bigdreamsandwildthings's review
3.0
“Their last race was for us to give us a chance at a better life off-world somewhere. They thought they could race against the odds for that life. Instead, my mothers were destroyed out here by the other racers. Those same racers that have tried to stop me at every turn. Tried to push me down. Tried to end my life.
I climb to my feet. It’s time that I fight back.”
The pacing on this one really threw it off for me. It's such a cool concept, and I wanted to love it, but it wasn't the strongest.
On the icy planet of Tundar, winter lasts year-round, and when it finally gets warm enough to cross the tundra, the planet's famous wolf race pits racer against racer, and racer against nature. Sena's mothers were lost to the race, and she has vowed to do anything she can to get off world, away from everything that reminds her of them. What she doesn't factor in: the ill-timed arrival of a hurt wolf, a bad deal with a mob boss, and being forced into the very race that took her mothers' lives.
When this opened, I felt like the action was going to be great. Sena is such a little badass, willing to do anything to get off-world, and that came through right away. She will steal whatever she has to, do whatever it takes, and the first few chapters, I was on board with everything playing out.
And then, everything slowed to a crawl. The actual race part of this plot - which seems like it should start quickly, given the synopsis - doesn't start until over halfway through. A lot of characters are introduced, some stuff happens, but in between the great beginning and the race, there is just...filler. Or what feels like filler. I couldn't even tell you what goes on, except that it made me zone out and just want to skip through to the more exciting bits.
What this book does in a really lovely way is showcase the relationship between Sena and Iska. As a dog person, it's not hard for me to invest when animals are involved, and I found that their development was done very well. It's super nice to have a book focused on an animal-human relationship like this instead of a romantic one. A little breath of fresh air there.
I also found that some characters became caricatures of themselves. Especially Kalba and his goons - they are just such stereotypes that I found it hindered my enjoyment of the story when it involved them. Sena is great, and I pictured Kirima as Peli Motto from the Mandalorian so that helped with her. But even the professor and everyone that comes in later - I just didn't connect with them, because they felt like cardboard cutouts of characters to me.
But yes, the pacing really made this one hard for me. Once we got out onto the ice for the race, I was a bit checked out. I wish it had been more consistent so that I could've enjoyed it more.
I climb to my feet. It’s time that I fight back.”
The pacing on this one really threw it off for me. It's such a cool concept, and I wanted to love it, but it wasn't the strongest.
On the icy planet of Tundar, winter lasts year-round, and when it finally gets warm enough to cross the tundra, the planet's famous wolf race pits racer against racer, and racer against nature. Sena's mothers were lost to the race, and she has vowed to do anything she can to get off world, away from everything that reminds her of them. What she doesn't factor in: the ill-timed arrival of a hurt wolf, a bad deal with a mob boss, and being forced into the very race that took her mothers' lives.
When this opened, I felt like the action was going to be great. Sena is such a little badass, willing to do anything to get off-world, and that came through right away. She will steal whatever she has to, do whatever it takes, and the first few chapters, I was on board with everything playing out.
And then, everything slowed to a crawl. The actual race part of this plot - which seems like it should start quickly, given the synopsis - doesn't start until over halfway through. A lot of characters are introduced, some stuff happens, but in between the great beginning and the race, there is just...filler. Or what feels like filler. I couldn't even tell you what goes on, except that it made me zone out and just want to skip through to the more exciting bits.
What this book does in a really lovely way is showcase the relationship between Sena and Iska. As a dog person, it's not hard for me to invest when animals are involved, and I found that their development was done very well. It's super nice to have a book focused on an animal-human relationship like this instead of a romantic one. A little breath of fresh air there.
I also found that some characters became caricatures of themselves. Especially Kalba and his goons - they are just such stereotypes that I found it hindered my enjoyment of the story when it involved them. Sena is great, and I pictured Kirima as Peli Motto from the Mandalorian so that helped with her. But even the professor and everyone that comes in later - I just didn't connect with them, because they felt like cardboard cutouts of characters to me.
But yes, the pacing really made this one hard for me. Once we got out onto the ice for the race, I was a bit checked out. I wish it had been more consistent so that I could've enjoyed it more.
missprint_'s review
3.0
Every species on the frozen planet of Tundar is predatory. When everything has sharp teeth and sharper claws, the people have to be hard too. Including seventeen-year-old Sena Korhosen.
Sena never loved Tundar--it's not a planet that engenders love--but she loved her mothers and the home they made for her on the planet between Tundar's infamous sled race seasons.
They both died in the last race. Sena has been struggling to pay her way off the planet and away from its painful memories ever since.
After angering a local gangster, Sena is out of time to earn her way off the planet. Instead she has to accept a dangerous bargain leading a team of scientists through Tundar's sled race while trying to protect Iska, the prize fighting wolf she never wanted to let herself care about.
Haunted by memories and grief, predators, and her enemies, Sena will have to use all of her wits and her strength to survive the race and make it off Tundar with Iska in Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves (2022) by Meg Long.
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is Long's debut novel.
Long blends fantasy with survivalist adventure in this action packed novel. Long takes her time building up the world with rich details and a varied cast of characters. Sena's first person story starts slow, carefully building out Tundar's harsh realities before drawing readers into the novel's plot.
Sena's slow work to process her grief over her mothers' deaths and reluctantly form new connections with both people and her wolf Iska play out against the Tundar sled race where the stakes for Sena and Iska are literally life or death. Readers should also be wary of casual violence throughout the story and frostbite induced injuries in the final act.
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is an engrossing adventure which hints at many more stories to be told in this world.
Possible Pairings: Into the Crooked Place by Alexandra Christo, All Systems Red by Martha Wells, Fable by Adrienne Young
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
Sena never loved Tundar--it's not a planet that engenders love--but she loved her mothers and the home they made for her on the planet between Tundar's infamous sled race seasons.
They both died in the last race. Sena has been struggling to pay her way off the planet and away from its painful memories ever since.
After angering a local gangster, Sena is out of time to earn her way off the planet. Instead she has to accept a dangerous bargain leading a team of scientists through Tundar's sled race while trying to protect Iska, the prize fighting wolf she never wanted to let herself care about.
Haunted by memories and grief, predators, and her enemies, Sena will have to use all of her wits and her strength to survive the race and make it off Tundar with Iska in Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves (2022) by Meg Long.
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is Long's debut novel.
Long blends fantasy with survivalist adventure in this action packed novel. Long takes her time building up the world with rich details and a varied cast of characters. Sena's first person story starts slow, carefully building out Tundar's harsh realities before drawing readers into the novel's plot.
Sena's slow work to process her grief over her mothers' deaths and reluctantly form new connections with both people and her wolf Iska play out against the Tundar sled race where the stakes for Sena and Iska are literally life or death. Readers should also be wary of casual violence throughout the story and frostbite induced injuries in the final act.
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is an engrossing adventure which hints at many more stories to be told in this world.
Possible Pairings: Into the Crooked Place by Alexandra Christo, All Systems Red by Martha Wells, Fable by Adrienne Young
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
story_sanctuary's review
5.0
I liked this book from the beginning, and then Remy, one of the minor characters that’s part of a scientific expedition visiting Sena’s planet, entered the scene. She’s spunky and teasing and I loved her so much. She really added a lot of light and balance to Sena’s serious and sometimes moody personality. I felt like the story picked up a lot as soon as Remy walked into it, which was maybe 20% in?
I also loved the relationship between Iska and Sena. I’ve had the experience where an animal chooses you as their family. It was much less dramatic than a fighting wolf, but still, it’s an amazing thing, and I felt like COLD THE NIGHT captured that really well.
The planet where Sena lives is this rough, gritty icy place. Think Wild West meets Arctic tundra. It seemed exactly like the kind of place that Captain Mal and his crew from Firefly would end up at some point. Those gritty elements really worked to create high stakes and desperate characters, which definitely kept me engaged in the story.
All in all, I thought this one would make a great addition to the YA sci-fi shelves. I think readers who enjoy books by Claudia Gray or Hayley Stone will love this one.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.
I also loved the relationship between Iska and Sena. I’ve had the experience where an animal chooses you as their family. It was much less dramatic than a fighting wolf, but still, it’s an amazing thing, and I felt like COLD THE NIGHT captured that really well.
The planet where Sena lives is this rough, gritty icy place. Think Wild West meets Arctic tundra. It seemed exactly like the kind of place that Captain Mal and his crew from Firefly would end up at some point. Those gritty elements really worked to create high stakes and desperate characters, which definitely kept me engaged in the story.
All in all, I thought this one would make a great addition to the YA sci-fi shelves. I think readers who enjoy books by Claudia Gray or Hayley Stone will love this one.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.
kasfire's review
4.0
4/5 Stars
Sena is the daughter of a racer and a scavver. After her mothers died during a race, Sena decides to stay away from racing. No matter how hard Boss Kalba pushes her.
This is a story filled with love, loss, danger, uncertainty, and more. The world building is beautiful and interesting as we follow the world through Sena's eyes. Her determination to be her own person and save the remaining family she has pushes her to join a scientific racing team.
The racing aspect doesn't start until halfway through, but there is a lot of action before that. The writing style itself is beautiful. Some lines evoked emotions in me that caused me to take a break, while others spurred me to read on. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy through Netgalley.
Sena is the daughter of a racer and a scavver. After her mothers died during a race, Sena decides to stay away from racing. No matter how hard Boss Kalba pushes her.
This is a story filled with love, loss, danger, uncertainty, and more. The world building is beautiful and interesting as we follow the world through Sena's eyes. Her determination to be her own person and save the remaining family she has pushes her to join a scientific racing team.
The racing aspect doesn't start until halfway through, but there is a lot of action before that. The writing style itself is beautiful. Some lines evoked emotions in me that caused me to take a break, while others spurred me to read on. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy through Netgalley.
literary_rose's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
clairetrellahill's review
3.0
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and atmosphere of this scifi sled-wolf book but the main character’s motivations didn’t really grip me; however that’s a personal problem. Still a solid read and cool concept.
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Classism, and Death of parent
danny_thereader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emmac_heath's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book has cool world building but overall was a little slow for me. I would have loved more of a space politics vibe.