Publishers Weekly
★ 04/11/2022
The fairy tale world of Whitten’s Wilderwood duology hangs in the balance in the thrilling sequel to For the Wolf. Book one left twins Red and Neve Valedren separated and determined to find each other. Neve is trapped in the Shadowlands below, a land of old gods, old kings, and old bones, while above, Red and her love, Eammon, have become something like demigods and set free all those who were previously bound to the Wilderwood forest. Whitten sets up the sisters’ personalities and circumstances as mirrors as they fight their way back to each other. But the longer Neve remains in the Shadowlands in the company of Solmir, one of the legendary Five Kings, the more she realizes that her focus must be on more than just getting back to Red. The Shadowlands are crumbling as the old gods die, their power siphoned to the nefarious Five Kings, who are just as desperate to return to the world above as Neve is. Now Neve must find a way to stop the kings while keeping the magic of the Shadowlands from overwhelming her soul. Whitten packs this one with action, twists, and betrayals, and weaves in familiar fairy tale imagery with a light, sure hand. This proves a worthy finale. Agent: Whitney Ross, Irene Goodman Literary. (June)
From the Publisher
"Whitten weaves a captivating tale in this debut, in which even secondary characters come to feel like old friends. The novel seamlessly blends "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Beauty and the Beast" into an un-put-down-able fairy tale that traces the boundaries of duty, love, and loss. A masterful debut from a must-read new voice in fantasy." —Kirkus
"Whitten debuts with a dark, dazzling reimagining of 'Little Red Riding Hood'... Whitten lovingly weaves in elements from other fairy tales, including 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Snow White,' while crafting a story that is all her own. With clever, immersive prose and a subtle touch of horror, this is sure to enchant."—Publishers Weekly
"This hauntingly beautiful, fractured retelling of Little Red Riding Hood is dark, emotional, and filled with tense action. Whitten’s debut is epic and enthralling."—Library Journal
"Beauty and the Beast is reimagined in this gorgeous and dark matriarchal fantasy... Readers who enjoy Naomi Novik’s fairytale fantasy will love this one as well."—Buzzfeed Books
"Part folklore, part fairytale, and part horror story, Hannah Whitten’s For the Wolf manages to take the familiar – a reimagining of 'Little Red Riding Hood' – and make it feel like something completely new."—Culturess
"Whitten’s masterful reinterpretation of classic fairy tales is delightful, keeping readers on edge throughout the story."—Booklist
"The fairy tale world of Whitten’s Wilderwood duology hangs in the balance in the thrilling sequel to For the Wolf.... Whitten packs this one with action, twists, and betrayals, and weaves in familiar fairy tale imagery with a light, sure hand. This proves a worthy finale."—Publishers Weekly
"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 ... A beautifully balanced tale of love in many forms, For the Throne is not just a satisfying conclusion to the story that began in For the Wolf, but a bittersweet reminder that in real stories, happily ever after doesn’t exist, and it’s up to us to muddle through the best we can and try to make a future with the people we love."—Paste Magazine
"For the Throne is an action-packed finale to this duology with emotional twists and turns that will leave you breathless."—British Fantasy Society
Library Journal
05/01/2022
In this epic-fantasy sequel to For the Wolf, Queen Neve of Valleyda is trapped in the Shadowlands and forced to rely on Solmir, the rogue king who tricked her and nearly killed her sister. Even knowing Solmir's quest to kill the immortal Old Kings trapped in the Shadowlands with them, Neve finds herself drawn to him, and also to the dark power she feels growing inside her. Back in Valleyda, Neve's other sister Red, Red's husband, and her friends try to find ways to free Neve from the Shadowlands. With subversive forces on both sides fighting for their share of power, these siblings will make a choice that will either save their home and loved ones—or completely destroy them. Whitten's prose is captivating, and the sisters' stories take center stage even as other characters take their turns in chapter perspectives. VERDICT This lush feminist world may draw inspiration from European fairy tales, but the magic, politics, and relationships are firmly rooted in adult reading. Fans of Naomi Novik and Alix Harrow will enjoy this duology.—Kristi Chadwick
