Member Reviews
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC of this novel. I remember hearing about the first book, For The Wolf, for AGES before it came out and enjoyed it when I did read it so was excited to then be able to read this one. I feel you would get the most out of this book if you read it much closer to the first as a lot of the mythology of the Kings is not rehashed here and so I felt lost with some of the character motivations. It was fun to put the spotlight on Neve and her journey in the Shadowlands but I missed some of the connection because I do not remember the plot points of the first book in great detail. That is my issue, not the novel's. If you want something that completely turns the Red Riding Hood fairy tale on its head and then into an Evil Queen narrative, pick up the duology.
Hannah Whitten does it again! What a beautifully written story that once again shows that people aren’t always what you think they are.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orbit Books for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!
The way that this duology was just absolutely masterful! This book definitely mirrors For the Wolf, which readers will eventually understand why. And the way that it does this is just so beautiful it made me want to cry. The mirroring was breathtaking to the point that I'm still stumbling on realizations even as I write this review. The way that Whitten ties aspects together so perfectly that you don't even realize it's happening is one of my favorite things an author can do.
Neve is such a relatable character with the way she wants so badly to do good but she feels morally gray. She and Solmir both just seem so real despite the fantastical things they are dealing with. At first I had wished their relationship would progress more quickly, but by the end, I realized it was exactly what they both needed, and I adore the way their story came to a close. Not to forget Red and Eammon who are still so sweet and loving in this book! I adore their fierce love for one another and the way that it only kept growing.
This book was so haunting with such classic fairytale vibes (which I can definitively say as someone with a German literature degree)! There were such beautiful descriptions of such horrible things, and I loved the way the words could make my skin crawl. The horror of the Shadowlands set the background for a kind of love that people often don't even believe exists. The fear set into the world set the background for the kind of fierce hope that only that kind of love can give someone.
I am absolutely obsessed with Hannah Whitten's writing! If you're a fantasy lover, do not miss out on this duology!
The Wilderwood duology has come to a stunning conclusion! Despite enjoying the first one, I found this one much more entertaining. The first book predominantly followed Red’s POV, while the second focuses on her sister Neve. There are multiple POVs in this book and storylines that weave together so you still get to see both sisters.
I didn’t particularly like Neve in book 1, but book 2 changed my tune. It starts right where book 1 ended and having Neve in this setting was really fun- there was banter, adventure, and puzzles to work out. At times I thought Red came across as dull in the first book, but I never felt that way about Neve as she was spunky and fierce. I also wasn’t expecting a romance to blossom with a certain evil king and let me tell you, IT WAS THE BEST!
This series has friendship, romance, mysterious fantasy, found family, adventure, and folklore. However, It is best summed up as 2 sisters that are connected by more than blood, who continuously fight to get back to one another.
Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for gifting me this copy in exchange for my honest review.
Hannah Whitten’s debut For the Wolf was one of the best fantasy novels of 2021: Part folklore, part horror story, and part fairytale that mixed elements from “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Snow White” into something that felt fresh and new despite its deeply familiar bones.
In its sequel For the Throne, Whitten crafts a thrilling finale, with bigger stakes, more sweeping emotions, and more dramatic twists than its predecessor, all ultimately grounded in the complicated, but unshakeable bond between two sisters and the world they may or may not be destined to save.
Dark, magical, and all around great.
I went into this book not sure what to expect. I loved Red and Eammon from book one, and Neve and her one-track-mind of saving her sister, but Solmir was going to be a hard sell for me.
That being said—this book was great. The story was a little slow for me in the beginning, but the last ten chapters were so so good!! I loved the way the characters changed throughout the book, and I will admit that Solmir grew on me.
Recommend this title for sure.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this title! Opinions are my own.
I do think book one was written better. I enjoyed this but the writing just fell flat for me. I loved book one with all my being. Even though I liked the love interest more in this book, I wanted more from the relationship.
This book could have been more and it had so much more potential. I think I will read more from this author and I hope she improves in future books.
Thank you to NetGalley provided by Orbit Books for this eArc! You will find my unbiased review below.
We follow Neve who is stuck in the Shadowlands with Solmir- A Prince that was trapped in the Shadowlands with the Kings. She finds out what Solmir is up to which breaks any rust they have built.
I didn’t think the second one could get better than the first! One thing I love about this world is that it is dark and gritty. I’ve been wanting more Neve since the first book and so happy this follows her. Sorin was someone that was the twist of the first book and did things that are not seen as “good” for a bigger picture. Truly, I love that type of character and he easily became my favorite.
- Enemies to Lovers
- Close Proximity
- Morally Gray ML
In the second one we see both sisters try to save each other while Neve is willing to sacrifice it all so Red can be safe. We see Neve’s journey with accepting herself as not a “villainous” person but a good one. I do believe we seen a lot more romance in this one with not only the sisters but some side characters but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I even shed a tear or two towards the end. I really loved this book and would recommend this duology!
Review on Goodreads and Barnes and Noble. Waiting for Amazon to approve it.
"How far was too far when you loved someone this much?"
I loved the first book, For the Throne, and couldn't wait to read the second one. It did disappoint - I loved it and I love this series!! The writing is absolutely perfect, and the story is dark, fun and full of magic. I honestly feel like I'm writing through wilderwood myself while reading these beautiful words. Three words to describe this book: amazing. dark. beautiful. ❤️
Wilderwood is such a dark, magical place, and I really enjoyed visiting there again. These characters!! They have my heart. I just loved hearing from Red and Eammom again (so sweet!!), and I also loved knowing more about Neve and Solmir story. The love between Neve and Red is unmatched and I loved their growth.
Hannah Whitten is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine, and she is definitely an auto buy author for me!
Thank you Orbit Books for this #gifted copy!!
Thank you Hatchette Book Group/Orbit Us for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten so I was even more excited about the sequel especially after how the first one ended. In this book we got to explore so much of the Shadowlands and the lore behind them. The Shadowlands felt inspired by Stranger Things and I was not upset. This book was full of so much raw emotion and love both toxic and true; it was truly a triumph of a book. I am honored to have been given the arc and Hannah will always be one of my favorite dark gothic, folklore authors.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this novel. I am rating this book based the stars due to lack of time to leave a full review. #NetGalley #FortheThrone
I loved For the Wolf when I read it last year and have been eagerly awaiting For the Throne, which I ended up loving even more. Hannan Whitten so skillfully creates a believeable redemption arc for Neve and Solmir - I hated them in the first book and finished this one in love with both. Their journey through the Shadowlands is amazing and dark and fullfilling. This was everything I could've wanted from a sequel and I can't wait to put it on my shelf.
I really wanted to love this book at much as I loved the first in this duology but to be honest this one just fell a little flat for me. I thought the world building in this book was incredible and I felt like I could feel the world around me at time. I thought that the atmosphere was super immersive but the story did not grab me like that of the first. I would read other works by this author in the future but I think for the wolf was a far superior book.
This sequel picked up where the first book ended, leaving us with Neve, the first daughter and twin sister to Red, trapped in an alternate underworld with the Old Kings who are trying to regain their power and escape. Not alone, Neve finds herself becoming reluctant allies with the rogue king Solmir.
I loved how the story was told in alternating perspectives between Red and Neve. We get to see what happens with Red and the Wolf in this book as well as getting to know Neve better and her own struggles trying to sacrifice herself for her sister and fighting to save her soul AND the kingdom.
Full of romance, adventure, sisterhood bonds, betrayals and magic. This story truly has it all and I was there for every minute of it. I really hope there is a third book planned in this incredible Wilderwood fantasy series. And I cannot say enough good things about the beautiful cover art for both books!!
Much thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for my advance review copy! Highly recommended for fans of The wolf and the woodsman by Ava Reid.
Things to know:
-Second in duology
-Romance
-Multiple viewpoints
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Review:
Hannah Whitten has earned a place on my autobuy author list! I thoroughly enjoyed both books in the Wilderwood duology. I honestly loved all of the characters and the way they were written, even the ones you may not have been meant to like! They were all just so well written that they seemed real.
I read both of the books in this duology on audio. The narrator is fantastic and voiced the different characters very well. It was very entertaining. I don’t typically reread books, but I may make an exception here. This duology has earned a spot on my forever shelf.
I would recommend this duology to those who enjoy retellings, dark fantasy, stories of magic, and some romance!
Hannah Whitten has another book coming out next year! If you enjoy this duology make sure to preorder The Foxglove King which comes out March 7, 2023.
Anyone who can make an Old One feel something like love is deserving of deference.”
I ready For the Wolf last year and it was one of my favorite reads! I was absolutely delighted to receive review copies of For the Throne via physical book and audiobook.
I was anxious to get to more of Red and Eammon because I enjoyed their storyline more in book one and liked Red’s POV more than Neve’s. So, color me shocked when I found myself eager to get back to Neve’s POV in this book whenever it was Red’s turn. I liked that her and Solmir’s relationship wasn’t just a repeat of Red and Eammon’s. Although they both touched on the enemies to lovers front, Solmir actually has been a ‘bad’ guy at some point, whereas Eammon was just perceived to be one. Neve and Solmir both have done some things that could pitch them as villainous, and they understand each other to a degree that other people cannot. It makes me connect to them on a level that I sometimes can’t with other characters. What person hasn’t made tough decisions that might cast them in an unfavorable light to others? Don’t we all just want someone to take a look beneath the surface and understand the reasons why we made those decisions, even if they aren’t going to be the popular choice? I liked that they had common ground in that aspect.
Even more, I like that this book focused on sisterhood and the relationships between women. Most of this book revolves around how Red and Neve can change the world together, as two halves of one whole. This could have absolutely dissolved into a book that pitted Neve and Red against one another, but instead it did the opposite and brought them closer.
This book didn’t quite fully enrapture me the way book one did, but I also don’t think that’s the book’s fault. I’m at an extremely busy point in my life where reading has had to take a backseat, and am not as present as I want to be when I am reading. I think upon rereading this when I have more time, I’ll be just as involved. This in no way is the dreaded sophomore slump you hear about with sequels. It is just as lush of storytelling, has swoony romance, and that dark, glittering fairytale quality about it.
Also, when I would turn to the audiobook, the narrator did a fantastic job. Inés del Castillo lent to the eeriness at just the right points of the novel with a haunting voice. At other times, engaged us by vocalizing those exciting, action-filled moments beautifully. The performance was a 10/10. The intro was especially spectacular and drew me in immediately.
Thank you to Orbit Books for the finished copy and to Hachette Audio for the audio version!
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
The First Daughter is for the Throne
The Second Daughter is for the Wolf
The final book in the Wilderwood Duology, FOR THE THRONE primarily follows the story of Neve-- the sister left behind in the first novel-- as she battles to find truth (yes, battles) in the Shadowlands. Accompanied by a sometime-friend-sometimes-foe love interest and former King, Solimir, Neve struggles to fulfill her role as her sister's darker foil.
As in FOR THE WOLF (the first book in the series), the world building is so incredibly rich. There are fleshed out religions, kingdoms, rituals, customs, and cultures-- both 'current' and 'historic'. The Shadowland almost acts as its own character in the book; a world falling apart as the gods who live in it are slaughtered and suspended in the space between time. Neve is a much more complex character compared to her sister, Red, and her acceptance of the role as Shadow Queen required growth and acceptance. And who doesn't love a morally grey character? It's so difficult to truly love and accept them, but Whitten did a wonderful job of explaining the reasoning and logic behind each choice and action-- proving that, at least to the character, they honestly believe they're doing the right thing.
All that said, the book felt a little too slow paced for me. As much as I wanted to enjoy the journeys of the separate groups, I found myself just wanting to skip to the end!
The crowning jewel of FOR THE THRONE was Neve and Red. Their relationship and sisterly love towards one another was so powerful and beautifully depicted, and their unwavering devotion to one another was so clear and realistic. Whitten has a true talent for world and character creation, and this duology was a wonderful read.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than the first, mainly because I just love Neve so much and I’m very very very happy that she got her own book. I’m a sucker for morally gray characters and enemies to lovers, so I thoroughly enjoyed the development between Neve and Solmir. My biggest complaint is that I wish there was more action that allowed Neve to really come into her own power. Other than that, I thought this was a much stronger book that made for a very entertaining read.
A worthy and superior sequel to a solid debut.
Hannah Whitten's For the Throne is the second of the Wilderwood stories, which began in "For The Wolf." For the Throne takes up where For The Wolf left off, where heroine Red and her lover, the titular Wolf Eamonn have contained the power of the Old Kings. All is not well. Red's elder sister Neve, the First Daughter, is lost in the shadowlands, with her only ally being the mysterious and ruthless Solmir who wishes to destroy them
Neve excels when her prominence rises equally to Red's own. She is a fully fleshed out, fascinating and flawed character. Her relationship to Redarys is one of the fores of the book. They're sisters through and through; not without rough patches but the two would walk through hell for one another. Meanwhile, Neve's romance with Solmir is believable and equally compelling, a classic enemies to lovers that leaves the reader hooked until the ending.
The Wilderwood is all about fairy tales and bending them to new narrative purposes. Whitten's writing is beautiful and she utilizes fairy tale tropes to their fullest, while subverting them. The Wilderwood is like any enchanted forest, except it has a powerful will of its own and knows what must be done- even if humans might disagree. The Kings are solid villains, particularly the scheming Valchior, and the characters keep this as a pageturner until the end.
This was by far one of my most disappointing DNF of the year, as For The Wolf was one of my favorite books of last year. I had actually restarted this book 3 different times and never made it past the 65% mark. I am unsure if this was a problem with me and my reading mood, or if this was not as good of an entry into this series. In book one I think what stood out to me was how whimsical and atmospheric the story felt, as well as how deeply attached I felt to our main characters. I did not feel that way at all in book 2. Nothing really drug me in or kept me engaged within the story. It almost felt like a totally different author wrote this book.