The Wolf Wilder (ARC Review)

The Wolf Wilder | Katherine Rundell

Published by: Bloomsbury Childrens, September 9th 2015

Genre: Children's, Historical or Contemporary (I can't tell which, oops) (if it helps, it has a real Fantasy feel)

Pages: 256

Format: Ebook

Source: Bloomsbury Childrens, via Netgalley

Feodora and her mother live in the snowbound woods of Russia, in a house full of food and fireplaces. Ten minutes away, in a ruined chapel, lives a pack of wolves. Feodora's mother is a wolf wilder, and Feo is a wolf wilder in training. A wolf wilder is the opposite of an animal tamer: it is a person who teaches tamed animals to fend for themselves, and to fight and to run, and to be wary of humans.

When the murderous hostility of the Russian Army threatens her very existence, Feo is left with no option but to go on the run. What follows is a story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love and fighting back. And, of course, wolves.

The Wolf Wilder is what children's fiction is all about. A sweeping landscape, an unforgettable main character, a budding revolution, and wolves!

This book held my attention from the first page, so much so that I read a huge chunk of it in one sitting (50%!) I was instantly drawn into the snowy wilds of Russia, and my heart attached itself to Feo and the wolves without my knowing. This book is just so unique, and genuine, and unlike anything I've read before that it was impossible to put down.

When we get into the second half of the book, we're made aware of the state of Russia, and how beaten they are by Rakov, the terrible tyrant who rules over Feo's little corner of Russia. And we meet a slowly-building revolution, with ordinary, and angry, children at the heart of it. This book, if nothing else, tells of the power of children. And it shows, when organised and determined, that someone small can accomplish something great and affect the lives of hundreds. Feo's bravery drove this story, but her love for the wolves, her mother, and Ilya really brought it to life.

Charming and magical, The Wolf Wilder is a captivating novel of courage and love for people of all ages. I loved it!

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world-building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★★☆

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Reading round up (77)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week. 

25th May

Today I read 12% of The Girl At Midnight by Melissa Grey, and I started With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent (22 pages) because I NEED  a good book to break up The Girl At Midnight. That 12% almost killed me - I've just lost all kind of investment in it.

26th May

Had a crappy day today, so I only read 12% of The Girl At Midnight. I'm pretty astounded by the fact it's adding a love triangle and instalove 50% through the book. WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE? It was So Good without it!

27th May

DNF'ed The Girl At Midnight at 71% because not only is the girl falling in instalove with the crappy love interest, and getting all RIDICULOUSLY CLICHE about it, but the guy (the hundreds year old dragon!!!!) is doing the same. Thought he'd know better BUT NOPE.

On top of this I read 22 pages of With All My Soul, and I'm not flying through this book as quickly as I'd hoped. Today's amount of pages is pretty pathetic tbh. 

I also picked up Falling Kingdoms again because I need to finish my reread (I dropped off reading this around a month and a half ago...) and read 31 pages of tiny, tiny text.

28th May

Today I finished The Wolf Wilder (50% read) and it was everything I hoped it'd be.

29th May

Light reading day - all I read was 5% of In The Air Tonight by Lori Handeland which has stopped the confusing references, but I'm still not sure. I don't need the guy to be referencing the MCs breasts every POV chapter tbh, and I want more ghosts!

30th May

To say I was getting grumpy with the language and references of In The Air Tonight, I actually found my way into the book. It took 25% but w/e. I'm now at 40% and I like it. Still having to overlook a lot of stuff and I can't see me giving it more than 3 stars but at least it's seeming like I'll finish and enjoy it!

31st May


Read another 17% of In The Air Tonight, bringing me to 57%, and I actually do like it. But there's still something off.

Books finished this week: 1
Books DNF'd this week: 1

For review:

NOTHING!!!

I'm so proud of myself. 

Bought:

When Magic Sleeps | Tera Lynn Childs

I LOVED Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs, so when I found out she had a novella for less than £1, I didn't hesitate to get it. Pretty excited to read this!

The School For Good and Evil | Soman Chainani
Unremembered | Jessica Brody
Kindle sales are my best friend. Two of the books I was DYING to get my hands on I now own!!!!

Powerless (4.5 STARS)

The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath (3 STARS)

The Girl At Midnight (DNF AT 71%)

Reading round up (76)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week. 

18th May

This week I'm reading The Girl At Midnight by Melissa Grey and Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield. Today I read 229 pages of Chantress, and I went from liking it to horribly invested Real Quick.

19th May

Had a crappy day today, so I only read 12% of The Girl At Midnight. I'm pretty astounded by the fact it's adding a love triangle and instalove 50% through the book. WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE? It was So Good without it!

20th May

I've got a bit disillusioned with The Girl At Midnight - it's going somewhere I'm not interested in At All. I LOVE the fantasy of it but hate the romance it's gonna force. So I started The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell and read 50%. It's magical and wonderful and makes my heart full of feelings. 

21st May

It's that time of the week when my reading goes all over the place. I didn't read anything during the day, which is when I'd have picked up The Wolf Wilder. But I did read 13% of Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs, which is pretty great already. However, it does mean I'm currently reading 3 books at once :(


22nd May

Today I read 34% of Powerless, and I'm really enjoying this. Nitro has a fucked up accent and I can't figure out his voice, but I'm liking the arguments between the MC and her villainous love interest. (Also LOVING the gaping lack of instalove.)

23rd May

I wanted to finish Powerless today but I just didn't find the time. I did read 30%, though, which is A LOT for Saturday reading!

24th May

Finished Powerless, which was SO GOOD that I want the next book right the heck now. And because I'm in a mood with The Girl At Midnight, I started In The Air Tonight by Lori Handeland, and I dunno, I'm just not impressed so far. It switches from 1st person to 3rd in the same chapter, and the writing style is FULL of american stuff I don't know.

Books finished this week: 2
Books DNF'd this week: 0

For review:

 

The Wolf Wilder | Katherine Rundell
Eden's Wish | M. Tara. Crowl

A Thousand Nights | E. K. Johnston

Spinning Starlight | R. C. Lewis

I am so exited for ALL of these!!! Especially, not gonna lie, Spinning Starlight. I LOVED Stitching Snow, so I'm expecting greatness. I've already started The Wolf Wilder, so I know that's awesome, and I can't wait to read the rest of it as soon as I find time!!

The Fog Diver (4 STARS)