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A review by spellboundchapters
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
This book reminded me why I like slow paced books and slow-burn romances. ♥️ But don’t be fooled, although the romance occupies quite a big part of the story, it mainly focuses on heavier topics such as ethnic cleansing, religious persecution, or generational trauma.
Even though this book takes its sweet time, it manages to never be boring; and I feel like the sudden change in the pacing made the action scenes even more intense and unexpected whenever they happened.
My favourite thing in this book was probably the addition of all the myths and legends of all the different faiths. This added so much dimension to the story. And I appreciate how they permitted to discuss religions (both as faiths and institutions), and more precisely the similarities between different religions, without it feeling forced.
The entire worldbuilding was fascinating — a whole magic system based on body horror was not something I ever thought I would want more of in my fantasy stories, but I weirdly enjoyed it. It was so different from what I’m used to reading!
The romance was a delight to read. Finally, an enemies-to-lovers where they’re actually enemies at the start! 😂 The tension and pining between Évike and Gáspár… *chef’s kiss* is all I have to say; if you love Six of Crows’s Helnik you will probably love these two as well. 🥺
Took a star off because some of the writing was sometimes a bit repetitive, and because I didn’t feel like Évike was behaving like someone who has been bullied and abused during the majority of her life. And it featured one of my least favourite trope ever: the abused sacrificing themselves for their abusers and thinking things like "but I know they still loved me even if they never told me or showed me in any way" nope nope nopeee.
Even though this book takes its sweet time, it manages to never be boring; and I feel like the sudden change in the pacing made the action scenes even more intense and unexpected whenever they happened.
My favourite thing in this book was probably the addition of all the myths and legends of all the different faiths. This added so much dimension to the story. And I appreciate how they permitted to discuss religions (both as faiths and institutions), and more precisely the similarities between different religions, without it feeling forced.
The entire worldbuilding was fascinating — a whole magic system based on body horror was not something I ever thought I would want more of in my fantasy stories, but I weirdly enjoyed it. It was so different from what I’m used to reading!
The romance was a delight to read. Finally, an enemies-to-lovers where they’re actually enemies at the start! 😂 The tension and pining between Évike and Gáspár… *chef’s kiss* is all I have to say; if you love Six of Crows’s Helnik you will probably love these two as well. 🥺
Took a star off because some of the writing was sometimes a bit repetitive, and because I didn’t feel like Évike was behaving like someone who has been bullied and abused during the majority of her life. And it featured one of my least favourite trope ever: the abused sacrificing themselves for their abusers and thinking things like "but I know they still loved me even if they never told me or showed me in any way" nope nope nopeee.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Vomit, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death