Wolfskin

The Two Monarchies Sequence, Book 7

By: W.R. Gingell

Narrated by: Rena Gail

If you want adventure, you have to march right up to it and kick it in the shins....

At 14, barefoot and running wild, Rose is delighted to be apprenticed to Akiva, the witch of the forest. She thinks it will be all enchantment and excitement, and not so much fuss about baths. The reality is much more sober and practical—that is, until she meets a mysterious wolf in the forest and is tricked into stepping off the path.

In young, naive Rose, Bastian sees a way of escape. Cursed to remain in the shape of a wolf after running afoul of a powerful enchantress, he has lived many decades under a spell, and now he is both desperate and ruthless. But by breaking part of Bastian’s curse, Rose has caught the attention of Cassandra, the enchantress who cursed him: and Cassandra is by no means ready to forgive and forget.

Meanwhile, wardens have been disappearing from the forest, one by one. Rose is certain that Cassandra is behind the disappearances, but can she and Bastian get to the bottom of the matter before Akiva disappears as well? And are Bastian’s motives entirely to be trusted?

Sometimes, the girl in the red hood doesn’t get eaten, and the wolf isn’t the most frightening thing in the forest.

Wolfskin is a Two Monarchies companion novel.

©2015 W.R. Gingell (P)2022 W.R. Gingell

Charming

This is a charming and well-paced story - beautifully narrated - and suitable for a range of audiences from middle grade to adult. The book fits into a larger series, but can be read/listened to enjoyably as a standalone.

Several familiar elements of other classic stories and tropes of the genre are used (ex: magic; witches; fair folk; a girl & a wolf; a curse; a happy ending for some; etc). However, this isn’t a retelling of a specific classic fairytale. It is fresh take and the author builds a rich, distinctive world for her tale. She provides all of the escapism and entertainment one could hope for in the genre.

The author also avoids falling into several of the tired traps that many modern adaptations suffer from. The author lets her characters use both their believable choices and unique personalities to take the narrative in surprising directions at several key points. At the same time, she doesn’t attempt to “subvert the narrative” by having her characters do things purely to take the story in the opposite direction of the typical fairytale. Similarly, while multiple characters have special talents, there are also clear steps required and taken by the heroine and others to gain skills. Further, while the story has multiple powerful women in key roles, the male characters are equally capable and assertive. This approach by the author provides a more interesting experience.

Overall this is a light, escapist listen filled with charm, wit, and a good dose of dry humor.

Original Fantasy with Familiar Fairytale Vibes

Wolfskin feels like a familiar fairytale, part red riding hood part beauty and the beast, but it's truly an original experience. I was amazed at the way I was unable to predict what would happen next. The characters are all quirky and fun. The stakes are high and the feels are real.

This is expertly narrated by Rena Gail, who is super talented at using her voice to make each character sound unique. I actually found Wolfskin while looking for other books she's narrated. I intend to eventually work through her whole portfolio, She's that good.