building
Interesting backstory
Unique plot
Bad*ss MC.

Cons: slow plot development
Little to no romance

Overall 3/5

I liked this story. It was good. I wouldn't say it was the best ever. But if you don't mind no real romantic plot and you like unique, fun worlds then I say go for it.

In honesty, I did not complete the book entirely. I did read over sections to see if I would become more invested as I went, but I usually give a book about three to four chapters before deciding it's not for me. The book is well written and will appeal to certain readers for its unique atmosphere and intriguing characters.

An interesting read! I haven't heard or seen anything about this one, but it caught my attention while browsing titles available on NG. I found this one to be an entertaining read and a fun change from my normal reads!

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.

I honestly cannot tell you why it took me so long to finish this book beginning to end. It is well written, intriguing and just plain different than what I normally read.

The premise of this book made me think yeah, sure, I can read this but when I started I was wondering exactly what it was even about.

Survival. Plain and simple.

In a world where racing across a frozen tundra, led by wolves, rules the lives of the citizens you have one odd girl out. She doesn’t “fit in” because nobody wants her to. Her mothers came from very different backgrounds where each side is very against the other. Sena is the product of those 2 worlds so for the most part, neither want her.

She is a huge trouble maker and she has jo choice but to run.

My main problem with Sena is her feeling like she is the problem. She thinks for everything gone wrong it is her fault. She may have a slight hand in it but there are outside forces that help it play out.

The world is very simple, an ice land, and the characters could use more building but overall this wasn’t a bad read. I actually quite enjoyed it and can’t wait to see what happens next.

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is honestly such a sick book title that I was very scared the book wouldn’t live up to it. The book very much did live up to it. This felt like a cross between Call of the Wild and The Hunger Games, if those were set on a different planet with goblins hunting everyone.

Some things I liked!! This book was fast. This book was very, very fast. As fast as the wolves in the title. There was no gap in the action, which really worked well with the setting and the characters. I was really impressed with how well the world building and character development was woven in since the story was so fast paced it would’ve been easy to lose both of those. The world building was in that happy range where it was enough to make me want more books in this universe without making me overwhelmed.

A huge point in Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves’ favor was there was ABSOLUTELY NO ROMANCE THANK YOU SO MUCH MEG LONG. THANK YOU. okay I’ll stop shouting. But seriously, do you have any idea how rare it is to find an incredible YA sci-fi without any romance??? There were friendships of all sorts, but nothing romantic. Honestly 5 stars for that alone. Sena’s relationship with Iska, the wolf, was so well done, and the found family with the sled team was incredible. I loved the dynamic between Sena and the professor. There were plenty of relationships in this book, and they were all so well done that it didn’t need to fall back on romance to keep it’s head up.

My only complaint is that there isn’t more. I loved how fast paced it was, but I wish there had been more time spent on everything, because I want to know more about absolutely everything in this world. I really hope there are more books in this setting because I’m obsessed and I want a full series.

Overall I’m obsessed and pls read immediately.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If I had to give a quick sum up of this book it’s sci fi White Fang. I enjoy adventure/survival stories and hoped I’d really like this book but I never really connected with it.

The story had some issues. Characters were introduced (like Temur ) and then forgotten /never mentioned again. I was waiting for a twist with Sena’s mother’s but there wasn’t one. Exactly what I thought happened to them happened.

None of the characters get any good development or growth. Sena and the crew are betrayed and there’s no resolution on that.

Time starts to get funny at the end , with Sena saying it will take them two to three days to get somewhere and then it only taking one.

All in all we’re constantly told how dangerous the race is and bad things do happen but it never really felt dangerous to me, probably because I wasn’t attached to any of the characters.

In the end , this book is fine but not for me unfortunately.

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Meg Long for giving me an ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review. This book was amazing from start to finish! The story, and the beautiful writing, kept me immersed within the story the entire book! Additionally, the characters were very likable and relatable! I think Meg Long did an amazing job in creating and constructing all the different components within this book! I am absolutely going to recommend this to friends and family!

I loved this book.
Not my usual story , but it was so good !
A young woman who truly dreams of freedom. Sena lives on a ice planet . Full of rough hard people . Scary mutated predators. Eat or be eaten . For the most part Sena is a thief , she desperately want to save enough money to get off this planet and start over somewhere new.
Such is not her luck . Sena gets caught picking pockets , roughing people up . She needs to payback the big boss . Racing is the main business on ket and Sena is now involved. Following in her family’s footsteps..Using her wits to survive … we are in for a ride.
This book drew me in . I really got involved with the characters and their struggles.

DNF - Did not finish. I decided not to keep reading this title because I’d did not connect with the writing or plot. Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for the early copy!

Ok, this was one of the best debuts I've read this year. Pushing it even farther, it was one of the best books I read this year. The cover drew me in, but the characters and world kept me there.

Id be lying if I said I didn't love this because of Iska. This book wouldn't have been the same without Iska. She was the animal companion I wanted for years, and she made every other animal I've read look one-dimensional. At the end, i was sobbing for her. And don't even get me started on her and Sena's connection. It was so strong, and I loved how they each helped each other heal and become better. She was the friend Sena needed, and Sena was the person Iska needed.

I also absolutely loved the world. It was lush, and almost too realistic. From the ruthlessness of the miners to the greed of the corporations, none of it was glorified. The world was gritty and fierce, and it shone so bright because of this.

Finally, I loved Sena as a character. Yes, she could be bitter, and yes, she could be unlikable. But she was so determined to succeed and do right. She was so determined to make her way in the world. She never let other characters walk all over her, which is something we need more of in YA.

I'm already off to preorder this, and I know it won't leave my mind for months. As soon as it releases, I'll be forcing this onto all of my friends. This was that good, and every YA/sxi-fi fan should read it

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a fast-paced survival story with a dynamic protagonist, an immersive setting, and strong messages. A pickpocket who scrambles to survive on an unforgiving planet, Sena wants nothing to do with the race that killed her mother. All she wants is to save enough money to get off the planet that took everything from her, but Sena might not have a choice.

The story is told in the first person, which gives you a deep and fascinating look at Sena’s character. Sena goes through so much throughout the story. She is a stubborn and determined seventeen-year-old who has suffered much loss in her life. She doesn’t always make the best decisions, but she is fierce and independent, and she shows tremendous growth over the course of the story. As Sena goes on a physical journey, she also goes on an emotional one, and she learns so much about herself, her friends, and the world around her.

The relationship between Sena and Iska is the highlight of the novel. I loved how this pair slowly learned to trust each other. They are similar in many ways, and I love that they forge such a strong bond. This relationship helps Sena through her grief, and Iska, as well as some of the other characters in the novel, slowly helps Sena break down her emotional walls. The side characters are interesting too, and the family that Sena finds in the people she journeys with is a bright spot in a bleak and deadly world.

The world-building is vivid and immersive, and the author is skilled in creating a fantastic picture without overloading the reader with information. Also, I think the personification and imagery are really well done and enhance the often dark and ominous tone. The frigidness of this ice planet, the myriad of characters, the woods, the race, the futuristic elements, and more create a unique and often terrifying world.

Messages about survival, grief, corporate greed, and the dangers of capitalism are woven expertly throughout this high-stakes story, and the race is exciting, dangerous, and deadly. There is never a dull moment in the book – it starts off with a ton of action, and it never stops. It’s a pretty exciting and suspenseful read, and I like that the themes are relevant and thought-provoking.

This is a great book for readers who like YA dystopian survival stories with fierce protagonists, a wonderful relationship between girl and wolf, and a fascinating setting. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Meg Long for providing a copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Will post review on Amazon, blog, Goodreads, Book Bub, and Twitter closer to pub. date.