4.5 stars — in a word: phenomenal. Just as lyrical and artistic as the first book, “For the Throne” tells the story of Neve and Solmir’s journey to kill the kings and right the world.

The first half of the book was relatively slow, in my opinion hindered by the dual POV (Neve and Red). Though as the story progressed I came to thoroughly enjoy Neve’s trials and the lessons she learned while in the Shadowlands. I also appreciate how her relationship with Solmir grew; it felt both organic and I loved that they were allies before lovers.

Truly a remarkable story. I don’t typically read high fantasy, but I would consider reading more of this genre if the books are as breathtaking as this story was.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4733902124

This was a beautiful story, dark, very dark at times, but very beautiful. And a strong conclusion to the Wilderwood duology that, to me, was much better than the first book.

Being completely honest, I didn't like "For the Wolf" the first time I read it. I had issues with the main characters and the romance didn't appeal to me. Redarys in particular I wasn't fond of, but I had found her twin fairly intriguing. But Neverah hardly had a few loose chapters in the first book, and it wasn't enough for me to enjoy the story that first time.

Seems to have been enough to make me willing to give Hannah F. Whitten's fantasy duet with heavy fairy tale motifs a second chance, though, because I re-read "For the Wolf" right before "For the Throne," and it proved the best decision indeed. I warmly recommend fans and sceptics, but <i>specifically</i> those that didn't like or were neutral about the first book, to have both books at the ready and read them one after the other in succession. Trust me here, you need to read them as if they were one single big fat book that just happens to be split in two for convenience, and read them without a pause in-between the first and second books. The story is immensely better that way, more engrossing and entertaining, and makes more sense. Do make sure you aren't reading other stuff, too, because this demands concentration; there's passages that will be confusing if you're not attentive.

If I was somewhat irritated by Red and indifferent towards her Wolf back in my first read, which did improve during my second read although not to the point of making me swoon or care more than beyond a measured improvement in my esteem, the opposite happened with Neve and that bastard Solmir. Part of it is that I have a soft spot for redemption arcs, can't help myself there (with the caveat that it must be a good redemption arc and not the usual sob backstory or moral relativism that passes for "redemption" these days), but most is due to Neve's characterisation. Where Red is impulsive, rather abrasive, a bit much of a hothead for my tastes, and possessing an unfortunate tendency to act so rashly she approaches the Too Stupid to Live label too closely at times, with the consequent eye-roll when she has to be saved by the rational hero, Neve is more sensible, cool-headed, sensitive, guilt-ridden, just as stubbornly courageous and risk-it-all as her sister but in a more calculated manner, and has a darker layer to her personality. Where Red's flaws are of temperament, Neve's flaws are of rationality. She's the cold to her twin's fire, the dark to her twin's light, she's Snow White to her twin's Rose Red.

And I love that, love her! It's not often that a character has me give an author I'd previously rated lowly another try and give them the highest rating. And "For the Throne" did it. Or, as I think of it now, The Wilderwood Twins did it, as I think of this duology as I think of LOTR. Think about it, you wouldn't consider Tolkien's "trilogy" separately, would you?

And what to say of Solmir? I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm going to tease that, if you finished the first book with an overwhelming desire to strangle Solmir to death with your bare hands, that desire will have to be recalibrated after this book. The storyline he was in was my favourite in the book. He's more Beast than Eammon, and as far as I'm concerned the Beauty & Beast elements in this duology involve him, and not the Wolf. I'm dying on this hill! Oh, of course I did notice the Snow White motifs here too.

Besides the romantic pairing in this second book being more to my liking, my most favourite relationship all throughout the two books has been the sisterly one between Neve and Red. Sisterly relationships are fraught, I should know coming from a majority girls tribe and having sisters that drive me crazy, and they are depicted much in fiction, at least compared to romantic ones. Good sisterly relationships are rarer still; rivals, dysfunctions, cattiness, etc., are common enough. Neve and Red have a good one, and I liked to see how strong their love ran, how loyal they are to each other, how they would do anything for their sister even above the men they chose to love. Sisters might drive you crazy, but without them you'd be so different, so much more alone in life, and have a less rich and well-lived existence. That I know well, too.

Do I have complaints? Well, maybe that the story wasn't longer! The outcome was a surprise I wasn't expecting, but it does fit with the overall story. And, to me personally, it was a satisfying ending both for the romantic and sisterly plotlines.

For the Throne is an exciting sequel to For the Wolf with action, suspense, fantastic Gothic elements, and intriguing characters. My favorite part of this duology is the relationship between Neve and Red. Though they spend the majority of the duology apart, the heart of the book is about the love between these sisters. Red and Neve will do anything to save and protect each other. I like that the story switches between their perspectives because you really get to understand their motivations, conflicts, and feelings. Where For the Wolf focuses more on Red, For the Throne focuses more on Neve and her journey. And what a journey it is!

The Shadowlands, where Neve spends the majority of the story with Solmir, is a new setting, and it is has major Gothic vibes. The world-building is dark and vivid and immersive and has expanded from the first book, and I love how the Shadowlands contrasts the Wilderwoods. They, much like the sisters, act as opposites, and the symbolism here is strong. The magic system is also fascinating and explored more deeply, which I also really liked.

I found Neve and Solmir as interesting as the setting they’re in. Whitten explores and embraces the morally grey character and shows the reader that no one is entirely good or evil. I enjoyed these begrudging allies and was pleasantly surprised to find myself liking a character that I once despised. It definitely says something about the author’s storytelling when it can make a reader’s perceptions and feelings completely change.

Enemies-to-lovers romances are one of my favorites, so it’s no surprise that I liked the romances in this book. Red and Eammon had a great love story, and I enjoyed seeing how their relationship has progressed. Neve and Solmir have an antagonistic, yet chemistry-laden relationship, and I loved their banter. Surprisingly, they make a good team and complement each other well. I’m always a sucker for the dark and brooding anti-hero, and Solmir fills that role to perfection.

This is a strong conclusion to the duology. It’s layered, atmospheric, romantic, and full of magic and mystery. It also explores many thought-provoking themes about love, loss, power, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they care about. I’m so thankful to Orbit Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I was not the biggest fan of Neve by the end of book 1. She destroyed herself and who she was on the quest to find her sister from a fate that her sister accepted. Solmir did some atrocious things, and I was curious how the author would encourage us to relate to and accept him.
The mark was missed. They were better by the end, but it was not as developed or fleshed out as characters we see in other books.
The world building had similar issues as the first book, and it was difficult to quite follow and understand how this world worked.
The redeeming quality in this book was the plot. For this reason, I would recommend this book to others if they read and loved For the Wolf. The characters just didn't pull me in in this one, so I would not reread this book.

Neve was not my favorite character in the first book but I loved the character development throughout this book! I loved the setting of The Shadowlands. I liked following along with Neve and Solmir, and maybe even enjoyed the evolution of their relationship more than Red and Wolf. I think the ending was perfectly satisfying for the end of this duology.

The breathtaking story of the Valleyda sisters continues as both sisters battle with Gods and monsters, their fates and atoning for their actions. Prepare for it to sink its teeth (and claws) into you with Hannah Whittens impeccable world building and hypnotizing prose. With rounded characters and a perfectly painted plot Hannah delivers the flawless conclusion to our time with the Wilderwood and Shadowlands.

<b> <I> Thank you so much to Net Galley and to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of "For the Throne" by Hannah Whitten in exchange for an honest review. All of the following opinions are formulated on my own. </I>

<b> Overall Rating: </b> 3.5 out of 5 stars

<b> My favorite elements: </b> Solmir was an interesting addition to the mix and I really enjoyed the hardcore “enemies to lovers” storyline. The writing of this book is so amazing and I really hope Hannah Whitten writes more. I loved Neve’s inner battle over her darkness regardless of not liking the character.

<b> My Criticisms <b> I really enjoyed For the Throne although I did like For the Wolf more. I am not a fan of Neve even after this novel. I was expecting more from Red for some reason even though this is obviously not how the duology is set up. I was expecting much more of a stunning ending and it felt as if the story was not as significant with how it ended.

"To anyone who grew thorns instead of flowers-You had your reasons"- this quote from Hannah Whitten stole my breath. It is a rare moment that the 2 book in the series overshadows the first, but Whitten really knocked it out of the park with this one. For the Wolf leaves off with Neve aka the First Daughter dropped into the Shadowlands with one of the Kings. We follow her escapade through the Shadowlands Solomir to save, well, everyone from the Kings being released, taking over, destruction and slavery etc etc you know the usual bad guys MO. Whitten made this story dark and yet at the same time I could see the book playing out in my head in perfect imaging. Neve & Sol were a perfect match from the beginning and honestly it was impossible not to root for him. I love the subtle nods to our childhood fairy tales. If you read too quick you'll miss but, it adds another layer to Whitten's writing that I enjoyed. I gave this a 3.75, would HIGHLY recommend and will continue with Whitten's work.

A thrilling sequel to the Excellent "For the Wolf". I was so glad to be able to jump back into this wonderful world the author has created and see old characters again! I found myself really liking Neve, the 'lost' sister and her journey with Solmir was thrilling. I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for their next great fantasy read!

After reading the first book in the series, I fell in love with the main characters. Seriously, I had the best time reading book 1 and I knew I was going to feel the same way when I would read book 2. Retellings have always been a guilty pleasure for me and this was no exception. I had so much fun getting into this and enjoying the relationships just as much. 5/5 stars absolutely!

I received a copy of For The Throne via NetGalley to read and review.

This is book two of The Wilderwood and mostly follows Neve while she is in the Shadowlands. It picks up right where book one ends. All the main characters from book one make appearances- Red does have her own chapters but this is mostly about Neve stuck in the Shadowlands with Samir. While the Wilderwood has been stabilized the same cannot be said for the Shadowlands. This is where the Five Kings are along with a host of terrifying creatures.

Back in the Wilderwood Red and everyone else is trying to find a way to bring Neve back from the Shadowlands. While researching a prophecy is discovered. While it’s pretty clear how this will play out the characters don’t dwell too much on it until it’s almost fulfilled.

I enjoyed For the Throne- while I caught onto the prophecy bit there were still a few things I wasn’t prepared for and the author did a good job creating these worlds and how they work. I do feel the author did a great job not leaving any loose ends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an advanced copy.

I enjoyed this one. I was a little worried at first about following Neve, but ended up liking this book as much as the first book. My favorite thing about this book was the writing, and I enjoy the darker elements to the story. I was really invested in the story at the beginning. However, it started sagging in the middle and I got a little bored with it. I found myself skimming to get through it. The storyline felt a little monotonous. It remined me a lot of a video game where there are a bunch of side quests that the characters have to go through to get strong enough to beat the final boss. It just seemed like the same thing over and over. I also found it really hard to actually picture the world. I also feel like the ending was a bit of a disappointment. Right when I found myself getting back into the story, it ended and I was more interested in getting details of what was happening in the epilogue than I was in the middle of the story.

I do wish that I had reread For the Wolf before diving into this one. For the Throne picks up directly after FTW, and I found myself being confused on the intricate details of the world and plot of FTW.

This one pleasantly surprised me. I didn’t care much for the main couple in For the Wolf; Neve and Solmir won me over though!! Their banter and chemistry was everything I found lacking in Eammon and Red’s relationship.

Great ending! This duology was nothing like I thought it would be—in a good way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

It's no secret that I absolutely adored For the Wolf, and I've been so excited for Throne ever since. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but my opinion is much more mixed than I expected. Let's break it down.

The Good:
- As a Sequel: Throne is a phenomenal successor to Wolf. It continues on with the same dark and atmospheric vibes that I adored in the first book, with the same religious imagery. It felt very much like a sequel--its own story, but a part of something bigger, and I think one of the strong suits of this book is overall how well it blends with its predecessor.
- Choice: I loved the role choice played in this book. While the plot is driven by the divine and by things outside of Neve and Red's control, everything still boiled down to the decisions each sister had to make, Red's choices to take the roots began everything back in Wolf, and Neve's decisions in the Shadowlands acted as their own catalysts--there's fate, but a fate that only existed because of what they did, individually and together.
- Neve and Red: The sisters were a strong suit in Wolf, and they were a strong suit in Throne. I loved how Neve and Red's journeys mirrorred each others, each woman's story distinctly their own but echoing each other's. Even outside of the Heart Tree mirror, the parallels between the two and how fiercely they loved each other did many things to my heart.
- Neve: I knew I'd love Neve as the leading lady, and I absolutely did. Her internal struggles throughout the book were equal parts entertaining and painful.
- Plot/World: Once again, the world-building was phenomenal. I was constantly wanting to know more about the Shadowlands, and felt that everything about it was revealed at a great pace. The plot, too, in broad strokes was unique and interesting. Also, I just really loved the ending and how it's not all easy and happy and everything is magically perfect.

The Less Good:
- Repetition: Maybe this is something that won't be as prevalent in the finished edition, but particularly in the beginning it felt very repetitive. Neve would notice something, and then notice it again on the next page, and the next. There were times where it felt like the same scenes played over and over again, and while it's not a huge deal, it did frustrate me while reading sometimes.
- Format: Part of this is merely my own expectations, but I expected the format to be a mirror of Wolf: Focused on Neve with Wilderwood interludes. Instead we got three primary POVs, somewhat evenly split, and while I'll never complain about more Red/Eammon content, the Raffe POV didn't feel entirely necessary, despite him being one of my favorites in Wolf. I understood the purpose of him as a POV character, but didn't feel that it added anything to the story beyond making Neve's romantic plot easier.
- Neve and Solmir: Listen. There were times where these two made me lose my mind entirely. But, as a whole, they just didn't hit as hard as I wanted them to. Solmir is set up so well in Wolf as this morally-grey-at-best character, and despite saying otherwise, that's pretty much all gone in Throne. Like, sure, he's hot, but I was really looking forward to a somewhat-villain love interest that I just did not receive.
- Kayu: While I understand the overall purpose of her character, Kayu just fell completely flat for me. She too felt like an unnecessary addition (as a main character, I get why she's pretty important as a minor character) to me, and was far too ~*quirky*~ for my tastes. Having her as such a major character seemed solely done to set her up as Raffe's new love interest to avoid any conflict with Neve's own new love interest, which was a little disappointing to me. She didn't add anything to the main journeys of the book, and I was not a fan of the romantic subplot with her and Raffe at all (we won't even get into how much I disliked Raffe's 180 from Wolf in regards to Neve). Honestly, I'm getting frustrated all over again just writing this.

Hannah Whitten just jumps right into it in the sequel of For the Wolf. So I highly recommend a refresh before reading this one. However, I liked that we didn't spend so much time rehashing what happened in the first book.

While the first book focused more on Red, this one is all about Neve. Well mostly. We still get POV from Red and what she is doing to try to and get her sister back. But really the spotlight is on Neve and her growth into who she is meant to be. No longer being controlled by others Neve is finally taking control of her own life. While you may have hated her in the first book you soon will develop a soft spot for our once viewed villain or at least most hated sister. We dive more into this magical world Whitten has created and see that while both books have love interests, the real love story in this book series is about sisterly love and how nothing is stronger than that.

Hannah Whittens story writing is not only fast pasted but doesn't dwell on the fluffy parts or fillers some books have. It kinda gives you a sense like Neve is writing it. Just wants to get to the points and not dawdle on all the details. None of the "the forest had such and such type of plants that blooms in late September and has colors of gold. Which reminds me of blah blah blah" I found it quite refreshing because half the time I forget the details while reading. Unless it's important to the story. So if this is more your style like me, you will for sure enjoy the writing of Hannah Whitten.

I'm so grateful I was able to read an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. This was one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint.

I have a lot of similar things to say about THRONE that I did about WOLF. It took a bit for me to properly sink into it, again at about 35% according to my Kindle. I was more interested in Neve than Red so having more of Neve and less of Red was a plus for me. I didn’t really care for Red or Eammon and their relationship in WOLF, and the same happened in THRONE. Every time Red’s POV came up, the only point of interest in it for me was if Lyra and Fife were involved. I loved the explicitness of Lyra being aro-ace—though the exact terms were not used due to the setting/world—and how her relationship with Fife is not less than the one between Red and Eammon. I had thought Lyra was a-spec in WOLF from what had felt like a throwaway line and it was definitely nice to see it given space in THRONE. Lyra and Fife were my favorites in WOLF and continued to be my favorites in THRONE, with the addition of Solmir.

I also really appreciated how Whitten didn’t excuse or try to ignore Solmir and Neve’s actions in the past in order to make them likeable. I liked them plenty for their flaws and selfishness and mistakes. I loved the reluctant allies trope and thought the enemies to lovers was done well, too. The plot was also more quest-like, there was more of a sense of adventure and movement and Neve and Solmir having to work together and travel really helped me buy into the development of their relationship and of their individual character.

However, I did have issues with some of the execution, particularly with what were supposed to be plot twists or big moments. There were no surprises and character’s not knowing or even having any clue about certain events went beyond willful ignorance and felt completely contrived. The major ‘twists’ and conflicts are in some cases almost literally told to the characters, repeatedly. And yet they’re still shocked and taken by surprise? I actually rolled my eyes at these scenes.

I was also not a fan of a new character who joins the crew. Kayu’s entire character is just a plot device with the addition of consolation love interest to create a love triangle that overlaps with another love triangle. A love square focused on two corners? She’s also almost pointedly Japanese inspired, which compared to the other regions not being so obviously inspired by a real world place (to the best of my memory of WOLF) had me pausing at times. But I’m not sure if that’s just me and would greatly appreciate hearing from a Japanese reader on this.

Issues I had aside, Whitten has a fantastic writing style and I’ll forgive a lot for great prose. I loved the atmosphere and imagery, especially as we had a lot of bones and teeth and nature in WOLF and THRONE really honed in on bones and shadows and darkness. I also enjoyed the endings for the characters. There’s closure for the reader, yet a sense of possibility for the characters to live out the rest of their lives how they can and choose to do.

Largely, I was satisfied but there were parts that didn’t work for me and I’ve wavered between giving this a flat 4★ like I did WOLF, but I did enjoy this just that bit more for Neve and Solmir. My ARC included a sample of THE FOXGLOVE KING, Whitten's next book and the start of a new series, and while I’ve been left wanting in some elements of her storytelling from WOLF and THRONE, I’m still excited to see where Whitten’s future work will go.

“If fate delivered you something awful, why would you decide you had to take it?”

Poor Neve. She just wanted the best for her sister. This second book dives right into the thick of where the first left off and I greatly appreciated it because let’s just say ya girl was gripping the edge of her seat.

The world building is just as insanely good and wonderfully complicated as the first. My mind was all over the place trying to figure out what everything meant before it was all finally unveiled and that made it a genuinely fun read.

Although Red and Eammon save the Wilderwood from the threat of the five kings, Neve, the first daughter is now trapped in the Shadowlands. Neve, is Red’s twin and the daughter intended for the throne. After holding the crown, Neve leaves her kingdom without a queen. As Red once did, Neve willingly chose her fate in the Shadowlands. Now, in order to return to her sister, she must ally with Solmir to end the Shadowlands once and for all. But obtaining magic in the Shadowlands is limited and to do so comes with a high price.

Solmir, once one of the five kings, now a king no longer, has attempted and failed to end the kings and save himself. With Neve, he believes he has a chance.. but he’s already lied to Neve. She must navigate this upside down grey world with a man she can’t trust.

This series is my first introduction to Hannah Whitten and I’m already in love.

I love Eammon as a MC but Solmir, he may be my favorite. He’s dark, grumpy, witty and when least expected, vulnerable. Neve is a strong FMC as well. Both characters had their demons they had to face and in the end it made for a great romance. Enemies to lovers? Yes most definitely.

This story was full of magic, love and soul.. (haha. Inside joke.) I highly recommend this read if you don’t mind a challenge that’s full of great surprises and strong female characters. Plus there’s still lots of Red and Eammon in this too.

I liked <i>For the Throne</i> even more than <i>For the Wolf</i>. Hannah Whitten’s prose is so lovely that this actually read like a fairytale. The mirroring of the sisters’ stories made for a really satisfying ending. Plus, Neve is a much more complex character. Her journey raises difficult questions. Like <i>what does it mean to be a monster</i> and <i>is a soul worth saving?</i>

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The sequel to For the Wolf, For the Throne continues the original story of twins separated by tradition and fate. In mirror to For the Wolf, For the Throne follows Neve's story as she travels through the Shadowlands looking for a way back to Red. There are many great details and new elements in this book. However, it did take me a while to become invested in the plot. The story continues to move forward, but, in my opinion, could summarize some of the action that takes place in the first half of the book. Though the more detailed depiction of a series of events allowed two of the main characters to further develop, the sequence of events became repetitive. All-in-all, an enjoyable reading experience with a satisfying conclusion.

Being able to experience Neve in her fullest was a journey I honestly wasn’t sure I wanted to take, but I’m glad that I did. A book of love, souls, and necessary monsters - a perfect mirror of its companion (For the Wolf).

Overall I found the characters easier to connect with in For the Wolf, even those who continue to be present in For the Throne. While FtW was a story of Red & Eammon it was also the story of so many more, while FtT exclusively felt like the story of Neve. That said, I did find myself loving the monsters more than expected.