I absolutely adored this novel!
I don’t read a lot of historical fiction but the premise of this one had me curious and it did not disappoint!
I love the way the story unfolded and how all the women were connected over time. The author created this magical tapestry that was incredibly heartwarming.

The human condition and the role of women is explored in such a beautiful way. Even the role of the villain is carved out so well in a short manner that it’s incredibly easy to detest them.

I will be thinking about Apolline and Giles for a long time. That was absolutely heartbreaking.

This is such a phenomenal example of women’s literature. I read this so quickly and did not want it to end at all. I cannot recommend this enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

What a fascinating story! Winter Of The Wolf, set in France in the sixteenth century plays heavily on rampant suspicion and fear of the occult and werewolves. Central to the story are Sidonie, whose parents were murdered when she was five after her father was accused by the local priest of being a werewolf, and Apolline, who befriended Sidonie as a child and was later reunited with her when they were both adullts. Neither has had an easy life. Sidonie was raised by her paternal uncle and essentially worked as his secretary, house cleaner and cook, while Apolline was a prostitute before learning how to grow, forage and use herbs medicinally. Forced to flee Paris after her uncle’s death, Sidonie travels to Dole, where she meets and moves in with her remarkable aunt,Baroness Eloise De Montargent. It is from this point that the story takes off in a cleverly woven series of twists and red herrings as the search for the alleged werewolf that has been taking and murdering the children of Dole gets under way. The werewolf story line is a central thread, driven by the determination of self-important witch hunter Pierre de Lancre to capture a werewolf, but it is the depth of friendship and love shown by the key characters for each other that endeared this story to me. Balancing this is the level of depravity, perversion and suspicion shown by other characters. le, The result is a page-turning story that I found hard to put down.

A beautifully written historical fantasy novel. An engaging storyline that had me not wanting to put the book down. Suspense and twists galore. This was an outstanding debut.

4.5 stars

The Winter of the Wolf by Amanda Willimott is a stunning debut. Richly drawn and well researched, this is historical fiction exploring powerful, female stories that brim with life and authenticity.

Set in 1572 France, we follow Sidonie, a young woman who escapes Paris, fleeing an unwanted marriage, and travels to Dole in search of sanctuary from her estranged Aunt. Sidonie forms a connection with Apolline, a woman who lives in a hermitage with her husband in the forest outside Dole. However, Dole is gripped by fear and superstition, as children go missing and then are found, ripped limp from limp. Accusations of werewolfery and witchcraft abound, spurred on by Pierre, aspiring witch hunter and another newcomer in town.

From the first pages I was immersed. Drawn in by the elegant prose, the distinct world-building that brimmed with life and the well-developed characters. Told in shifting perspectives of Sidonie, Apolline and Pierre, this gave the narrative a rich tapestry.

I loved Sidonie and Apolline's journeys and their friendship. It was beautiful to read as they supported each other and tried to grasp their own bit of agency in a world who saw them as inferior and men's property. The addition of Pierre's perspective, unlikeable, hateful and pompous, added an extra layer and propelled this story further. You'll just love to hate this guy, while also gaining an insight into who and what makes him who he is.

As the blurb states, this book is set in a time when women’s lives were not their own, and to be different was to be suspect. I love how these themes were explored. The side characters were wonderful - the force and compassion of Aunt Eloise and her companion Liane, steadfast and empathetic Fabian and Antoine, incorrigible flirt Olivier and sweet, misunderstood Gilles. The cast of characters brought the world alive and explored themes of found family and home.

I felt the book slightly wobbled a little as it neared the conclusion, and the ending was good though not as tight as the start of the book had been, however I did not walk away unsatisfied.

Overall, highly recommend for lovers of historical fiction that centre female experiences.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Australia for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.